Redefining Grant Funding in Higher Education

Many faculty care deeply about their research and want to pursue ambitious, meaningful work. Yet the process of securing funding often feels fragmented, rushed, and discouraging. Ideas move forward in short bursts. Feedback arrives late or not at all. Rejection becomes routine without offering much guidance for what to do next.

These experiences are common, and they are not a reflection of individual ability. They are the predictable result of funding systems that were not designed to support sustained idea development or long-term engagement.

Redefining Grant Funding in Higher Education explores how faculty experience today’s funding landscape and what institutions can do to create more supportive, strategic conditions.

A Closer Look at Today’s Funding Environment

This white paper examines the realities of grant funding from both the faculty and institutional perspectives.

Readers will explore:

• Why strong ideas often fail to gain traction within current funding timelines
• How episodic proposal support contributes to stress and inconsistency
• The impact of narrow definitions of legitimate funding pathways
• What faculty say they need to stay engaged after rejection
• Institutional strategies that support persistence, clarity, and growth over time

The emphasis is not on individual performance, but on the structures that shape whether faculty effort leads to progress.

Why This Matters for Faculty and Institutions

For faculty, funding challenges can limit creativity, delay meaningful projects, and erode confidence. For institutions, they result in uneven outcomes, disengagement, and missed opportunities for impact.

This paper argues that sustainable funding success depends on shared responsibility. When institutions provide clearer pathways, earlier feedback, and consistent developmental support, faculty are better positioned to pursue funding with confidence and purpose.

Who It’s For

This paper is relevant for:

• Faculty across disciplines and career stages
• Department chairs and program directors
• Deans, associate deans, and research leaders
• Research development and faculty development teams

Anyone involved in writing grants or shaping the environment in which grant writing happens will find value in this analysis.

Download the White Paper

Complete the form to access Redefining Grant Funding in Higher Education and explore how funding support can move from isolated effort to shared, sustainable practice.