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.
Or find the grant you can actually win
An account is free and shows the full announcement, the review criteria reviewers score you against, and whether you are actually eligible — including the windows that close before the deadline does. No card required.