1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Application window is currently closed; next call for awards is Autumn 2026. Program runs two cycles per academic year (Autumn and Spring) with fixed deadlines during each window.
OpenBright Awards is sponsored by OpenBright Foundation. The OpenBright Awards are grants specifically for women developing university-level research projects in computing and tech-related subjects. This includes areas like software engineering, data science, digital media, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “OpenBright Foundation” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
OpenBright Foundation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - OpenBright Foundation The Application window is now closed. Our next Call for Awards is in Autumn 2026. What is an OpenBright Award?
OpenBright Awards are grants to women for projects in computing. To be eligible for an OpenBright Award you would be studying computing or a tech-related subject at one of our partner universities; have a project or research idea that you need funding for; be living in the UK; and identify as a woman. How many Calls for Applications are held each year?
There are typically two Calls per academic year – one in the Autumn and a second in Spring. Is there a deadline for applying for an OpenBright Award? Yes – please see the banner at the top of this page for the latest information about dates and deadlines.
How do I apply for an OpenBright Award? Please complete the online application form on our website. Can I apply for an OpenBright Award before I start my university course?
No – we are currently only accepting applications from students who are enrolled on an eligible course at one of our partner universities. How much funding can I ask for? You can ask for as much funding as you need to undertake your project – this can include any equipment if you need it.
Please provide full costings in the application form where requested. We don’t want to be prescriptive, but as a rough guide, we would expect to fund Awards that are more than £250 but less than £5,000. What can I spend the Award on?
You can use the Award to cover the direct costs of anything that will help you undertake your project, for instance, purchase of specialist equipment, books or training; travel/subsistence for attending a conference, meeting or networking event, etc. We do not cover degree course fees, maintenance costs, ‘contingency’ or any costs which are not fully justified. What are you looking for in terms of academic outcomes?
We would expect your project to lead to an academic outcome such as a report, dissertation, or thesis; but appreciate that there may be other relevant and tangible outcomes such as artefacts, applications, demonstrations and prototypes. What happens if I change course after receiving my funding? OpenBright funding is awarded for you to undertake an agreed project.
If by changing course, your funded project is no longer possible, you must discuss this with us as soon as possible so we can come to a mutual agreement about the best way forward. Before you can receive an Award, you must agree to the OpenBright terms and conditions for that Award. Can I apply if I am already receiving funding from other areas?
Yes – all applications will be considered on their own merit, regardless of previous rejection or receipt of previous OpenBright Awards or grants from elsewhere. Can I apply more than once per Call? No – we only accept one application per person per Call.
If you have submitted your application in error, or wish to withdraw it and start again, please let us know using the contact form. Can I apply for a second Award if I’m already holding one for a project I haven’t yet completed? Yes – but we would expect the element of the project that is funded by the existing Award to have already been successfully completed before you apply for another Award.
Can I apply again if I’ve already had an Award from OpenBright for a previous project? Yes – all applications will be considered on their own merit, and in relation to the project being proposed, regardless of previous rejection or receipt of previous OpenBright Awards. Can I apply if I have a project partner or am working as a team?
Yes – but please bear in mind that we want our Awards to inspire women to explore new ideas, showcase and celebrate research by women and to support interesting and potentially innovative projects. Will I have to provide a breakdown of the costs I am asking for? Yes – please provide a breakdown of costs by completing the table in the application form.
You can also upload additional details on an Excel spreadsheet or similar. This element is important, and can have a significant influence on whether you receive an Award or not. Please be as thorough as you can – we know that project plans can evolve and you might not know the exact numbers at the time of your application, but you should include as much detail as you can.
Links to examples of products and services that you are requesting funding for should be included. How long does an OpenBright Award last for? We would expect you to spend the Award within 12 months of the date of receipt.
You are welcome to apply again to another year’s Call if your project is longer than 12 months. What sort of projects does OpenBright fund? Our grants are to help women develop university-level research in computing as part of their undergraduate, masters or PhD studies.
We want our funding to inspire women to explore new ideas, showcase and celebrate research by women and to support interesting and potentially innovative projects. We expect the projects we fund to lead to tangible output or artefact such as a report, thesis, application, demonstration, or prototype. Do I have to have a finalised title for my project?
No – we are happy to accept working titles at application stage as we understand that your ideas about the work might change as you explore your area of interest. What level of student can apply for an OpenBright Award? Any eligible undergraduate or postgraduate student with a project idea can apply for funding from OpenBright.
Is OpenBright funding for final year students only? No – any eligible undergraduate or postgraduate student with a project idea may apply for funding from OpenBright. Are OpenBright Awards only for projects that are formally assessed by the university where I’m studying?
No – but we will need evidence (via tutor sign-off on application) that the project/student is supported by the university. Would OpenBright fund a ‘side-project’ that I’ve developed myself that sits outside of my university course?
Potentially, yes – but we would need you to confirm in your application that the project has been actively discussed with a member of university staff and that there is university support/supervision in place if needed. Would OpenBright fund a project or business idea that I’ve developed as part of my industry placement or a business idea that I’d like to trial in a self-employment capacity?
Yes – we would welcome these sorts of ideas for project funding, as long as you can confirm you have university support for the idea, and supervision in place if needed. Do I need to talk to the university before I apply? Yes – you will need to discuss your project idea with a relevant university tutor or supervisor before you apply.
You might want to look at the online application form questions with them and make sure they give consent for you to share their contact details with OpenBright. Why do you ask for a university contact to validate my application? We want to make sure that every application is supported by your university.
This means that there is someone available at your university (e.g. a tutor or supervisor) who can confirm that you are a current student; and who can provide advice and support to you and your project for the duration of the funding. What is the Q&A session and why do you need it? The Q&A session is a chance for OpenBright Trustees to meet you and find out more about your project idea.
These meetings will be held via an online meeting platform, such as Google Meet or Zoom. You will be given a 20 minute timeslot. After introductions, we’d like you to talk through your project idea for a few minutes.
Our Trustees will then discuss your application with you and ask any questions they might have. You can ask us questions too. When is the Q&A session and do I have to attend it if I am shortlisted?
The date for the next Q&A session will be clearly shown on our website banner. Please ensure you are available on the day of the Q&A session before you apply for an Award. It is imperative that you attend the Q&A session if invited to do so.
Can I have someone to help or support me during the Q&A session? Yes of course, if you would find that helpful. But they need to be visible with audio on mute.
How long will the Q&A session last? About 20 minutes – half an hour at the maximum. When will I hear if my application has been successful?
We will try to let you know by the end of the week of the Q&A session – i.e. if the Q&A session is on a Wednesday, we would try to email you by Friday. Can I appeal if my application is not successful? The Trustees’ decision is final and there is no possibility to appeal.
However you are welcome to apply again in a future Call if you wish. How do I receive my OpenBright Award? We will normally expect to transfer your Award to your university as soon as possible following the Q&A session, and once you have accepted our offer.
Your university will then transfer the funds directly to you. What feedback do I need to provide at the end of the Award? At the end of the project, we ask you to complete a questionnaire telling us about the results and outputs of the funded work.
This typically takes about 20 minutes. We are also interested in the output of your project. Is OpenBright interested in keeping in touch with funded students longer term?
Is there any way to network with OpenBright Alumni? We are hoping to set up networking events and will make sure that people can stay in touch if they want to. We are very keen to keep in touch with OpenBright Alumni as the number of Awards we give out grows.
Why is supporting women in computing so important? Women make up 51% of the UK population but this is not reflected in computing research, training, careers, industry and ethics. OpenBright want to help address this gender gap by supporting women students to explore new ideas and undertake projects in areas that they may otherwise not have considered.
We want women’s ideas and research to be celebrated, showcased and rewarded and we hope that our OpenBright Awards will help with this. In the longer term we hope that OpenBright Awards will help more women to enter and stay working in the computing industry and contribute to technology and products that better reflect the interests, needs and voices of women. Please see our FAQs first, or contact your university in the first instance.
If you still have a question, you can get in touch with us by email or fill in the online contact form
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Women currently resident in the UK and studying at one of OpenBright Foundation's partner universities are eligible. The awards are for students studying for degrees or postgraduate qualifications. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Not specified (supports research projects with funding, and can be used for things like equipment or subscriptions) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education & Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program promotes novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students. It supports projects that bring recent advances in STEM knowledge into undergraduate education, adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices, and lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education. Professional development for instructors to ensure adoption of new and effective pedagogical techniques is a potential topic of interest.
The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and have the potential to advance practice and strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as new models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment. Applications to IMLS should both advance knowledge and understanding and ensure that the federal investment made generates benefits to society. Specifically, the goals for this program are to generate projects of far-reaching impact that: • Build the workforce and institutional capacity for managing the national information infrastructure and serving the information and education needs of the public. • Build the capacity of libraries and archives to lead and contribute to efforts that improve community well-being and strengthen civic engagement. • Improve the ability of libraries and archives to provide broad access to and use of information and collections with emphasis on collaboration to avoid duplication and maximize reach. • Strengthen the ability of libraries to provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster. • Strengthen the ability of libraries, archives, and museums to work collaboratively for the benefit of the communities they serve. Throughout its work, IMLS places importance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This may be reflected in an IMLS-funded project in a wide range of ways, including efforts to serve individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; individuals having difficulty using a library or museum; and underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty line. Application Process: The application process for the NLG-L program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit Preliminary Proposals by the September 20th deadline listed for this Notice of Funding Opportunity. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, and only those Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 20, 2024. Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-LIBRARIES-FY24. Assistance Listing: 45.312. Funding Instrument: G. Category: AR,HU. Award Amount: $50K – $1M per award.