Have you heard of the American Psychological Foundationopens in new window? APF is a philanthropic organization affiliated with APA that is committed to supporting novel research and programs in psychology. In 2013, APF is a philanthropic organization affiliated with APA that is committed to supporting novel research and programs in psychology.
APF's mission overlaps with the mission of APAGS to support the next generation of scientific innovators, expert practitioners and visionary leaders in psychology, so it is convenient that its offices are located just down the hall from the APAGS offices.
The foundation has a number of programs organized to support research, funded primarily by psychologists and friends of psychology. In the last 10 years, APF has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships for graduate students, both for research and to fund travel to APA's Annual Convention, as well as funding research and projects by early career psychologists.
Here is just a sampling of APF's funding opportunitiesopens in new window:
- Lizette Peterson-Homer Injury Prevention Grant Award: $5,000 for research on injury prevention in children and adolescents. Deadline Oct. 1.
- Scott and Paul Pearsall Scholarship: $10,000 to fund work that increases the public's understanding of the psychological pain and stigma experienced by adults who live with physical disabilities. Deadline Oct. 1.
- Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant: $12,000 for research on lesbian, gay and bisexual family psychology and LGB family therapy. Deadline Nov. 1.
- Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Child Psychology Graduate Student Fellowship: $25,000 fellowship for research in child psychology. Deadline Nov. 15.
- Wayne F. Placek Grant: $15,000 for research related to LGBTQ issues. This grant is funded from a bequest by Wayne Placek, a participant in Dr. Evelyn Hooker's key study in the 1950s documenting that homosexuality was not a form of psychopathology. Deadline March 1.
- Visionary Grants: Up to $20,000 to fund innovative projects in research, education, or intervention with the following priorities: the connection between behavior and physical health, reducing stigma and prejudice, violence prevention and long-term psychological needs in the aftermath of disaster. Deadline April 1.
- Ungerleider/Zimbardo Travel Scholarships: $300 travel awards to fund first-time authors to attend APA Convention. Deadline April 1.
- Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship: $5,000 to fund work on stigma related to mental illness. Deadline May 15.
- APF Graduate Student Scholarships: $1,000 to $5,000 general scholarships for graduate students in psychology. Deadline to be determined.
There are many more opportunities for funding from APF, which partners with more than 20 groups, including many APA divisions, to support different types of projects and opportunities. Why is this relevant to you? Many graduate students are involved in research projects — including those for their master's theses or dissertations — and it is important to know about the funding opportunities for which you may be eligible. In addition, if you seek a research career, funding from a foundation such as APF can provide the pilot data necessary to later receive larger funding, such as a National Institutes of Health or National Science Foundation grant — this is especially important for early career psychologists.
I encourage each of you to check out APF's websiteopens in new window to find out more about the different funding opportunities. Learn which programs your research could qualify for and when the deadlines are. Even if a funding deadline has passed for this year, remember that you can get a sense of what types of programs are out there and when those deadlines might be for next year.