Grant Programs

Grant Programs

You can apply for scientific research grants directly on Experiment. Funders post their programs here, review proposals, and award funding through the platform.

How to apply

Every program has its own page with eligibility, deadlines and funding details. To apply, create a project page and submit it to the program before the deadline.

Experiment staff check every submission against our project guidelines. Projects that pass go to the program’s reviewers, who make the funding decisions. Please read the Researcher Guide for a general guide on how to frame a project, and keep in mind the specific details for the grant.

How grant funding covers your project

Each funder decides how much of your budget its program covers. Before you set your funding goal, check the "About This Grant" on the program page. Programs use different models:

• Full Funding.If you’re selected, the grant covers your whole budget, up to the program’s maximum.
• Grant + Crowdfunding.The grant covers part of your budget, and you raise the rest on Experiment. Most of these programs are all-or-nothing: if your campaign doesn’t reach its goal, you receive none of the funds, including the grant. The program page says whether this applies.
• Challenge Grant.You crowdfund your own budget, and the funder awards bonus prizes to top campaigns, for example, the projects with the most supporters.

Every program page answers the same five questions:

• Award: the range per project, and the average if known
• Covers your full budget? Yes / Partially
• Crowdfund the rest? Whether you need to, and whether it’s all-or-nothing
• Fees: whether to add the Experiment platform fee to your budget
• When funds arrive: when and how you will be paid

FAQ

Will the grant cover my whole budget?
It depends on the program. Some funds select projects in full, but most cover part of the budget. The About This Grant section on the program page tells you which.

What if the grant covers only part of my budget?
If your grant program allows it, you can lower your budget to the amount of your grant and add stretch goals for the rest. Your project is funded as soon as the grant is awarded, and anything you crowdfund beyond that goes toward the rest of your plans.

Can I raise more than my goal?
Yes. Add stretch goals to your project to show what extra funding would let you do.

Do I include the platform fee in my budget?
Check the program page. Some programs will ask you to add the Experiment platform fee as a line item.

What if I’m not selected for the grant?
You can still launch your project as a regular crowdfunding campaign. This is optional. To learn more, check out our Researcher Guide page about transitioning into crowdfunding.

Are you a funder?

Experiment can host your grant program, from applications and review through payout.

Learn more about using Experiment for grant funding.