As the federal grant funding landscape undergoes changes, it’s more important than ever to stay proactive in seeking funding opportunities. Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation will be sharing a regular round-up of non-federal grants for those looking to diversify their funding sources. As a reminder, SPF offers funding search assistance! Please visit our website to explore some of our funding resources, or contact Research Development Support & Marketing Coordinator Cara Peters at cara.peters@humboldt.edu

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Public Engagement Grants: The John Templeton Foundation - Recent grants have ranged from approximately $259,000 to $2 million. Rolling letters of inquiry accepted through August 15, 2025. The deadline for inquiries invited for full proposals will be January 16, 2026 (or earlier for select proposals). This program funds a wide variety of grantees to create content, cultivate thought leadership, and develop campus programming, and seeks to catalyze conversations that inspire awe and wonder. In addition, they seek proposals that support the next generation of thought leaders, generate durable courses and programming at leading universities, and highlight the role of virtues like intellectual humility, gratitude, curiosity, and love in solving society’s most pressing problems. These grants support projects within the following subcategories: documentary and video, radio and podcasts, writing and print projects, public events, thought leadership, and college student programming.

Social, Political, and Economic Inequality: Russell Sage Foundation - Average grant is $20k. Letters of Intent due July 16, 2025. Supports original research on the factors that contribute to social, political, and economic inequalities in the U.S., and the extent to which those inequalities affect social, political, psychological, and economic outcomes, including educational and labor market opportunities and consequences, social and economic mobility within and across generations, and civic participation and representation.

NOTE: If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please contact our Pre-Award Specialists Pia Gabriel at pg12@humboldt.edu, Kaz Wegmuller at kaz.wegmuller@humboldt.edu, or Jocelyne Takatsuno at jt366@humboldt.edu 

While exploring alternative funding is valuable, continued engagement with federal grants remains critical—consistent applications help demonstrate the demand for these programs and ensure their ongoing availability. We’re here to help you navigate these funding opportunities and keep research thriving at Cal Poly Humboldt.