Suzanne del Gizzo
Dept of English

Grant and fellowship seeking can be a daunting task!   There are tens of thousands of grants and fellowship available.  Needless to say, the keyword is FOCUS.  Learn about grants and fellowships available in your field.  Then, attempt to match your strengths, qualifications, and goals with one or more of the grants or fellowships you have researched.  Here is a list of some steps that may help you make sense of the process!

1.  Know Thyself

Assess your own strengths and goals.  Consider such personal factors as:

• field of study (and related fields of study)
• special interests or previous research
• activities
• stage of education (there are a lot more fellowships for post docs than for those working toward the degree)

Consider what you want out of the grant, your goals and needs:

• a specific program, library, school, or other institution that has what you need
• geographic location
• amount of funding
• the big picture--how does getting this grant fit in with your eventual career goals

Also...many grants and fellowships target individuals of a particular race, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, geographic location, or heritage.... take advantage of any background factors and increase your options. 

2.  Identifying the Right Grant or Fellowship for YOU!

Browse the list of online and print resources on the isn website or search the web yourself, using some of the factors listed above to help narrow and guide your searches.

Also, don't forget the valuable resource called your advisor or faculty mentors-- they are usually aware of opportunities in their fields and may have valuable advice based on previous experience.

3.  Deciding which Grants or Fellowships to Pursue   

Look at the list you have complied and make sure you are eligible (read the eligibility requirements very carefully, especially note the stage of education required or any special eligibility requirements!).  Also, be sure your project meets the goals of the grant or fellowship.

Since the application processes are usually similar, it is generally worth your while to pursue more than one grant or fellowship at a time.

Part of First Workshop "If I knew then what I know now..."
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