Special interest foundations may specify a geographic limitation, and approach is usually by letter of inquiry. Corporations Major corporations, like General Motors and Philip Morris, may support projects through avenues independent of their foundations. These efforts also aim to enhance public relations as well as benefit the public. The funding interests are typically diverse, and guidelines and restrictions are few. Professional Associations Professional organizations, like those in the sciences, sometimes sponsor specific projects for which they solicit applications from their members.
Notices appear in professional journals and newsletters.
Although the awards may be small, there are advantages to this kind of support. The results of the research are disseminated throughout the discipline, gain wide attention, and, as a result, can lay the groundwork for larger investigations through other, more substantial support. Occasionally such civic groups as the Lions offer awards for particular projects. These may be publicized through journals, the media, and letters to people the organization feels might participate or are in positions to locate investigators with the desired expertise. As these opportunities become available, the ORD office publishes notices about them.