Best Chemistry Grants in West Virginia

Early-career, tenure-track chemistry faculty at degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada can receive US $75,000 for fundamental research, including staffing, travel, lab expenses, equipment, or summer salary support. Focused on advancing basic science, the Alfred P Sloan Foundation supports eligible researchers whose institutions include those in West Virginia.

Early-career U.S. PhD chemists and postdoctoral researchers pursuing fundamental chemistry or chemical instrumentation projects can receive US $224,000 - US $542,000 to support innovative postdoctoral research. Focused on cutting-edge chemical sciences, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation invites eligible fellows at qualifying U.S. nonprofit institutions, including those based in West Virginia, to apply with a committed faculty mentor.

American graduate students of Polish descent, including those in chemistry and related sciences, can apply for Kosciuszko Foundation tuition scholarships; awards US $1,000 - US $12,000 for full-time master’s or Ph.D. studies. Eligible students in West Virginia and nationwide may use funding at U.S. institutions or English schools of medicine in Poland.

Early-career, tenure-track chemical sciences faculty at U.S. bachelor’s- or higher-degree institutions, including those in West Virginia, can receive US $100,000 in unrestricted research funding to advance their scholarship and teaching. With a mission to strengthen chemical sciences research and education, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation provides this award via institutional nomination.

Educational institutions and programs supporting children’s health, education, and STEM fields, including chemistry, can apply for Fash Foundation grants across the U.S., including West Virginia. Awards of US $1,000 - US $25,000 support higher education, K-12, early learning, and youth arts and sciences initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission.

Nonprofit organizations working on environmental initiatives such as clean energy, toxics reduction, or clean water projects in the U.S., including West Virginia, can apply for US $25,000 - US $75,000 for multi-state or national efforts. Roy A Hunt Foundation supports project management, contracted services, education, outreach, applied research, and policy-oriented innovations that may intersect with chemistry-focused work.

Organizations planning chemistry or neuroscience-related congresses and events in West Virginia can apply for Biogen corporate sponsorships to support meetings, conferences, and similar initiatives that offer tangible marketing or recognition benefits. Grants from Biogen Foundation help cover event-related costs across disease areas such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, and other neurological conditions.

Early- and mid-career MD/PhD chemical biology researchers at nominated institutions in Canada and the U.S. can receive multi-year project funding for innovative, high-impact science. Ono Pharma Foundation provides up to US $1,035,000 over three years to support transformative chemical biology research, which may include work conducted by eligible faculty whose institutions are located outside West Virginia.

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation

The Foundation was established in September 1977 by Dr. Arnold O. and Mrs. Mabel Beckman to give back to the scientific community.

“The mission of the Foundation is to support leading edge research, in the fields of chemistry and life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that open up new avenues of research and application in these sciences and related disciplines. My preference is to favor young investigators, new ideas, and a variety of projects rather than fund large, established ones of long duration.”

Current Foundation Initiatives

Today, the Foundation continues according to the vision laid out by Dr. and Mrs. Beckman:

• Supporting Young Scientists: through our annual grant programs, focused on the most promising young scientists
• Community Support activities: that promote science education and excellence in our local community
• Streamlined operations: so that we don't "spend money to give money away"

"Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation’s "Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants are open to all current and former Foundation grant awardees and Executive Committee members, specifically from the Beckman Scholars Program, Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, Beckman Young Investigator, and Instrument Grants programs.

As a current or former Beckman awardee or Executive Committee member, if you are actively engaged as a volunteer or Board member in a youth STEM or STEAM organization in your local area, you may apply to this program for funding for a particular project with that organization.

Funding Priorities

Projects should be aligned with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries” and oriented toward achieving positive outcomes in at least one of the Foundation’s current funding priorities:

• Engaging youth in hands-on science and math activities to encourage curiosity and student-driven exploration and learning.
• Using technology to engage youth in STEM/STEAM.
• Promoting the Beckmans’ legacy of technology innovation and leadership amongst youth.

In addition, the following considerations should be addressed in a proposal for funding:

• Where possible, the Foundation’s contribution to a project or activity should help to build capacity within the nonprofit organization to continue the activity beyond the one-time grant.
• The Awardee/Executive Committee member should discuss how the program will increase access to STEM/STEAM opportunities for the target audience.
• The costs associated with the request should relate to a stand-alone STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity and not part of a broader program, event, or target audience outside the Awardee’s or Executive Committee member's local area.
• Youth registration to participate in the STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity should be open to all in the local area, when possible.

Process & Timeline

Grant funds are directly issued to the organization by the Foundation and include for acknowledgement an indication that the gift was made because their volunteer or Board member is a Beckman Awardee or Executive Committee member.

Requests must be submitted by the Beckman Awardee on behalf of a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3), or equivalent, organization exclusively serving youth in their local community. As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide grants to non-U.S. organizations or institutions. This program defines the terms “youth” and “youths” as individual(s) 17 years of age or younger.