Unsolicited Research Program
Forecasted
Unsolicited Research Program supports researchers pursuing novel water science and building on existing research to develop practical, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to water quality challenges.
Funder: The Water Research Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2028 (Pre-proposals) | July 2028 (Full proposals)
Funding Amounts: $50,000–$200,000 per project; most projects take one to two years
Summary: Supports transformative water research and advances existing research toward practical, sustainable, cost-effective water quality solutions.
Key Information: The 2024 FAQ requires applicant contributions of at least 33% of the WRF award; full proposals are invitation-only.
Description
The Water Research Foundation’s (WRF) Unsolicited Research Program supports novel, transformative projects that advance water science and help protect and preserve water sustainably and cost-effectively. It also supports research that builds on existing work to produce practical solutions to water quality challenges. The program covers drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater.
Proposals may complement WRF’s Research Priority Program, address issues of regional and national significance, or pilot novel technologies. WRF’s Board-appointed Research Advisory Council (RAC) prioritizes and approves projects through a two-stage competitive process. The program receives 10% of WRF’s annual research budget, with accumulated allocations supporting a launch every other year in even-numbered years.
