Funding science outside the grant system
This domain has covered non-traditional research funding since the days when it was Nick Dragojlovic's science-crowdfunding research blog. The landscape it tracked — crowdfunding, foundations, and non-dilutive federal programmes — is still how science gets funded when the study section says no. Here is the current state of each route.
Research crowdfunding
Small, public-facing raises — typically $2k–$50k — for discrete, explainable projects. Best as seed or bridge money, and for work with a natural public audience (disease research, ecology, space).
Private foundations
Missions-driven funders — from HHMI and Wellcome down to single-disease family foundations — many funding work federal agencies consider too early, too translational, or too odd.
SBIR/STTR (for companies)
Non-dilutive federal funding for small companies doing R&D — Phase I typically $150k–$314k, Phase II into the millions. The largest "alternative" funding source by far, and equity-free.
Science crowdfunding platforms
The largest dedicated research crowdfunding platform. Every project is reviewed for scientific clarity and feasibility before launch; roughly half of campaigns fund. Most raises are $2k–$50k for discrete, explainable projects.
Lists only medical research projects vetted by the researcher’s home institution, so donors give to a specific study, not a general fund.
Science-specific platform serving researchers internationally, with flexible (keep-what-you-raise) campaigns and support for institutional recipients.
Not campaigns — standing researcher profiles that philanthropic donors and their advisors fund through donor-advised funds. Slower, larger, relationship-driven.
Many universities run their own crowdfunding portals (UC Berkeley’s is linked as the example). Gifts route through the development office, are tax-deductible, and often qualify for matching.
Not for research per se — backers expect a product. Works when the science produces an instrument, kit, dataset or book.
No research vetting and no scientific audience, but no barriers either. Frequently used for medical costs; occasionally for a lab’s emergency gap.
Foundations funding science now
The fourth route: a salary where the money already landed
The most dependable alternative to winning your own funding is joining a lab or company that just won theirs. We track which science companies closed federal awards in the last two years — median size six people, hiring before the posting exists — and run a job board that lists funded employers first.
Read the review criteria before you apply
A free account shows the review criteria on file and the announcement text where we hold it. The eligibility check, funded precedents and the Reviewer Scorecard are on Plus, $39 a month. No card required.