Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) Program?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intended to strengthen the capacity of eligible Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture. The program focuses on building the people, tools, and competitive positioning institutions need to expand high-quality education, research, and outreach related to priority agricultural and renewable resource concerns at national, regional, state, and local levels.

2) What is the main goal of this grant program?

The central goal is to help eligible NLGCA institutions build capacity so they can expand and improve education, research, and outreach efforts that address priority agricultural and renewable resource issues, while also becoming more competitive for future external support (especially federal grants and other funding sources).

3) What types of outcomes is NIFA trying to support through this program?

The program is designed to improve an institution's ability to propose, win, and successfully execute projects that advance educational programming, applied or foundational research, and outreach or extension-style activities. A major emphasis is also on getting useful information to stakeholders beyond campus, including agriculture and renewable resource communities, the broader public, and other interested organizations.

4) How does this program help institutions become more competitive for future funding?

Funding is intended to strengthen institutional capacity in ways that increase readiness and competitiveness for future external support. The opportunity frames this as building the people, tools, and positioning needed to successfully compete for federal grants and other funding sources, and to deliver projects effectively once awarded.

5) Who are the intended beneficiaries of the outreach and information-sharing emphasis?

The opportunity highlights stakeholders such as members of agriculture and renewable resource communities, the broader public, and other interested organizations. The intent is for research findings, best practices, and educational materials to be shared beyond the campus.

6) Is the program focused only on education, or does it also support research and outreach?

It supports all three. Grant funds may be used to improve the institution's ability to propose, win, and execute projects that advance education, applied or foundational research, and outreach or extension-style activities focused on priority issues.

7) Are partnerships and broader participation encouraged?

Yes. A stated purpose of the program is to increase participation in priority education, research, and outreach efforts by encouraging involvement and leveraging additional resources. The program can be used strategically to assemble partnerships and strengthen project readiness for larger or follow-on funding.

8) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

9) Can grant funds be used as matching support for other grants?

Yes. Even though matching is not required for this program, the opportunity explicitly allows institutions to use funds to provide matching support to leverage other grant dollars and motivate broader participation from communities and partners.

10) What kinds of capacity-building activities are allowable under this program?

Allowable activities include targeted investments in infrastructure and workforce development, such as purchasing or acquiring equipment and other infrastructure, professional growth and development for NLGCA faculty, and developing graduate assistantships to expand research and program delivery capacity.

11) Can funds be used to purchase equipment?

Yes. The program supports the purchase or acquisition of equipment as part of capacity-building investments.

12) Can funds be used for building construction or renovations?

No. The opportunity includes a clear limitation that grant funds cannot be used for alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings.

13) Does the program support faculty training and professional development?

Yes. The opportunity specifically notes support for professional growth and development for NLGCA faculty, with the idea that training, skills development, and subject-matter expansion can improve both institutional competitiveness and the quality of teaching, research, and outreach.

14) Are graduate assistantships an eligible use of funds?

Yes. The program allows funds to be used to develop graduate assistantships, which can expand research and program delivery capacity and help build the next generation of professionals in food and agricultural sciences.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to institutions certified by NIFA as Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA). Applications may only be submitted by those certified institutions.

16) What qualifies an institution as a Non Land Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCA) for this program?

To qualify as an NLGCA (as described in the opportunity), 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)).

17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this program cycle?

For the referenced funding cycle, the opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA NLGCA 004556 and CFDA 10.326 (Capacity Building for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture).

18) How much total funding did NIFA estimate for this program cycle?

NIFA estimated total program funding at $4,000,000 for the referenced cycle.

19) What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $750,000.

20) Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?

No award floor was stated in the information provided.

21) When was this opportunity posted and when were applications due?

It was posted on July 2, 2014, and the application deadline was September 5, 2014.

22) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was later archived on October 5, 2014.

23) Who should applicants contact for technical help accessing the announcement?

Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours.

24) What kinds of topics or issue areas is the program meant to address?

The program is intended to support education, research, and outreach that addresses priority agricultural and renewable resource concerns at national, regional, state, and local levels.

25) What is the role of stakeholder communication in this program?

A major emphasis is placed on ensuring useful information reaches stakeholders beyond the institution. This includes sharing research findings, best practices, and educational materials with agriculture and renewable resource communities, the broader public, and other interested organizations.