Grants for Schools & Universities

U.S. National Science Foundation · From $400K

The NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program offers prestigious awards supporting early-career faculty who integrate research and education. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education and certain non-profit, non-academic research organizations applying on behalf of faculty, and a PI may submit only one CAREER proposal per year and participate in at most three competitions. The listed minimum is about $400,000 with no stated maximum. PECASE recognition is selected from CAREER awardees and cannot be applied for directly.

Small Business Administration · $1–$180K

The SBA Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program funds organizations to provide outreach, technical assistance, and support to small businesses to increase SBIR/STTR applications and awards. Eligible applicants may be a public or private entity, organization, or individual, but must be endorsed by the state governor as the only approved applicant from that state, and must be located in one of a specific list of states and territories. Awards run up to about $180,000. The single-applicant-per-state endorsement and the limited list of eligible states make this very narrow.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $50K–$200K

This NOAA program funds projects to sustainably manage coral reef fisheries, including developing fishery management plans and addressing science gaps. Eligibility is limited to regional fishery management councils, nongovernmental organizations or research institutions with demonstrated coral reef expertise, designated coral reef research centers, U.S. states, territories or local governments with reef authority, and Native entities. Awards are expected to range from $50,000 to $200,000, and proposals under $50,000 will not be accepted. Applicants must demonstrate specific coral reef conservation expertise, so this is narrowly targeted.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award supports individual investigators pursuing novel engineering research in priority areas such as AI, bioengineering, quantum, robotics, and nuclear engineering. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education and certain non-profit, non-academic research organizations applying on behalf of a PI. The PI must hold a tenured or tenure-eligible associate or full professor appointment (or equivalent) with engineering credentials, and only single-PI proposals are accepted. Specific award amounts are not listed, and the faculty-rank and single-PI requirements make this narrowly targeted.

Bureau of Indian Affairs · $300K–$400K

This Bureau of Indian Affairs program funds established business incubators that serve Native entrepreneurs and businesses providing products or services to Tribal reservation communities. Eligibility is limited to defined entities such as Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, Tribal colleges or universities, certain institutions of higher education, and Tribes or private nonprofits providing business and financial technical assistance, all generally operational for at least one year. Awards range from about $300,000 to $400,000. The applicant must operate an established incubator, so new organizations are unlikely to qualify.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $50K–$500K

This USDA NIFA program funds research, education, and extension on urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production through competitive grants. A broad set of applicants is eligible, including agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, research institutions, federal agencies, national labs, private organizations and corporations, individuals, and groups of these entities. Applications must include local community organizations on the project team. Awards range from about $50,000 to $500,000, and proposals involving multiple eligible applicants receive priority.

Natural Resources Conservation Service · $250K–$2M

The NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants Classic program funds development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies tied to agricultural production. It is open to all non-foreign, non-federal entities and individuals based in the United States, though applications must be submitted by a single entity (partners may be subrecipients). Awards range from about $250,000 to $2 million. Eligibility is fairly broad aside from the exclusion of federal and foreign applicants.

Bureau of Counterterrorism · $4.9M

This State Department Bureau of Counterterrorism program funds work to help law enforcement counter online recruitment by U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and NGOs, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. The award amount is about $4.93 million. Funding is pending the availability of funds.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education · $0

The School Safety Enhancement program provides competitive grants to develop and strengthen statewide school safety systems and the physical security of schools. Eligibility is limited to State educational agencies (SEAs). The notice estimates awards of $500,000 to $5,000,000 per 36-month project, though the listed amount fields are zero. Only state educational agencies may apply, so this is narrowly restricted.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $500K–$30M

The NSF Integrated Data Systems and Services (IDSS) program funds national-scale data cyberinfrastructure systems and services that broadly enable data- and AI-driven research. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit non-academic research organizations, and other federal agencies and FFRDCs. Awards range widely, from about $500,000 to $30 million. Projects that primarily benefit a single discipline or application are not supported, narrowing the program's focus.

National Park Service · $50K–$750K

This National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund program funds documentation, preservation, and stabilization of historic structures on the campuses of accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Eligibility is limited to accredited HBCU institutions, and the historic properties must be listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Awards range from about $50,000 to $750,000. Only accredited HBCUs may apply, making this narrowly targeted.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War (Defense Health Agency) Kidney Cancer Research Program Concept Award supports highly innovative, untested, high-risk basic kidney cancer research that could open new avenues of investigation. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any type of entity, subject to clarification in the full announcement. Preliminary data are not allowed, and the review is double-blinded, so applications must not identify the investigator or organization. Specific award amounts are not provided here.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War / Defense Health Agency (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Research Advancement Award supports fundamental research that contributes to patient care or quality of life in a congressionally directed FY26 topic area, and applications must include preliminary data. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type, though this is research funding typically pursued by institutions and investigators. Awards are capped at about $1.4M each over up to four years, with roughly 14 awards anticipated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Biological Anthropology Program funds basic research on human and primate evolution, biological variation, and the interactions between biology, behavior, and culture. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit non-academic research organizations, and federally recognized Tribal Nations applying on behalf of a PI. PIs must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent sufficient for independent research. Specific award amounts are not provided here.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Developmental Sciences program funds basic research on perceptual, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and biological development across the lifespan. A relatively broad set of applicants is eligible, including U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profit non-academic research organizations, for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, Tribal Nations, and (for cooperative projects) foreign organizations for the U.S. portion only. PIs must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent. Budgets vary widely and no fixed award amount is specified; the program does not fund clinical trials or health-outcome research.

Department of Education · Up to $4M

This Department of Education program funds a National Technical Assistance Center addressing postsecondary, vocational, and continuing education needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. A broad set of applicants is eligible, including state and local educational agencies, eligible institutions of higher education, other public agencies, private nonprofits, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations. The statute requires at least $4,000,000 annually for this purpose, and the listed maximum award is about $4 million.

Community Oriented Policing Services · $0–$250K

This COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program funds new or expanded mental health and wellness services for law enforcement officers and their families. Categories 1 and 2 are limited to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies (Category 1 excludes prior LEMHWA awardees), while Category 3 is open to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, community groups, and faith-based organizations. Awards run up to about $250,000. Eligibility depends on the category, with the agency tracks being narrowly restricted.

National Institute of Corrections · $0–$200K

This National Institute of Corrections program funds delivery of virtual instructor-led staffing analysis training for federal, state, local, and tribal corrections agencies. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal), for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education, but all recipients must waive any profit or fee and provide proof of 501(c)(3) status or a tribal resolution. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Awards run up to about $200,000.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War / Defense Health Agency (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Discovery Award supports novel, high-risk, high-reward research within a congressionally directed FY26 topic area, and applications must not include preliminary data. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type, though this is research funding typically pursued by institutions and investigators. Awards are capped at about $385,000 each over a two-year period, with roughly 29 awards anticipated.

U.S. Mission to the Philippines · $5K–$50K

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines invites proposals under its Public Diplomacy annual program statement from not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs incorporated in the U.S., the Philippines, or other countries), public and private higher education institutions, and individuals. Awards range from about $5,000 to $50,000 and support public diplomacy programming aligned with stated funding priorities. Specific themes and procedures are described in the program statement, so applicants should review it for fit.