Research Cultivation Grant (RCG)

About this program

The National Communication Association (NCA) Research Cultivation Grant provides up to $12,500 to seed innovative communication research and to cultivate first-time grant-seekers, supporting projects that can make significant contributions to communication scholarship and practice. Funded proposals should focus on innovative or understudied topics, novel methodologies, promotion of IDEA as defined by NCA (work with historically marginalized groups), and/or engaged scholarship that translates theory into non‑academic contexts or addresses pressing social, civic, or ethical concerns. Applicants should be those without prior grant experience and/or those seeking to build a foundation for future grant pursuits; applications are due September 1 for awards made the following year (if you updated your NCA member portal on or after Jan 21 you must reset your Grants Portal password), and questions can be directed to the NCA Research Department.