General Purpose Foundations. Examples include larger, better known foundations such as the Ford Foundation or Mellon Foundation. Seventy percent of all foundation funds are from general purpose foundations. Special Purpose Foundations. Most are small and usually support specific fields of interest or limit support to certain geographical areas.
Qualification is an essential prerequisite for achieving support for research.
Corporate or Company Foundation. Generally small awards which often do not involve universities. Usually established as part of the personal interests of the donor. Can be an outstanding opportunity if faculty or college interest coincides with the foundation because most have a history of repeat funding to favored recipients.