Whitehall Foundation Grant Programs - Research Grants

Whitehall Foundation Grant Programs - Research Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Whitehall Foundation
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Summary

The Whitehall Foundation offers research grants to support innovative and scientifically meritorious projects in neurobiology, focusing on sensory and motor functions in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Grants are aimed at independent investigators at accredited institutions in the U.S., with a maximum duration of three years, and a competitive renewal option available. Emphasis is placed on aiding early-career scientists and those transitioning into new research areas, fostering a diverse scientific community.

Overview

The Whitehall Foundation, through its program of grants and grants-in-aid, assists scholarly research in the life sciences. It is the Foundation's policy to assist those dynamic areas of basic biological research that are not heavily supported by Federal Agencies or other foundations with specialized missions. In order to respond to the changing environment, the Whitehall Foundation periodically reassesses the need for financial support by the various fields of biological research. The Foundation is currently interested in basic research in neurobiology, defined as follows: Invertebrate and vertebrate (excluding clinical) neurobiology, specifically investigations of neural mechanisms involved in sensory, motor, and other complex functions of the whole organism as these relate to behavior. The overall goal should be to better understand behavioral output or brain mechanisms of behavior. Research Grants Research grants are available to investigators that meet all of the Foundation’s eligibility requirements and are working at accredited institutions in the United States. Applications will be judged on the scientific merit and the innovative aspects of the proposal as well as on the competence of the applicant. Research grants of up to three years will be provided. A renewal grant with a maximum of two years is possible, but it will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for consideration an applicant must be considered an 'independent investigator’, as defined by the National Institutes of Health.  (a minimum time allocation of 20% is required).The principal investigator must hold no less than the position of assistant professor, or the equivalent, in order to participate in the application process. The applicant need not be in a tenure track position but must be an independent researcher and have Principal Investigator status at his/her institution, usually construed as having lab space independent of another Principal Investigator.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not fund investigators who have substantial (more than $200,000 per year) extramural funding calculated as total direct funds per year less any PI salary/fringe taken from these grants. If this amount is greater than $200,000 the PI would not be eligible for Whitehall Foundation funding. As of December 1st, 2024, the Foundation no longer includes indirect funding in the extramural funding calculation.The Foundation does not support research focused primarily on disease(s) unless it will also provide insights into normal functioning.Research grants will not be awarded to investigators who have already received, or expect to receive, substantial support from other sources, even if it is for an unrelated purpose.The Foundation will accept only one letter of intent per twelve-month period per investigator.