Selected Federal & Foundation Grant Opportunities
September 14, 2015

STEM

ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadlines: Letter of Intent Due October 5, 2015; Full Proposal Due November 3, 2015;
Letter of Intent Due November 5, 2015; Full Proposal Due January 20, 2016;
Purpose: The goals of the ADVANCE program are (1) to develop systemic approaches to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers; (2) to develop innovative and sustainable ways to promote gender equity in the STEM academic workforce; and (3) to contribute to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce.
Note: Primarily undergraduate institutions are encouraged to apply.

NSF Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: December 7
Number of Awards: 35-45
Cost Share: Not Required
Purpose: This National Science Foundation program seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools.

Minority STEM Professionals
Agency: Nat’l Science Foundation
Program: Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
Eligibility: Public and private colleges and universities, including community colleges
Funding: $45.6 million for 38 awards
Deadline: Nov. 20, 2016
Purpose: Grantees use these funds to improve the number of minorities graduating with science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM) degrees. Particular emphasis is focused on the following populations: African Americans; Alaskan Natives; American Indians; Hispanic Americans; Native Hawaiians; and Native Pacific Islanders.

Early Career Researchers
Agency/Program: Office of Science (Energy Dept.) – Early Career Research Program
Eligibility: Unrestricted
Funding: $18 million for 30 awards
Deadline: Nov. 19, 2015
Purpose: The program supports research programs led by outstanding scientists early in their careers. Research areas of interest include advanced scientific computing and biological and environmental research.

Studies to Uncover K-12 Improvements
Agency: Nat’l Science Foundation
Program: Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers
Eligibility: State, tribal and local governments, public and private colleges and universities, nonprofits and for-profits
Funding: $35 million for 30 awards
Deadline: Nov. 13, 2015
Purpose: The program improves STEM programs in K-12 schools. ITEST funds research projects to pinpoint innovative strategies, tools and models for engaging students in STEM course and to prepare them for careers in these fields.

Advancing Informal STEM Learning
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: November 4, 2015
Eligibility: Universities and Colleges, Non-profit, Non-academic organizations, For-profit organizations, State and Local Governments.
Summary: The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; and advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments.

Therapeutic Strategies Research
Private Funder: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Opportunity: Therapeutic Pipeline Program
Funding Focus: Research, higher education, health
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: State and local governments, public and private colleges and universities, nonprofits and for-profits
Funding: Multiple awards
Deadline: Oct. 28, 2015 (pre-proposals)
Purpose: The program supports the development of Parkinson’s disease therapeutic devices that can assist along the entire preclinical and clinical path. Applications should focus on efforts to address one of the following treatment challenges: (1) disease-modifying strategies; (2) alpha-synuclein therapeutics; and (3) symptomatic strategies.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: October 8, 2015
Award Amount: $25K-$4M (depending on project type)
Expected Number of Awards: 40-55
Summary: The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions and industry to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways to two-year colleges from secondary schools and from two-year colleges to four-year institutions; and other activities. Another goal is articulation between two-year and four-year programs for K-12 prospective STEM teachers that focus on technological education. The program invites research proposals that advance the knowledge base related to technician education.

Aging Research
Agency: Nat’l Institutes of Health (HHS)
Program: Networks to Develop Priority Areas of Behavioral and Social Research (CFDA Number: 93.866) (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-AG-16-008)
Eligibility: State, tribal and local governments, public and private colleges and universities, public housing authorities, nonprofits and for-profits
Funding: $750,000 for three awards
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Purpose: The program will provide infrastructure support for advancing development of specific high priority areas of behavioral and social research of relevance to aging. Applicants must focus on at least one of the following three areas: (1) the measurement of biological risk in population aging studies; (2) decision neuroscience and aging; and (3) the harmonization of cross-national longitudinal aging studies to U.S. Health and Retirement Study. The infrastructure support will facilitate research networks through meetings, conferences, small scale pilots, educational opportunities and dissemination.

OTHER

Financial Education Grants
Foundation: Metlife Foundation
Funding Focus: Youth
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Deadline: Rolling
Purpose: The foundation supports financial education programs to help low-income households and businesses become self-supporting and sustainable. MetLife partners with researchers, academics, and non-governmental organizations to better understand the problems and potential solutions within the financial inclusion field.

Librarians Can Apply for Career Development Grants
Agency/Program: Institute of Museum & Library Sciences – Laura Bush 21st Librarian Program
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Funding: 22 awards ranging from $50,000 to $1 million each
Deadlines: January 15, 2016
Purpose: The program supports early career development of new library faculty members who are likely to become leaders in library and information science. The grantees will conduct research on any topic in library and information science.

Youth Athletes
Foundation: Finish Line Youth Foundation
Opportunities: The foundation has two funding categories: (1) Youth Athletic Programs; and (2) Youth Camps
Funding Focus: Children, youth, physical activity
Geographic Focus: National (areas with Finish Line stores)
Eligibility: 501 (c)(3) nonprofits
Funding: Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 each (funds may be used for scholarships)
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Purpose: The foundation focuses on improving the lives of youth through physical activity. Youth athletic programs should be community-based and address active lifestyles and team building skills. Camps must have an emphasis on sports and active lifestyle. Those serving disadvantaged and special needs kids receive preference.

Educating Young Women
Foundation: Lalor Foundation – Anna Lalor Burdick Program
Funding Focus: Women, health
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Funding: Multiple awards up to $50,000 each
Deadline: Nov. 1, 2015
Purpose: The foundation educates young women about human reproduction in order to broaden and enhance their options in life. The program educates young women about healthy reproduction, with a special focus on those who have inadequate access to information regarding sexual and reproductive health.

Footwear Company to Support Outdoor Projects
Private Funder: Keen Footwear – 2016 KEEN Effect Grant Program;
Funding Focus: Environment, community development;
Geographic Focus: National;
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Funding: $100,000 for 10 awards of $10,000 each; 2016 Nomination
Deadlines: March 1 and Aug. 1.
Purpose: The program supports organizations inspiring responsible outdoor participation as a way to build strong communities, promote creative and sustainable thinking and introduce new audiences to the outdoors. The KEEN Effect encourages KEEN customers and the general public to nominate nonprofits that are aligned with the company’s core, outdoor-focused values.

National Partnership Competition
Private Funder/Program: Best Buy Foundation – 2015 National Partnership Program
Funding Focus: Education and youth;
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Funding: Multiple awards, up to $200,000 each
Deadline: Nov. 1, 2015
Summary: The Best Buy Foundation offers an array of support. The community grants promote programs that give teenagers access to opportunities through technology to help them excel in school and develop 21st century skills. Grants support nonprofit organizations that create hands-on learning opportunities for underserved teens to engage them in learning, experimenting, and interacting with the latest technologies. The overall goal is to provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills to better prepare them for future education and career success. After-school programs are eligible. Eligible programs must serve a diverse population, build skills in teens ages 13- 18 and show positive results.

Children’s Obesity
Private Funder: Children’s Obesity Fund
Funding Focus: Childhood nutrition
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Deadline: Rolling.
Summary: To win funding, projects must educate parents, teachers and other caregivers about the rising obesity rates in America. Applicants must also submit projects that will reverse the statistics and dangerous trends and help prevent the next generation from continuing down this alarmingly unhealthy road. The focus is on increasing awareness and understanding of how to raise healthy and happy children and make sure that ensuing generations are strong and live vital, active lives.

Humanities Summer Stipends
Agency: Nat’l Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Program: Summer Stipends
Eligibility: Scholars
Funding: Multiple $6,000 awards
Deadline: Oct. 1, 2015
Purpose: Summer Stipends support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars and general audiences. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations and editions. Stipends support continuous full-time work on a humanities project for a period of two months.

Soccer Programs
Foundation: U.S. Soccer Foundation
Opportunities: Safe Places to Play Grants and Program Grants
Funding Focus: Physical activity, nutrition, children, youth
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit soccer programs
Funding: Multiple awards ranging from $8,000 to $200,000 each
Deadline: Oct. 2, 2015 (Applicants need to submit a letter of intent by Sept. 25).
Purpose: The foundation supports soccer programs and field-building initiatives nationwide. The Safe Places to Play program provides grants to build or enhance soccer fields. Program Grants fund all aspects of soccer programs, including operations and equipment purchase.

Capacity Building Grant
Foundation/Private Funder: Nat’l Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.;
Funding Focus: Environment, communities, volunteerism
Geographic Focus: National
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits in existence for at least two years
Funding: Multiple awards up to $5,000 each, while event grants may be up to $2,000 each
Final 2015 Deadline: Oct. 30, 2015
Purpose: The program builds the capacity of nonprofits working to improve and promote responsible use of public land sites in the United States. These grants can go for strategic planning, marketing and communications, leadership capacity (board or executive), improved fundraising, assessments and staff training.

Arts Studies to Gauge Impact
Agency: Nat’l Endowment for the Arts
Program: NEA Research: Art Works, FY 2016 (CFDA Number: 45.024) (Funding Opportunity Number: 2016NEAORA);
Eligibility: Public and private colleges and universities and nonprofits
Funding: Multiple awards up to $30,000 each
Deadline: Oct. 20, 2015
Purpose: The program supports research that investigates the value and impact of the arts, either as individual components of the U.S. arts ecology or as they interact with each other and with other domains of American life. By providing financial support to deserving projects, the NEA anticipates that this program will spur growth in the number of people experienced in and knowledgeable about arts-related research in the United States.

—Submitted by Jayne Smith, Director of Sponsored Programs and Grants Management