Limited Submissions Opportunities
Foundations sometimes limit the number of applications an institution may submit for a specific funding program. The Foundation Relations office informs all relevant campus constituents about these opportunities, providing links to detailed descriptions and an internal online application on UMass InfoReady. Submissions are reviewed internally by a committee composed of UMass Amherst administrators to determine which applicants will be permitted to apply to the funder. Nominees are selected based on the quality of the proposal and the likelihood of being funded.
Below are the current private foundation limited submission opportunities. To be considered for internal nomination, please complete the relevant InfoReady application linked next to each opportunity in the table below. If you have identified a private foundation limited submission opportunity that is not posted on the list below, please mmonoc [at] uma-foundation [dot] org (contact us).
Note: To ensure a fair process, Foundation Relations cannot provide proposal development assistance during the internal nomination process. Applicants are encouraged to work with us after receiving an internal nomination.
For RFPs from public funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation, please visit the UMass Amherst Office of Research Development’s Limited Submission Awards & Grants webpage.
| Sponsor | Award Range | Grant Title | Sponsor Deadline | Sponsor's Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William T. Grant Foundation | $350,000 | William T. Grant Scholars Program | Early July | wgrantfoundation.org |
| American Diabetes Association | $1,625,000 | Accelerator Award | Mid-July | professional.diabetes.org/ |
| Brain Research Foundation | $150,000 | Scientific Innovations Award | Late June (LOI) | thebrf.org |
| Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation | Up to $225,000 | Start-up Grant | 08/01 | emallinckrodtfoundation.org |
| Searle Scholars | $300,000 | Searle Scholars Program | Late September | searlescholars.org |
| Mathers Foundation | $700,000 | Research Grant Fall (LOI) | 10/03/2025 | mathersfoundation.org |
| The Pew Charitable Trusts | $300,000 | Pew Biomedical Scholars | Early September | pewtrusts.org |
| Greenwall Foundation | 50% of scholar’s salary plus benefits for three years | Faculty Scholars Program in Bioethics | Mid-September (LOI) | greenwall.org |
| W.M. Keck Foundation | $5,000,000 | Research Program Awards (June Grant Cycle) | 11/01 (Phase 1 Application) | wmkeck.org |
| Carnegie Corporation of New York | $200,000 | Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program | Early November | carnegie.org |
| Warren Alpert Foundation | $400,000 | Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award | 11/01/2025 | warrenalpertfoundation.org |
| Brain Research Foundation | $80,000 | Seed Grants Program | Mid-November (LOI) | thebrf.org |
| Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation | $675,000 | Moore Inventor Fellows | Mid-December (Nomination deadline: Mid-November) | moore.org |
| Blavatnik Family Foundation | $250,000 | Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists | Early December | blavatnikawards.org |
| Dreyfus Foundation | $100,000 | Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award | Next January | dreyfus.org |
| W.M. Keck Foundation | Up to $5,000,000 | Research Program Awards (December Grant Cycle) | 05/01 (Phase 1 Application) | wmkeck.org |
| Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) | $450,000 | 2026 New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award | TBA | foundationfar.org |
| Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | TBA | Sawyer Seminars | TBA | mellon.org |
| Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | Up to $300,000 | New Directions Fellowships | TBA | mellon.org |