Limited Submission Funding Opportunities | Private Foundations

"Limited submission" opportunities are those for which Rice is limited to submitting only one or a small number of proposals, creating the need for an internal competition. Below is a list of limited submission opportunities from private foundations managed centrally by OCFR and the Office of Research.

The table below outlines both internal competition deadlines and sponsor-driven external deadlines. Please note that the dates below are estimates based on past calls and are subject to change pending formal announcement from the sponsor. To review a listing of actively launched internal competitions and to submit your internal pre-proposal, please visit rice.infoready4.com.

To receive funding announcements when an internal competition is launched, email ocfr@rice.edu.

*Note: This table is organized by semesters based on when an internal competition becomes active on our infoready site.

Foundation Sponsor Program Name Internal Announcement Internal Proposal Sponsor Deadline Proposals Allowed Eligibility Reqs

Fall Semester
Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant Program September October November 1 Applicants must have started their first tenure-track assistant professor position on or after May 1, 2023.
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Moore Inventor Fellows September October December 2 Candidates must have earned their terminal degree within the last 10 years.
ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Enhancement Awards September October January 1 Assistant professors within two years of their tenure track; STEM, Policy, Management, or Education
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award September November January 1 A tenure-track academic appointment in chemical sciences for individuals within the first six years of their independent academic careers at the time of nomination submission.
Keck Foundation Keck Foundation Grant Research Program October November May 2
Kleberg Foundation Medical Grants Program November January March 1
Packard Foundation Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering December February April 2 Early Career (within 3 years of faculty career); STEM
Welch Foundation Welch Catalyst Grant December February April 2 Tenure or Tenure-Track; Fundamental chemistry

Spring Semester
Mathers Foundation Mathers Foundation Grant Program February March May 3 Basic science research, ideally with potential translational applications; Novel proposals with proven scientific merit, not typically eligible for federal funding.
Gulf Coast Consortia John S. Dunn Foundation Research Award March April June 3 Strictly new collaborations; Quantitative biomedical sciences
Keck Foundation Keck Foundation Grant Research Program March May November 2
1907 Research Foundation Trailblazer Award March April May 1
Pew Charitable Trust Pew Biomedical Scholars March April September 1 Hold a doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine, or a related field, including engineering or the physical sciences; Run an independent lab as of September 5th of the previous year; Must not have been appointed as an assistant professor at any institution prior to June 10, 2020,
Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Mallinckrodt Grants April June August 1 Tenure track faculty members in their first to fourth year; Applicants with current R01 funding should not apply
Kleberg Foundation Medical Grants Program May July August 1
William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Program Spring Spring Spring 1 Multidiscipline; Applicants must be tenure-track and have received their doctoral degree within seven years of submitting their application
Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovation Award Spring Spring Spring 1 Associate professor or full professor in neuroscience or brain function; Applicants must demonstrate NIH or peer-reviewed funding within the last three years.

Summer
Schmidt Sciences Schmidt Science Polymaths June July October 2 Have achieved tenure within the past three calendar years; Have a remarkable record of accomplishment in STEM research; Have a demonstrated history of pursuing and publishing results in more than one field,
Kinship Foundation Searle Scholars Program June August September 1 Applicants must be pursuing independent research in the biomedical or life sciences.
Rita Allen Foundation Rita Allen Scholars Award Program June August October 1 Within first three years of tenure track appointment.
Greenwall Foundation Faculty Scholars Program July August September 1 Early Career, not yet tenured; Research should have high impact in clinical, biomedical, and public health
Mathers Foundation Mathers Foundation Grant Program July September December 3 Basic science research, ideally with potential translational applications; Novel proposals with proven scientific merit, not typically eligible for federal funding.
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar Summer Fall Fall 1
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowship Summer Fall Fall 1

If you have any questions or become aware of a private foundation limited submission opportunity that has not yet been posted to this site, please contact Ashley Booher, Associate Director of Foundation Relations.