Foundation

Private foundations are an important source of external funding for W&M faculty across all disciplines. Foundation proposals are supported through a partnership between the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).

Faculty should contact CFR early in the process – before approaching a prospective foundation – to coordinate outreach and proposal development. OSP reviews and approves all foundation proposals prior to submission, negotiates award agreements, and provides post-award administration.

Browse each faculty funding section, or use Command (⌘) + F on Mac devices or Ctrl + F on PC devices to search for specific keywords on each page.

Interested applicants should contact their OSP Administrator as early as possible.

Funding Opportunities

• (New) Fellowships for Scholars and Artists
  • Camargo Foundation
  • Description: A flagship international residency program located in Cassis, France, supporting advanced research, experimentation, and interdisciplinary approaches. It provides artists, scholars, and thinkers with dedicated time and space in a contemplative environment to pursue creative projects, cultural critique, and academic inquiry.
  • Deadline: 10/01/2026
  • Keywords: Camargo Foundation, arts and humanities, residency program, Cassis France, creative fellowship, interdisciplinary research
• Fellowships for Independent Projects in Selected Fields
  • Howard Foundation, George A. and Eliza
  • Description: Supports early mid-career artists and scholars pursuing independent creative and scholarly projects in selected fields, providing unrestricted fellowship support for intellectual and artistic development.
  • Deadline: 11/01/2026
  • Keywords: Arts, Humanities, Creative Writing, Literature, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Choreography, Scholarly Research, Independent Projects, Fellowship
• Grants
  • Helen Frankenthaler Foundation
  • Description: Supports visual arts organizations, education, research, exhibitions, and sustainability initiatives that advance contemporary art, art history, and environmental efforts within cultural institutions.
  • Deadline: 09/11/2026
  • Keywords: Visual Arts, Contemporary Art, Art History, Museums, Arts Education, Exhibitions
• Simons Fellows in Mathematics
  • Simons Foundation
  • Description: The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division is accepting applications for the Simons Fellows in Mathematics program.
  • Deadline: 10/01/2026
  • Keywords: Mathematics, Physical Sciences,  Theoretical Research
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Grants
  • Lawrence Foundation
  • Description: The foundation makes grants to US based qualified charitable organizations. To date we have funded organizations that address the following areas of interest: Environment,  Human Services & Disaster relief.
  • Deadline: 10/31/2026
  • Keywords: Environment, Human Services, Disaster Relief
• Targeted Grants to Institutes
  • Simons Foundation
  • Description: The Targeted Grants to Institutes program is intended to support established institutes or centers in the mathematics and theoretical basic physical sciences through funding to help strengthen contacts within the international scientific community.
  • Deadline: 09/30/2026
  • Keywords: Mathematics, Physical Sciences
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Production & Presentation Grants and Research & Development Grants -- Grants to Individuals
  • Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/15/2026
  • Keywords:
• Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds
  • John William Pope Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/01/2026 
  • Keywords:
    *Institutionally Limited
• Grants
  • Abelard Foundation-East
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/15/2026 
  • Keywords:
• Research Travel Grants Program
  • Gerald R. Ford Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/15/2026 
  • Keywords:
• Searle Scholars Program
  • Kinship Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/30/2026
  • Keywords:
  • *Institutionally Limited
• Grants
  • Lumina Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Varying
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Public Project Grants
  • American-Scandinavian Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 09/15/2026
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Acquisition of art works
  • New Carlsberg Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 08/10/2026 
  • Keywords:
• Pipeline Grants Competition
  • Russell Sage Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 10/21/2026
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Program on the Future of Work
  • Russell Sage Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 10/28/2026
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Program on Social, Political and Economic Inequality
  • Russell Sage Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 10/28/2026
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Academic Research Grants
  • Stellar Development Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 
  • Keywords:
  • There is a limit of a maximum of 2 submissions per calendar year
• Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Instrument Acquisition or Development
  • National Science Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: 11/16/2026  
  • Keywords:
  • *Institutionally limited
• Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences
  • Simons Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Rolling 
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• SPARK Research Match Expansion
  • Simons Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Rolling 
  • Keywords:
  •  **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Grants
  • Pratt Family Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Rolling 
  • Keywords:
• Indigenous Knowledge Program
  • Henry Luce Foundation 
  • Description:
  • Deadline: You can apply for this opportunity at any time
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Humboldt Research Fellowship
  • Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Continuously accepted – applications reviewed in March, July and November  
  • Keywords:
• Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Keywords:
  • **This opportunity requires Corporate and Foundation Relations clearance – please contact [[cfr]] and cc your OSP Administrator prior to any contact with this Foundation.
• Grants
  • Pollock-Krasner Foundation
  • Description:
  • Deadline: Open deadline 
  • Keywords: