Grants Overview
The Institute of Coaching (IOC) is dedicated to growing a robust scientific foundation that is essential for the integrity and credibility of the practice and profession of coaching. The IOC is strengthening and expanding the scientific foundation for coaching through multiple avenues and programs:
- supporting scientific investigators through coaching research grants funded by several sponsors, starting with the Harnisch Foundation and the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
- translating grant project findings and broad scientific findings to coaching practice through diverse IOC educational programs.
- conducting IOC in-house research projects, expanding on our first 2020/2021 project that led to the report: Leading with Humanity.
The first research grant program was established with the founding of the IOC in 2009, funded by a $2 million donation from Ruth Ann Harnisch and the Harnisch Foundation. In ten years of that program, 37 research proposals were funded resulting in more than 50 scholarly publications.
In 2021, the International Coaching Federation generously pledged $575,000 in financial support for the next generation of IOC coaching research grants. This gift allows the IOC to award $100,000 per year in financial support to researchers, graduate students, and scholar-practitioners to conduct and disseminate empirical coaching research. The IOC leads the scientific evaluation and decision-making process performed by the Scientific Advisory Council, while ICF is the generous funder of this grant program.
IOC-ICF coaching research grants fund (1) scientific inquiry research projects, (2) graduate student fellowships, and (3) research dissemination. The application process begins with submission of a pre-proposal as outlined below.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Those interested in contributing to the evidence base of coaching through research who are affiliated with academic institutions, non-profit organizations or independent are eligible to submit a pre-proposal for funding consideration by the Institute of Coaching. We accept international applicants. We do not accept grant applications from private companies, or individuals who are studying anything that is proprietary or used for profit. Applicants may be affiliated with academic institutions, non-profit organizations, or be independent. It is not required that applicants are members of the IOC or the ICF. It is also not required that you are affiliated with an academic or research institution in order to submit a research proposal. However, all researchers must demonstrate their experience in research and their understanding of research protocols or show evidence that they have a research mentor or supervisor with a doctoral degree and scholarly publication record. If your proposal is approved for funding, you will need to submit a letter of approval from your institution’s Internal Review Board or Ethics Committee. We also strongly encourage graduate and post-graduate research applicants.
Please note: Given that one goal of the Institute of Coaching is to advance the field of coaching as a whole, we do not fund research on coaching models, tools, or methods that are proprietary (i.e., trademarked, copyrighted, or otherwise protected) or primarily commercial in nature (i.e., exclusively associated with one author or group). Accepting funding support precludes future decisions to create proprietary material based on research we have supported.
Grant Submission Overview
- Select Grant. Review the three types of grants and select the type of grant that is right for you.
- Submission of pre-proposal: Submit a two-page pre-proposal letter including specific content requirements outlined in link below. A pre-proposal is required, and must be approved before you may submit a full grant proposal. Pre-proposals are accepted any time throughout the year. Only one pre-proposal application may be submitted per calendar year.
- Review of pre-proposal: Pre-proposals will be reviewed by members of the Scientific Advisory Council and you will be notified regarding approval, request for additional information or disapproval to proceed with a full grant application.
- Submission of full proposal*: Those who have received notification of approved pre-proposals will be invited to proceed to a full grant application. Requirements for application are outlined in link below. There are four full grant application deadlines per calendar year: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
- Review of full proposal*: The Scientific Advisory Council will review the proposals and inform you of the decision within 75 calendar days from submission deadline.
Types of Grants Pre-Proposal Requirements Full Proposal Requirements
* Only those who have been notified that their pre-proposal was approved will proceed through submission and review of a full proposal.