Harvard’s research community seeks and receives funding from a variety of sources that vary depending on the Harvard school and discipline. Sources of research funding include the federal government, state and municipal organizations, foundations, international agencies, corporations, foreign entities, and individual donors.  Harvard’s largest single source for research funding is the federal government, with more than $612 million of federally sponsored research in FY2010, and of that funding, more than 80% came from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). An additional $157 million of sponsored funding came from non-federal sources. There are also numerous internal sources of research funding for both faculty and students. If you are interested in learning about research funding opportunities, visit Find Grants.

The Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) is the University’s central research administration office that manages the administrative processes related to externally-funded research and ensures compliance with the regulations and policies associated with the funding.  OSP is responsible for sponsored research across the entire lifecycle of the award, including pre-award, post-award, and cash management functions, and manages all three phases of the lifecycle for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and other Cambridge-area faculties. At HMS/HSDM and HSPH, the pre-award phase is administered by HMS Sponsored Programs Administration and by HSPH Sponsored Programs Administration. Other research intensive Schools also have local offices that offer a range of research support services to their faculty investigators, including consultation, training, and promotion of funding opportunities: FAS’s Research Administration Services, HGSE’s Sponsored Projects Office, HKS’s Research Administration Office, and SEAS’ Research Administration Office.

Once researchers receive funding, there are many federal, state, and institutional requirements and guidelines that need to be followed. Researchers must be familiar with the regulations and institutional policies that apply to their particular research project, as well as all sponsor terms and conditions.  For more information, visit Grants Management.