At VCU, research begins with boldness, creativity and ambition that is transforming innovation and improving the human condition. And, we are succeeding, changing who is shaping and creating knowledge and ensuring that research serves our collective good by aligning our collective strengths toward with a focus on the four initiatives outlined under theVCU Strategic Research Priorities Plan (SRPP).
Strategic funds details and application instructions
This year, we are pleased to offer the following funding opportunities:
The VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund (AHSS) supports, facilitates and enhances the creation, production and dissemination of arts, humanities and social sciences research and creative activity at any stage of development, including initial or mid-stage project development, presentation or performance, final publication, or preliminary results for which external grant applications could be based. To find out more information, please review the VCU AHSS Request for Application (RFA).
VCU AHSS Fund application packages must be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities here: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Grant (OP00000857) no later than 5 p.m. (EST), Friday, February 13, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt. Applications cannot be accepted after the deadline for any reason.
Award details: Up to $10,000 total for 12 months
Deadline to submit: February 13, 2026
Award start date: May 15, 2026
The VCU Momentum Fundpromotes impactful interdisciplinary research by providing multi-principal investigator research teams with support to prepare and submit competitive, external, multicomponent large-scale proposals. Examples include, but are not limited to, large funding opportunities from federal agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health P- or U-series mechanisms, National Science Foundation Gen4 Engineering Research Centers, NSF Science and Technology Centers, Department of Energy’s Energy Frontier Research Centers) or foundations (e.g. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and MacArthur Foundation), or industry partners. To find out more information, please review the VCU Momentum Request for Application (RFA).
VCU Momentum Fund application packages should be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities here: VCU Momentum Grant (OP00000859) no later than 5 p.m. (EST) on Friday, February 13, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt. Applications cannot be accepted after the deadline for any reason.
Award details: Up to $225,000 total for 24 months
Deadline to submit: February 13, 2026
Award start date: June 30, 2026
The goal of the VCU Quest Fund is to afford all faculty an internal funding opportunity to support new, emerging, or continuing research. Research proposals that advance any discipline and area of research focus are appropriate for consideration. Requests for grant support may be based on a broad array of needs, from restarting an inactive research program to pilot studies that would produce preliminary results on which external grant applications could be based. Proposed work that helps advance transdisciplinary research, multidisciplinary research, and cross-campus collaboration, as well as research that has the potential for translation to practice or market, is especially encouraged. To find out more information, please review the VCU Quest Request for Application (RFA).
VCU Quest Fund application packages should be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities here:VCU Quest Grant (OP00000858) no later than 5 p.m. (EST) on Friday, February 13, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt. Applications cannot be accepted after the deadline for any reason.
Award details: Up to $50,000 total (inclusive of 25% required unit cost share) for 24 months
Deadline to submit: February. 13, 2026
Award start date: June 30, 2026
The VCU Breakthroughs Fund (Breakthroughs) supports transdisciplinary teams to design unique, creative, and innovative large-scale approaches to confront humanity’s grand challenges as identified in the VCU Strategic Research Priorities Plan. Successful projects are designed to reach specific outcomes or establish the capability to compete for external funding upon award completion.
The VCU Breakthroughs Fund is scheduled for release in Spring 2026. Application details and deadlines will be communicated by email and posted on this page when released.
TheVCU Commercialization Fundis dedicated to the advancement of VCU inventions with a goal of bringing projects to a more mature stage of development and improving their chances of being licensed and brought to market.
