In the scholarly publishing life cycle, "Creation" refers to the process in which research is proposed, funded, written, and reported on. While many academic programs teach us how to research and write, the process of obtaining funding in order to pursue that research isn't always taught to students or made transparent to early career academics.
In this guide, you will find:
If you are interested in finding information on academic research and writing, in general, please see the following guides:
Funding sources vary by discipline. However, there are some general categories of funding that apply across areas of study.
These are grants or funding streams provided by your institution. There is no centralized location at CityU where internal funding opportunities are listed. However, some departments may send out emails with calls for proposals. If you want to know what current internal funding offers are available, please reach out to the CityU Research Institute.
In the United States, the federal government is a common source of research funding. GRANTS.GOV is a tool that searches for discretionary funding opportunities across federal agencies. This resource also provides learning tools for applicants. In Canada, you can find a similar tool here: Canadian Government Research Funding and Awards.
Professional organizations are a great option for funding and grants. Here are some examples based on programs available at CityU:
There are many foundations out there, each with their own focus. These funding sources are good options. Some examples based on programs available at CityU include:
Like with the other categories, obtaining corporate funding requires a delicate balance between furthering your own research goals and meeting the needs of the company. If your work intersects with a corporation's goals or aims, seeking corporate funding may be an option. Some corporations have specific foundations or initiatives that provide funding, while others may be available by request or solicitation. Here are some example of corporate funding streams based on programs available at CityU:
Keep in mind that some funding sources are looked on more favorably than others. Corporate funding, especially, can often draw suspicion. When considering a funding source, it is important to ensure that your research goals are ultimately being met and that your integrity as a researcher is never compromised. You should never be asked to slant results based on the needs of your funder.
You can find more information on funding sources at the following links:
Once you've identified some potential funding streams, your next step would be to write a proposal. While grant writing may differ slightly across disciplines, there are some main elements to consider when approaching a proposal.
Below, you will find some additional reading and helpful guides on how to write a quality grant proposal.
Grant Writing by 
Grant Writing by 
Grant Writing for Dummies by 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
