Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 005175
Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 005175
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.326 Capacity Building for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA).
- This funding opportunity was created on May 26, 2015 and posted on May 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 20, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by a Non Land Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCAs) certified as such by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In order for an institution to qualify as a NLGCA, it must be a public college or university offering a baccalaureate or higher degree in the study of food and agricultural sciences, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103(9).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.326. Its basic purpose is to strengthen the institutional capacity of eligible Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture so they can more effectively plan, win, and carry out high-quality work in education, research, and outreach tied to real-world agricultural and renewable resource priorities. In practice, it is designed to help these colleges build the people, tools, and competitive readiness needed to engage more successfully with federal funding and other external funding sources, while also expanding the reach and impact of their programs.
Funding under this program can be used in several complementary ways. First, it supports activities that position an NLGCA institution to successfully compete for federal grants and other funding, specifically for educational, research, and extension-style outreach efforts that address priority concerns at the national, regional, state, or local level. Second, it can fund the dissemination of information related to those priority concerns, meaning the grant can help institutions communicate findings, best practices, and resources to audiences such as producers, natural resource professionals, community stakeholders, the general public, and other interested entities. Third, the program allows institutions to encourage participation in priority education, research, and outreach activities by using funds as matching support to leverage other grant dollars, essentially helping to bring more partners and more outside funding into the work even though the program itself does not require cost sharing as a condition of eligibility. Finally, it permits targeted capacity investments through the acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (with an important limitation that it does not pay for alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings), along with support for faculty professional growth and development and the creation or expansion of graduate assistantships. Taken together, these allowable uses focus on building long-term capability rather than only funding a single short-term project.
From an applicant standpoint, eligibility is narrow and specific. Applications may only be submitted by institutions that are certified as Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture by NIFA. To qualify as an NLGCA, an institution must be a public college or university that offers a baccalaureate or higher degree in the study of food and agricultural sciences as defined in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 3103(9)). This means the program is not open to private institutions or to public institutions that do not meet the degree and certification requirements, and prospective applicants generally need to confirm their certification status before preparing a submission.
The financial structure of the opportunity reflects a mix of smaller capacity-building awards and larger institutional investments. For this specific announcement (Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-NLGCA-005175), the estimated total funding available was $4,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $30,000 up to a ceiling of $750,000. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity was categorized under Agriculture as the primary activity area. While the announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, the program description explicitly notes that funds may be used to provide matching support to leverage other grant funds, which is a strategic option rather than a compliance obligation.
Timing details in the notice show it was posted May 20, 2015, with an original closing date of June 26, 2015, later extended to a current closing date of July 20, 2015, and then archived July 26, 2015. Although those dates are specific to that cycle, they also signal that the program operates through discrete competition windows, so institutions interested in applying typically need to watch for new NIFA postings in future years and align internal planning, partner commitments, and proposal development with the published deadlines.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically (NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays). The full announcement link is referenced in the listing, and applicants were directed to reach out with questions related to application preparation, indicating that technical assistance and clarification were available during the application period.
Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) Program - FAQs
1) What is the Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) Program?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.326. The program is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of eligible Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) so they can better plan, compete for, and carry out high-quality education, research, and outreach work tied to real-world agricultural and renewable resource priorities.
2) What is the primary purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose is capacity building: helping eligible NLGCA institutions develop the people, tools, infrastructure, and competitive readiness needed to pursue and manage federal funding and other external funding more successfully, while expanding the reach and impact of their education, research, and outreach programs.
3) Who is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
4) What is the CFDA number for this program?
CFDA 10.326.
5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the announcement described?
USDA-NIFA-NLGCA-005175.
6) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
7) What is the primary activity area for this opportunity?
Agriculture.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Only institutions certified by NIFA as Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) may apply.
9) What qualifies an institution as an NLGCA for purposes of eligibility?
To qualify as an NLGCA, an institution must be a public college or university that offers a baccalaureate or higher degree in the study of food and agricultural sciences as defined in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 3103(9)), and it must be certified as an NLGCA by NIFA.
10) Are private institutions eligible?
No. The eligibility description limits applicants to qualifying public colleges or universities that are certified as NLGCA by NIFA.
11) Are public institutions eligible if they are not NIFA-certified as an NLGCA?
No. Applications may only be submitted by institutions certified as Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture by NIFA, so institutions generally need to confirm certification status before preparing an application.
12) What kinds of activities can grant funds support?
Funds can support multiple complementary capacity-building uses, including:
- Activities that position the institution to compete successfully for federal grants and other funding for education, research, and extension-style outreach addressing priority concerns at national, regional, state, or local levels.
- Dissemination of information related to those priority concerns (sharing findings, best practices, and resources with relevant audiences).
- Encouraging participation in priority education, research, and outreach activities by using grant funds as matching support to leverage other grant dollars.
- Targeted capacity investments such as acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (with limits described in the announcement).
- Support for faculty professional growth and development.
- Creation or expansion of graduate assistantships.
13) What does "capacity building" mean in the context of this program?
In this program, capacity building focuses on strengthening long-term institutional capability, such as improving competitiveness for external funding, developing people and programs, expanding outreach impact, and making strategic investments in equipment and related infrastructure that support sustained education, research, and outreach work.
14) Can grant funds be used to help an institution compete for other federal grants?
Yes. A stated use of funds is to support activities that position an NLGCA institution to successfully compete for federal grants and other funding, particularly for education, research, and extension-style outreach efforts tied to priority concerns.
15) Can the grant support outreach and dissemination of information?
Yes. The program allows dissemination of information related to priority concerns, including communicating findings, best practices, and resources to audiences such as producers, natural resource professionals, community stakeholders, the general public, and other interested entities.
16) Can these funds be used as matching support for other grants?
Yes. While cost sharing is not required as a condition of eligibility, the program description notes that funds may be used to provide matching support to leverage other grant dollars. This is presented as a strategic option rather than a compliance requirement.
17) Is cost sharing or matching required to apply?
No. The announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
18) Can funds be used to buy equipment or invest in infrastructure?
Yes. The program permits targeted capacity investments through acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure, with an important limitation regarding buildings (see next question).
19) Can grant funds be used for alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings?
No. The program specifically states that it does not pay for alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings.
20) Can the grant support faculty professional development?
Yes. Support for faculty professional growth and development is an allowable use described in the opportunity.
21) Can the grant support graduate assistantships?
Yes. The program allows the creation or expansion of graduate assistantships as part of capacity building.
22) What is the estimated total funding available for the announcement described?
The estimated total funding available was $4,000,000.
23) What is the minimum and maximum award size for this announcement?
Individual awards ranged from $30,000 (minimum) to $750,000 (maximum).
24) When was this opportunity posted, and what were the deadlines?
It was posted May 20, 2015. The original closing date was June 26, 2015, which was extended to July 20, 2015. The opportunity was archived July 26, 2015.
25) What does it mean that the opportunity was "archived"?
Based on the dates provided, "archived" indicates that the specific competition cycle described is no longer open. The timeline also suggests the program runs in discrete competition windows, so institutions typically need to watch for new NIFA postings in future years to apply in a later cycle.
26) Does this program run on a rolling basis?
The notice dates suggest it operates through discrete competition windows with published deadlines, rather than being continuously open.
27) Who can applicants contact if they have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?
Applicants could contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays).
28) Was technical assistance available for application questions?
Yes. The listing notes that applicants were directed to reach out with questions related to application preparation, indicating that clarification and technical support were available during the application period.
Browse more business programs for Colleges, Agriculture Services
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: SRBA Tribal CoManagement for Dworshak NFH
Previous opportunity: Drug Prevention and Awareness Programming in Burma
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 005175
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA NLGCA 005175) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Feed the Future Uganda Producer Organizations Activity Apply for RFA 617 15 00007 Funding Number: RFA 617 15 00007 Agency: Uganda USAID Kampala Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,300,000 |
| Soil health, Conservation Outreach, Cultural Resources, and Climate Change Apply for USDA NRCS EQIP CTA MO 15 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS EQIP CTA MO 15 01 Agency: Missouri State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| USDA NRCS MO CIG 15 02 Apply for USDA NRCS MO CIG 15 02 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MO CIG 15 02 Agency: Missouri State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME) Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 005216 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ARPA 005216 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,082,736 |
| New Technologies for Ag Extension Apply for USDA NIFA OP 005255 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 005255 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Feed the Future Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA) Apply for SOL 669 15 000021 Funding Number: SOL 669 15 000021 Agency: Liberia USAID Monrovia Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $20,037,501 |
| Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 005276 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 005276 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| Cost Benefit/Effectiveness Analysis of Army Community Service (ACS) Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 005335 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 005335 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $498,597 |
| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 005355 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 005355 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Request for Information USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future Strengthening Agriculture Production and Market Systems (SAPMS) Apply for RFI 388 15 00099 Funding Number: RFI 388 15 00099 Agency: Bangladesh USAID Dhaka Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Areas FY 2016 Apply for CEPD 2016 22 Funding Number: CEPD 2016 22 Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $22,500,000 |
| Mathematics Curriculum Development for DoDEA Worldwide Department of Defense Schools Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 005376 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 005376 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $315,000 |
| Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2008 Apply for USDA FS WERC 2008 Funding Number: USDA FS WERC 2008 Agency: Forest Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS FSMIP 2008 Funding Number: USDA AMS FSMIP 2008 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 2008 WIC Special Project Grant Program Apply for USDA FNS WISP O8 Funding Number: USDA FNS WISP O8 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS Apply for USDA NRCS ME 08 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ME 08 01 Agency: Vermont State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| FY 2008 Pacific Islands Area Conservation Innovation Grants Funding Opportunity Apply for USDA NRCS HI 08 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS HI 08 01 Agency: Hawaii State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| USAID Horticulture CRSP Apply for M OAA EGAT PEP 09 706 Funding Number: M OAA EGAT PEP 09 706 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Small Minority Producer Grant Apply for RDBCP 08 03 SMPG Funding Number: RDBCP 08 03 SMPG Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants Caribbean Area Component FY 2008 Apply for USDA NRCS PR 08 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR 08 01 Agency: Florida State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA NLGCA 005175", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.