Propel Grants

The Stanford Research Development Office (RDO), a unit within VPDoR, supports Principal Investigators (PIs) throughout the proposal development process. To improve the competitiveness of large and complex external funding proposals, RDO invites applications for Propel Grants, which fund the final stages of proposal preparation.

Download the Request for Applications

• Purpose: Support final-stage proposal development for large, complex external funding opportunities.
• Eligibility: Stanford faculty with PI status. School of Medicine applicants must include co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) from other Stanford schools.

*Exceptions to the internal deadline may be considered when the timing of an external opportunity does not align with the Propel cycle. Such exceptions are reserved for proposals of high strategic value to the university and require a consultation with the Stanford Research Development Office.

Please see the Propel Grant FAQs for more information.

Considering a Propel Grant?

To help ensure your project aligns with the program’s goals, we invite you to contact us before preparing a proposal. We’re happy to discuss your idea and help determine whether it fits the Propel Grant’s purpose and scale.

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Propel Grants support the final stages of developing collaborative proposals for large-scale, complex external funding opportunities. These grants target efforts that go beyond the usual preparation, enhancing competitiveness through strategic, value-added activities. Eligible projects exceed standard expectations in terms of scope, budget, or team size, and often involve interdisciplinary partnerships that address major societal or research challenges.

Projects may span any discipline. Examples include large team grants in STEM (e.g., NSF Science and Technology Centers, DOE Energy Frontier Research Centers, NIH P50/U54) and collaborative grants in the arts, humanities, or social sciences (e.g., NEH Collaborative Research Grants, NEA Grants for Arts Projects, Mellon grants). This list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

Teams must have completed preliminary work and be positioned to submit a proposal within 12 months. Propel Grants are not seed grants and do not fund initial team formation or concept development; instead, they are proposal development grants that support strategic activities to improve the competitiveness of the external proposal. Value added activities can include strengthening existing collaborations, demonstrating meaningful progress between stages of proposal development, or addressing gaps that typical preparation would not cover.

Please see the Propel Grant FAQs for more information on what kinds of projects are appropriate for Propel Grants.

Priority is given to Stanford-led teams that fulfill one or more of the following criteria:

• Involve faculty partnerships across two or more Stanford schools
• Include team members from interdisciplinary backgrounds
• Engage with disciplines that have limited internal grant support
• Strengthen collaboration between Stanford and SLAC

RDO aims to award a portfolio of grants representing Stanford's breadth of scholarly areas.

Please note the following eligibility guidelines:

• Only Stanford faculty who meet the university's PI eligibility requirements (i.e., members of the Academic Council and University Medical Line faculty) may apply for a Propel Grant.
• School of Medicine applicants must have a co-PI from another Stanford school.
• The external funding mechanism must be large-scale and collaborative, typically involving substantial budgets, multidisciplinary teams, and complex project scopes.
  • Not eligible: Proposals for single-investigator or narrowly focused projects.
• Propel Grants support activities that would give your external proposal a competitive advantage, rather than routine tasks. Applicants should demonstrate that the team has completed the essential preliminary work and how the requested activities go beyond standard preparation.

Propel Grants support strategic, value-added activities that enhance the quality, clarity, and competitiveness of proposals for large, complex external funding opportunities. These grants do not fund routine proposal preparation tasks (e.g., drafting standard sections, collecting baseline data, or meeting basic submission requirements). Instead, Propel Grants provide the “cherry on top” for projects that are nearly ready to apply, helping to maximize competitiveness in challenging funding environments.

All proposed expenditures must follow Stanford Purchasing Policies and Guidelines. Funds are to be used for reasonable expenses incurred to strengthen the research idea described in your proposed project and help the team submit a competitive proposal for extramural funding.

For examples of how Propel funds can be used, please refer to  Propel Grant FAQs.

Small Propel Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis. Funding decisions are announced within three weeks of submission.

Large Propel Grants are announced twice a year.

Exceptions to the internal deadline may be considered when the timing of an external opportunity does not align with the Propel cycle. Such exceptions are reserved for proposals of high strategic value to the university and require a consultation with the Stanford Research Development Office.

Please see the Propel Grant FAQs for more information.

• Small Propel Grant applicants may request flexible funds up to $5,000 in direct costs for up to 6 months.
• Large Propel Grant applicants may request a University Research Award of up to $50,000 in direct costs for up to 12 months.

The external funding request should be at least 20 times greater than the requested Propel Grant amount, reflecting the program’s emphasis on advancing large-scale proposals. For instance, a $50,000 Propel Grant request would typically align with an external proposal budget of at least $1,000,000.

Awards may not cover the full requested amount if the activities are not aligned with the program's purpose. Smaller budget requests are welcome and appreciated.

Please see the Propel Grant FAQs for more information.

Teams may submit more than one Propel Grant application for the same project, provided each request supports a distinct stage of proposal development (e.g., preliminary proposal, full proposal, site visit, etc.).

The total Propel Grant support a project may receive (across both Small and Large grants) is capped at $50,000.

Each application should clearly differentiate the stage of work and show continued progress toward the targeted external funding opportunity.

RDO staff will review all applications to ensure compliance with program guidelines, alignment with program goals, appropriate justification of requested funds, and evidence of the team’s readiness for external funding.

In addition, Large Propel Grant applications may undergo peer review to assess the application, focusing on the significance, feasibility, and overall potential for funding success of the proposed research.

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Significance
• Readiness
• Proposed activities
• Budget justification
• Feasibility
• Funding potential

Applicants should focus primarily on demonstrating how their project aligns with the Propel Grant’s purpose and explaining how the proposed activities will strengthen the competitiveness of their proposal for external funding. These aspects will carry the most weight during the review.

Please see the FAQs for expanded details on the criteria.

See the VPDoR Application Portal for detailed instructions on the application format.

Propel Grant reviewers will be from different academic fields or subfields than your own. It is highly recommended that you write your application so a wide academic audience can easily understand it and provide sufficient detail to demonstrate feasibility.

Formatting requirements: minimum 11-point font, 1-inch margins on all sides.

Please include the following sections:

1. Research idea for the external proposal - Outline the core idea and describe how it fits the Propel Grants aim to support high-impact research that stretches conventional boundaries in scope, scale, or team structure. Briefly clarify the problem or need and proposed solution, concentrating on how the idea advances the field in a way that aligns with the emphasis on complex, large-scale challenges.
2. Propel Grant activities - This section is the most important. Describe exactly how you will use Propel funds to strengthen your external proposal, detailing specific activities that will enhance competitiveness. Include a timeline, milestones, and anticipated outcomes for each activity, with an emphasis on how the funds will contribute to distinctive strengths for the targeted grant.
3. Team composition - List team members, their roles, and departments. Include both confirmed and proposed members, highlighting prior collaborations. Emphasize how the team’s expertise supports a competitive proposal.
4. External funding plan - Applicants must demonstrate that the team is on track to submit a competitive proposal. Identify the primary external funding target and, if possible, alternative options. List the sponsor, program name, submission deadline, and anticipated budget request.
5. Budget and justification (Large Propel Grants only) - Provide a detailed breakdown of expenditures the Propel funds will support. Explain how this funding complements any existing support and addresses gaps essential for the final proposal stage. For budgets over $50,000, include a narrative explaining why the project’s scope and complexity merit additional resources.
6. Appendices (optional)

Special Instructions for Resubmission Proposals

If you are considering a Propel Grant for resubmission to an external agency, please get in touch with the Research Development Office (RDO) before preparing your application. Please email us at rdo-funding-programs@stanford.edu to discuss your project and receive tailored instructions, as there may be separate instructions that best support your resubmission efforts.

1. Survey/report
   1. Small Propel Grant recipients are expected to complete two brief surveys: (a) one month after the award period, and (b) two years after the award period, describing the impact of the Propel Grant activities.
   2. Large Propel Grant recipients are expected to (a) submit an end-of-grant report describing what was accomplished or lessons learned and (b) complete a survey one year after the award period describing the impact and outcomes of the Propel Grant activities.
2. Notification
   1. Teams should notify RDO if the Propel Grants contributed to a noteworthy outcome, or if any external funds were received, for up to two years after receiving the award.

We welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Please get in touch with the Program Manager, Jessica Boydston, at rdo-funding-programs@stanford.edu.

See our frequently asked questions for additional information.