In today’s research environment, funding decisions are influenced by more than just proposals and publications. Funders increasingly expect clarity of purpose, demonstrated impact, and accessible, up-to-date information—all of which can be powerfully reinforced by your digital presence.

A well-structured research website not only strengthens your credibility, but also increases the visibility of your work, collaborators, and outcomes. Below are seven practical content and UX (user experience) strategies institutions and labs can implement to make their websites more compelling—and ultimately more fundable.

1. Clearly Communicate Your Research Focus and Objectives

Funders want to quickly understand what you’re working on and why it matters. Your homepage or project pages should feature a concise, jargon-free summary of your research goals, key themes, and real-world relevance.

On OpenScholar, you can use customizable project pages and content blocks to structure this narrative clearly—connecting it to team members, publications, and funding sources.

2. Showcase Active and Completed Projects

Listing projects with clear start/end dates, brief descriptions, funding sources, and outcomes helps funders see a track record of productivity and alignment with their priorities.

OpenScholar lets you group publications, team members, and outputs under specific initiatives, giving funders a holistic view of your work.

3. Keep Your Publications Updated and Easy to Navigate

Demonstrating the scholarly output tied to your research is key. Your publication list should be current, searchable, and linked to full texts when possible.

OpenScholar integrates with ORCID, PubMed, and BibTeX to automatically sync publications—so you don’t need to update them manually.

4. Make Your Team and Collaborators Visible

Funders often assess the expertise and structure of research teams. Include profiles with bios, affiliations, roles, and relevant publications.

People pages in OpenScholar are structured, searchable, and easily linked to projects and publications—offering a clear picture of your research network.

5. Highlight Funding History and Current Grants

Displaying current and past funding demonstrates institutional support, competitiveness, and continuity. Include links to grant agencies when possible.

OpenScholar allows you to tag and display funding sources across your site, connecting them to related people, projects, and outputs.

6. Ensure Usability and Accessibility Across Devices

Funders may access your site on different devices, from different locations. A professional, responsive layout with accessible design is essential for credibility and equity.

OpenScholar’s built-in templates are WCAG-compliant and mobile-friendly by default, ensuring a strong user experience without additional development.

7. Provide Evidence of Impact

Funders increasingly seek evidence of broader impact—policy influence, public engagement, community partnerships, or translational outcomes. Create a dedicated section to share media, reports, datasets, or testimonials.

Use OpenScholar’s media and resources sections to showcase non-traditional outputs, linking them back to the associated research.

The Takeaway

A well-designed, thoughtfully structured website can be a powerful extension of your funding strategy. It demonstrates your capacity, track record, and readiness—making it easier for funders to understand your work and see the value in supporting it.

With platforms like OpenScholar, institutions and labs can implement these strategies without custom development or design teams—turning their web presence into a strategic asset. 

Ready to elevate your research site?

Get in touch or explore how OpenScholar helps research teams build fundable, discoverable digital platforms.