Using Pivot

Accessing Pivot

Navigate to Pivot at https://pivot.proquest.com/session/login.
To create an account, click on Create an Account in the upper right hand corner. Select the "Use Email Address/Create Password" option, and then fill in the required fields, using your University of Minnesota email address. (You may be able to search funding opportunities without creating an account, but you will not be able to save the search or automatically get personalized recommendations.)
You will receive a validation email from Pivot. Follow the instructions to activate your account.
For future log-ins, use your email address and password (not institutional credentials).

Searching Using Your Profile - Try this first!

Pivot profiles provide personalized funding recommendations based on a researcher's profile. Most UMN researchers have a profile already created in Pivot, based on publications and other publicly available information. You will be prompted to claim your profile when you create a Pivot account and log in for the first time. If you didn't do so at that time, you can claim your profile through the following steps:

Select "Claim Profile" in the user menu (top right hand corner, click the arrow next to your name). Pivot-RP displays a list of potentially matching profiles.
If you see the correct profile, select "This is me" in the profile row. If you do not find a matching profile, select "Create a Profile."
After selecting "This is me," you'll receive an email prompting you to verify your account. Work through the process laid out in that email to claim your profile and link it to your account.
You can update your profile to more accurately reflect your background and funding interests.

More on claiming and creating Pivot profiles.

Once you have claimed your profile, you can view funding opportunities that are recommended based on the information in your profile.

Building a Search

To build a funding opportunity search from scratch, begin by clicking on Advanced Search below the search bar on the home screen. We recommend using the following fields:

Keywords. You can enter your own keywords in the free text boxes at the top of the Advanced Search screen OR under the Keyword field. To get the best results, use only one of those fields. To use the Pivot-defined keywords, you can use the search bar or browse to see their structure. Each broad keyword drills down into a number of more precise keywords. Under the Keyword field, click on “browse” and select your keyword(s) from the expandable lists. Check the box for “Explode” to capture the keyword you select and all the subcategories listed below it. We recommend checking “Explode” to begin your search.
- You can also explore keywords by hovering over sections on the Funding Wheel at https://pivot.proquest.com/funding_main.
Applicant/Institution Location. In order to filter out inappropriate listings, search for and set your location as Minnesota and United States. If your project will take place elsewhere, specify that location in the Activity Location field.
Applicant Type. Set your Applicant Type as Academic Institution and Non-profit.
Funding Type. Choose the type/s of funding you are interested in.
Searching Tips
- Start with a broad search, then narrow your results by refining your search.
- In the free text fields, Pivot uses Boolean operators such as quotation marks, asterisks, and proximity operators. Using these can help you get more precise results.
- If no results are returned, broaden your search terms.
- Consider searching by sponsor or browsing the A-Z list of sponsors that Pivot tracks.
- More search tips from Pivot

Once you have set your search terms and parameters, click Search at the bottom of the screen to return results.

Saving Your Search

After getting your search results, you will see a summary of your search terms, along with the options Advanced Search, Save Search, and Refine Search. Advanced Search will start a blank new search screen, while Refine Search allows you to add terms to the search you just ran.

Save Search allows you to save the search terms you just used and re-run the search at a later date. You can also opt to have the results of the search emailed to you on a weekly basis. To access your saved searches, choose "Saved Searches" from the Pivot home page.

Pivot provides short tutorial videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/proquestpivot, as well as written help documentation at https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Pivot.

If you have UMN-specific questions, please contact Ellen Freeman at efreeman@umn.edu.

Page updated

Report abuse