The RDO provides diverse avenues for researchers to access internal and external funding. This encompasses internal seed grants fueling novel research, streamlined management of limited submissions to funding agencies, and tools such as Pivot to pinpoint potential funding sources.
Internal Funding Opportunities
Research Administrators can add their unit's Internal Funding Opportunities into Pivot, allowing users to find both internal funding and external funding opportunities, all in the same tool. View the open internal opportunities below. Please email [email protected] to inquire about posting internal funding.
Pivot Curated Searches
The list below includes links to sponsor-specific funding opportunities within the Pivot-RP database. These lists update automatically as new opportunities are added or archived. Note: By default, only this week's results are shown. To see more opportunities, click “All” under the gray box near the top of the screen.
Curated Searches by Federal Agency:
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
Saving Searches
Complete the steps below to save your searches and receive a weekly email of funding opportunities.
- Click the link(s) above.
Note: By default, only this week's results are shown. To see more opportunities, click “All” under the gray box. - Click "sign in to save your query" (light grey box near the top)
- In the pop up Click "Access via my Institution Login"
- Find and select "University of Iowa."
- Log in using your HawkID and password.
- Near the top of the page (light grey box), click "Save Search."
- Name your search (e.g., "NIH").
- Ensure the box is checked to receive weekly email updates.
- Click "Save."
Learn More About Pivot
Join us for an upcoming Pivot session to learn how Pivot can save you time and effort in identifying the right funding opportunities for your research lines as well as identifying collaborators with the relevant expertise.
Upcoming Limited Submission Opportunities
Funding Focus is a weekly email alerting faculty and staff researchers and scholars about limited submission funding opportunities available to the University of Iowa. See the most recent issue of this email, view past issues, or access all current limited submissions via InfoReady below.
Note: for past issues of Funding Focus, limited submission opportunities may have reached their internal submission deadline.
Past Issues of Funding Focus
Featured Limited Submission Opportunities
NEA/Arts Midwest: National Endowment for the Arts Big Read
Description: The NEA Big Read is a grant to help bring communities together around the shared activity of reading and discussing the same book. These grants support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. As our nation moves into its 250th year, the goal of this program is to honor America’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.
Limitation: one application per institution
Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Sponsor Phase 1 Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Sponsor PHase 2 Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 26, 2027
Dreyfus Foundation: Program for Transformative Research
Description: The Dreyfus Foundation Program for Transformative Research supports exceptional, established faculty in the chemical sciences who propose bold, high-risk research with the potential for transformative impact. Transformative research may take many forms, including fundamental advances that open new frontiers in the chemical sciences and discoveries with the potential to create substantial societal impact.
Eligibility: Faculty within 15 years of tenure
Limitation: one application per institution
Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Sponsor Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 27, 2027
NIH: Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) and Developmental Centers for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Description: The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to invite applications for the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) and Developmental Centers for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) programs to provide administrative and shared research support to enhance HIV/AIDS research. CFARs provide infrastructure, expertise, resources, and services not readily obtained through other funding mechanisms. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across all areas of HIV/AIDS research.
Limitation: one applications per institution
Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
Sponsor Application Deadline: Tuesday, May 25, 2027