Emergency Research Funding

The King Center on Global Development recognizes that field research can be unpredictable and that, in rare and exceptional circumstances, unexpected events may jeopardize an otherwise fully funded research project. To help address these situations, the King Center maintains a limited pool of emergency funding available to Stanford faculty.

Emergency funding is intended only for discrete, unforeseen needs for ongoing projects which, were it not for an unexpected roadblock, would be fully funded. Emergency funding may be available for the following circumstances:

Bridge funding may be requested when an external funder has committed support but is delayed in disbursing funds, and a research partner requires interim funding confirmation to proceed with project activities. Bridge funding is expected to be repaid to the King Center once the external funding is received.
Unexpected shocks: Limited funding may also be available when an unforeseen external event—such as a change in government regulations, new tariffs on a key input, or other unexpected circumstances—creates a one-time funding need that must be addressed for an otherwise fully funded project to proceed or be completed.

Emergency funding is not available to:

Support additional research opportunities or research sites identified during an ongoing project
Fund pilot or exploratory research
Launch time-sensitive projects before funding has been secured
Cover salary or stipend costs for faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, or research collaborators

Faculty seeking support for new or expanded research activities, particularly larger funding requests, should instead consider applying through the King Center's Global Development Research Funding program.

Eligibility

Primary Principal Investigators (PIs) must be Stanford faculty members and be eligible to serve as PIs under Stanford policy.

How to Apply

Your request should include:

A brief description of the research project and its current sources of funding
A description of the emergency funding need, including the timeline and events that created it
An explanation of why this need will not recur
A budget for the requested funds and a description of any other funding sources being pursued to address the need

Review Process and Timeline

Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee appointed by the King Center's Faculty Steering Committee. Committee members involved in a proposal will recuse themselves from deliberations.

In evaluating requests, the committee will consider:

Whether the need was reasonably unforeseeable
Whether the requested funding is likely to fully resolve the issue
The anticipated research impact of providing the funding

Applicants will normally be notified of a funding decision within two weeks of submitting a request.

Acknowledgment of King Center Support

If you receive funding, you are required to acknowledge King Center support in professional materials and communications. This includes working papers, publications, interviews, media appearances, social media, and other public communications, as well as identifying yourself as a King Center funding recipient where appropriate.

Read the acknowledgment guidelines.

Questions?