The single best source for finding and applying to federal grant opportunities is through Grants.gov. For quick access to the search engine click here. You can search using keywords, category, agency or advanced searches that includes a combination of these. If you would like assistance in your search, please reach out to research@mga.edu.

Here is a list of potential funding sources within the State of Georgia:

• University System of Georgia Internal Grant Opportunities
• Georgia Research Alliance
• Georgia Humanities
• Georgia Department of Education
• Georgia Department of Public Health
• Georgia Department of Economic Development
• Georgia Environmental Protection Division
• Community Foundation of Central Georgia

Here is a list of organizations and/or databases with charitable funders of higher education: 

• Candid (database): Available through the Middle Georgia Regional Library System
• The NEA Foundation
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-Postsecondary Success
• Spencer Foundation
• Hearst Foundation
• Teagle Foundation
• Andrew Mellon Foundation
• Lumina Foundation
• The Ford Foundation
• The MacArthur Foundation
• The Getty Foundation
• Knight Foundation
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• The John and Mary Franklin Foundation (Georgia)

Internal funding programs often serve as financial support for preliminary research, pilot projects, and other initiatives within the institution. MGA recognizes the importance of kickstarting research endeavors through its early financial support and is currently striving to build a program for this purpose. 

The priority of ORSP is to assist you in developing a strategic plan that ensures alignment with solicitation and funding agency goals, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and facilitates effective communication with agency officials.

Understanding Solicitation and Funding Agency Goals

• Review Solicitation: Thoroughly analyze the solicitation document to understand the specific goals and priorities outlined by the funding agency.

• Identify Alignment: Identify how our project or proposal aligns with the stated goals and priorities of the funding agency. Highlight areas of synergy.

Project Analysis

• Strengths Assessment:

  • Internal Resources: Identify our internal strengths, including expertise, equipment, and prior successes.
  • Collaborative Partnerships: Assess existing partnerships that can strengthen the proposal.
  • Track Record: Highlight past accomplishments and outcomes.

• Weaknesses Evaluation:

  • Resource Gaps: Identify any resource limitations or constraints.
  • Skill Gaps: Recognize areas where additional training or expertise may be needed.
  • Past Challenges: Acknowledge previous weaknesses and lessons learned.

• Opportunities Recognition:

  • External Collaborations: Identify potential collaborators or strategic alliances.
  • New Technologies: Explore emerging technologies that can be leveraged.
  • Unmet Needs: Identify gaps or underserved areas that our proposal can address.

• Threats Analysis:

  • Competition: Evaluate potential competitors or similar proposals.
  • Budget Constraints: Recognize potential budgetary challenges.

Strategic Framing

• Narrative Alignment: Craft the proposal narrative, ensuring it directly addresses the solicitation goals, emphasizing strengths and demonstrating a clear plan to overcome weaknesses.

• Outcome-Centric Approach: Frame the proposal to emphasize the expected outcomes and impact, aligning with the funding agency's objectives.

Communication with Agency Officials

• Engagement: Initiate contact with agency officials before submitting the proposal to seek clarifications and build rapport.

• Regular Updates: Maintain consistent communication throughout the proposal process to address queries and provide updates on progress.

• Feedback Integration: Actively incorporate agency feedback and suggestions into the proposal to demonstrate responsiveness and alignment with agency goals.

• Preparation for Review: Anticipate the agency's review process and ensure that the proposal aligns with their evaluation criteria.

Continuous Improvement

• Post-Submission Assessment: Evaluate the proposal's strengths and areas for improvement after submission, regardless of the outcome.

• Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback loop within the organization to ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future proposals.

• Ongoing Training: Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to address identified skill gaps.

The ORSP is committed to actively supporting and monitoring the progress of your project. We will regularly check in on project milestones and objectives, facilitating team meetings as needed to ensure open communication and collaboration. Our goal is to assist in managing project timelines, and we are fully prepared to work closely with your team to help align activities with your desired outcomes. Whether it is a brief check-in or a more comprehensive project review, ORSP will provide the necessary support to ensure your project's success and compliance with grant requirements.

ORSP is dedicated to aiding faculty and researchers in enhancing the quality and competitiveness of their grant proposals. While we are well-prepared to provide thorough reviews, editing, and feedback to refine proposal submissions, it's important to clarify that we do not engage in the actual writing of proposals. We welcome volunteers from our academic community who are willing to contribute their expertise in proposal review and editing. This collaborative effort not only strengthens proposals but also fosters a culture of shared knowledge and support, ultimately increasing the chances of securing external funding for research and academic initiatives.

ORSP plans to continually support the professional development of MGA faculty and staff through workshops and training on grant writing, proposal development and grant opportunities.  

Here is a list of archived events: 

Dr. Monica Miller: "Strategies for Proposal Development" October 2023. Link to archived event.

Dr Monica Miller: "How to Read and Understand Grant Guidelines" November 2023. Link to archived event.

Dr. Julie Hawk, Proposal Development Associate, Departmetn of Pediatrics, Emory University. "Creating & Sustaining a Research Culture at an Emerging Research Institution" February 2024. Link to archived event.

Applications can only be submitted by MGA ORSP or the MGA Foundation. Once internal approval has been received, designated staff in ORSP office will submit the application on behalf of the PI and institution. If awarded, the ORSP or MGA Foundation personnel will review in consultation with the Office of Finance and negotiate acceptable terms and conditions to MGA, the MGA Foundation and/or USG.