The execution of an oral history research project is dependent not only on the effort of the researcher but also on the availability of infrastructure to conduct the research for it to be successful. The conduct of a research project entails expenses on man and material and funding is essential to meet these requirements. It is however possible to conduct your oral history research without external funding if the infrastructure to conduct the research is available with the researcher or institution. Lack of funding can stall many good oral history research projects but if you are looking for funding for your oral history project there are a few options available to you.

Grants and Fellowships

Applying for a research grant is time consuming. But once you secure a grant it is absolutely satisfying. It not only allows a researcher to design a good study but it also allows one to understand the administrative aspect of conducting research. The application for a grant starts with submitting a proposal to whoever you are looking to secure a grant from where it will undergo scrutiny from a peer review panel who will judge the relative quality of research proposals competing for funding. A proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research, it sets out the central issues or questions that you intend to address.

Funds available for research are limited and sometimes your proposals may not qualify on the merit set by the peer review panel. Even if your proposals are not approved, it helps the researcher to improve their study design. It is important to be on the look out for call for proposals and deadlines for various grants.

Fundraising

There are different platforms where you can raise your funds for your oral history research projects. Through these platforms your research projects are brought to life through the direct support of others. The best two overall are Kickstarter and the runner up has to be Indiegogo. You can visit the Kickstarter website through the link https://www.kickstarter.com and the Indiegogo website https://www.indiegogo.com to start your fundraising for your oral history research projects today.

Through Partnership with an Institution or Group 

If your topic is related to a certain institution, university, like the Oral History Society or even a non-profit, they just might have some funding available to fund your oral history project. Do your research and find out if your research proposal is in line with or related to the institution or group and approach them for funding.

Conclusion

Research funding is an essential part of conducting research and in this case oral history research. To be able to secure a research grant is a matter of prestige for a researcher and it also helps in the advancement of career.

I do hope this blog will assist you in advancing your oral history research. Please contact us for any questions or comments you may have or for any of your oral history transcription needs.