IMA Research Foundation

IMA's Research Foundation is dedicated to funding relevant, thought-provoking research that furthers the knowledge and scope of accounting and financial management. To date, the Foundation has bestowed more than $2 million USD in research grants to academics and doctoral students. For submission of all grant applications please use the IMA Application Portal.

Research Grant Programs

IMA Incubator Grant Program

The Incubator Grant Program awards grants of up to $5,000 for small Proof of Concept projects that will lead to more in-depth research.

Submissions are due on January 31.

› Incubator Grant Overview & Application

Academic Research Grant Program

The Research Grant Program awards grants for innovative research proposals relating to primary management accounting activities such as decision support, planning, and control.

Submissions: Ongoing

› Guidelines for Submitting Research Proposals

Doctoral Scholars Program

This program supports doctoral students at various stages in their program.

Submissions: Ongoing

› Overview of Program

2024 Call for Research Proposals

The IRF is launching its 2024 Call for Research Proposals.  Proposed studies can use basic or applied research methods including analytical, archival, experimental, survey, or case study. Up to three (3) proposals received by the IRF will receive grants of up to $20,000, based on an assessment of their potential to advance the practice of management accounting.

Submission Deadline: March 1st, 2024

› Guidelines for Submission

Examples of Proposals & Deliverables

Good Example Proposal

• What Makes A Good Grant Proposal
• The Management Accounting Profession; Developing Roles and Identity Conflicts
• Management Control System Design for the Psychologically Entitled: Incentives, Monitoring, and Deviance

Strategic Finance Article Example

• Making Performance Feedback Work
• Haier's Win-Win Value Added Approach
• Why Good People Do Bad Things at Work

C-Suite Report Example

• Sustainability CFO: The CFO of the Future

White Paper Example

• The Naughty List or the Nice List: Earnings Management in the Days of Corporate Watchdog Lists

Awards

Distinguished Scholar Award

This award recognizes a researcher who has made outstanding contributions over a sustained period of time to the applied management accounting literature. This award recognizes the accomplishments of a mid-career or later nominee. Candidates must have received their terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., DBA, Ed.D.) at least 10 years previously. This award may be awarded jointly to researchers who have collaborated extensively together.

Nominations Accepted: September 1 –April 1

› Program Overview

Emerging Scholar Award

This award recognizes an early-career researcher who has made a meaningful and important contribution to the applied management accounting literature. Nominees must have published at least one single-authored manuscript or a co-authored article where they were the lead author. Nominees must have a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., DBA, Ed.D.) and have received their degree within the prior five years. Recipients of this award will receive an award of $2,500.

Nominations Accepted: September 1 –April 1

› Program Overview

Questions about the IMA Research Foundation’s research grant programs and awards can be submitted to the IMA Research Foundation team at research@imanet.org.