Internal Funding

Research & Sponsored Programs administers internal funding programs that support faculty and student research, scholarship, creative activity, and proposal development. These investments promote academic excellence, innovation, and future external funding success.

Click on the funding opportunities below for detailed information, including eligibility, funding levels, application requirements, and important deadlines.

These internal awards are managed in collaboration with the School of Graduate Studies & Research.

Faculty Funding
External Proposal Development Award - COMING SOON

Faculty CAT Grant (sponsored by Research and Sponsored Programs and the School of Graduate Studies & Research)
- Maximum award amount of $5,000.
- Submissions due January 24th, 2027 by 11:59 pm.
  - Notification of award will be announced on March 4th, 2027.
- Application Guidelines
- Application Template
- Budget Template
- Application Form
- Final Report Form (due no later than 3 months after completion of the project)
Open Access Publication Award (sponsored by Research and Sponsored Programs, the School of Graduate Studies & Research, and CWU Libraries)
- Maximum award amount of $1,200.
- Submissions accepted on a rolling basis, until funds are exhausted.
- Application Instructions
- Application Form
Travel Support Award (sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies and Research)
- Tenured/tenure-tracked faculty who are traveling to present or perform their scholarly work/creative activity may be awarded once per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) for up to $2,000 in allowable travel expenses.
  - $1,200 available for presentation in Washington state
  - $1,500 available for presentation in the continental US
  - $2,000 available for presentation Internationally
- A letter of support from your department chair and proof of presentation are required.
- Application Form
Staff Funding

External Proposal Development Award - COMING SOON
Graduate Student Funding
Graduate Student CAT Grant & Summer Fellowship (sponsored by Research and Sponsored Programs and the School of Graduate Studies & Research)
- Maximum award amount of $2,000 (CAT Grants) and $5,000 (Summer Fellowship).
  - Applicants may apply to both the spring CAT Grant and Summer Fellowship in the April competition.
- Submissions for the fall competition are due November 8th, 2026 by 11:59 pm.
  - Notification of award will be announced on December 15th, 2026.
- Submissions for the spring competition and Summer Fellowship are due April 4th, 2027 by 11:59 pm.
  - Notification of award will be announced on May 12th, 2027.
- Application Guidelines
- Application Template
- Budget Template (CAT Grants only - not required for the Summer Fellowship)
- Fall CAT Grant Application Form
- Spring CAT Grant and Summer Fellowship Application Form
- Final Report Form (due no later than 3 months after completion of the project)
Graduate Student Travel Award (sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies and Research)
- Graduate students who are traveling to present or perform their scholarly work/creative activity may be awarded once per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) for up to $2,000 in allowable travel expenses.
  - $1,200 available for presentation in Washington state
  - $1,500 available for presentation in the continental US
  - $2,000 available for presentation Internationally
- A letter of support from your faculty mentor and proof of presentation are required.
- Application Form
Undergraduate Student Funding

Please contact the Office of University Student Research (OUR) for funding opportunities for undergraduate students.

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Contact

Pre-Award: Leslie Hunter
Email: leslie.hunter@cwu.edu
Phone: (509) 963-2248

Post-Award: Kristie Thomas
Email: kristie.thomas@cwu.edu
Phone: (509) 963-1988