Research Commentary: Translating Your Research Project From Idea to Action: Exploring Funding Sources

Abstract

The first questions a novice or an experienced nurse researcher generally asks themselves when considering translating their research idea into an implementable research project is “who will fund my research?” Is there a funder/funding agency that might have an interest in my research topic? Are there any requests for proposals (RFPs) from funders that might “fit” your research topic? Is my research topic an area where I need large amounts of funding or can I use a small grant, that is, $5,000 to $20,000? How do I know what type of funding to look for? How do I know where to look for such funding opportunities? Where do I begin? Once you know what research you want to conduct, think through the process of writing a grant application as discussed in my earlier columns. Most importantly, determine, even if only in general terms, how much funding you might actually need to conduct your research study. This is important to know as it dictates where you might look for potential funding opportunities. For those of you interested in large-scale studies, particularly in areas where you have a successful research funding history, exploring such funders as