Welcome! The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) offers a scholarship program for autistic students in addition to grant opportunities for professionals in the field of applied autism research. Read below for more information and to select the program most appropriate for you.

Scholarship Program

OAR's scholarship program provides $3,000 scholarships to students across the autism spectrum who will be pursuing post-secondary education during the academic year. 

You may only apply to one OAR scholarship – either the Schwallie Family Scholarship, the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, or the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color. For more information on all of these programs, and to learn which scholarship you are eligible for, please refer to our Scholarship page and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. If you have further questions, please contact scholarship@researchautism.org or call (571) 977-5393.

Research Funding Opportunities

OAR is the only autism organization that focuses solely on funding applied autism research. Applied research directly impacts the day-to-day quality of life of autistic people. The research pilot studies we fund examine issues affecting autistic children and adults as well as their parents, families, teachers, and service providers. To apply for an OAR research grant, please select the appropriate competition below. 

Other Grant Opportunities

As well as the scholarship and research grants described above, OAR offers two additional grant programs for other community members. The Autism Education Grant supports educators to promote autism understanding and acceptance in their schools or organizations. The Community Grant Competition funds community members to develop resources that will improve the physical and mental health of autistic individuals.