Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003711
Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003711
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture business and commerce community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.318 Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 12, 2012 and posted on Mar 12, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 12, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $350,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Individuals Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Applications may be submitted by eligible applicants and may be a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities. Eligible applicants are (a) State agricultural experiment stations (b) colleges and universities (c) university research foundations (d) other research institutions and organizations (e) Federal agencies (f) national laboratories (g) private organizations or corporations (h) individuals or (i) any group consisting of 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (a) through (h). Priority will be given to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant opportunity designed to broaden participation in STEM by focusing on women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas. The program specifically funds research and extension projects that use strong, well-structured collaborations to create or expand pathways into STEM fields connected to USDA mission needs. In practice, this means proposals are expected to go beyond stand-alone activities and instead demonstrate coordinated partnerships that can recruit, support, and retain participants while producing measurable outcomes tied to agriculture and rural priorities.
WAMS places its STEM emphasis within five USDA priorities identified by the Secretary. These include: promoting a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply in the United States and globally; advancing sustainable agricultural policies that strengthen the economic viability of small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses while protecting natural resources and encouraging value-added agriculture; providing national leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation; building a modern workplace with a modern workforce; and supporting resilient, 21st century rural communities. Projects should align clearly with one or more of these priorities, showing how increasing rural participation by women and underrepresented minorities in STEM will contribute to workforce capacity, innovation, and applied solutions in USDA-relevant areas.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA WAMS 003711; CFDA 10.318) was posted March 12, 2012, with an application closing date of April 12, 2012, and an estimated total program funding level of $350,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $75,000 (award floor) to $300,000 (award ceiling). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants needed to plan for and document non-federal contributions consistent with the program rules described in the full announcement.
Eligibility is intentionally broad and supports both single-entity applicants and multi-organization partnerships. Eligible applicants include, among others, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations), tribal governments and tribal organizations, small businesses, individuals, and other entities as allowed by the program. The detailed eligibility language also highlights that applications may be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities. Specifically named eligible categories include state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, or any group consisting of two or more of these entity types. Priority is given to eligible institutions that already carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary, signaling a preference for applicants with established capacity and sustained engagement.
From a project design standpoint, WAMS supports research and extension, which typically implies an expectation of both knowledge generation and practical, community-facing delivery. Competitive proposals would generally be expected to demonstrate robust collaboration (for example, partnerships among universities, extension services, schools, nonprofits, tribal entities, and employers), clear strategies for engaging rural women and underrepresented minorities, and credible plans for outcomes such as recruitment into STEM learning experiences, mentoring and support structures, career exposure, training aligned with agriculture and natural resource challenges, and evidence-based evaluation of participation and impact. The program is administered by NIFA, and applicants needing access assistance were directed to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours, with additional contacts referenced in the full announcement for application content questions.
WAMS (Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WAMS program?
The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant opportunity intended to broaden participation in STEM. It focuses specifically on women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas and funds projects that strengthen pathways into STEM fields tied to USDA mission needs.
What kinds of projects does WAMS fund?
WAMS funds research and extension projects. Proposals are expected to move beyond stand-alone activities and instead show strong, well-structured collaborations that can recruit, support, and retain participants while producing measurable outcomes connected to agriculture and rural priorities.
What does it mean that WAMS emphasizes collaboration?
WAMS expects coordinated partnerships rather than isolated efforts. In practice, applicants are expected to demonstrate how multiple partners will work together to create or expand STEM pathways, support participants over time, and deliver outcomes that can be measured and tied to USDA-relevant needs.
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program is designed to broaden participation in STEM by focusing on women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas, with the goal of strengthening workforce capacity, innovation, and applied solutions in USDA-relevant fields.
How should a project connect to USDA mission needs?
Projects should clearly show how expanding STEM participation for rural women and underrepresented minorities contributes to workforce development and applied solutions in areas aligned with USDA priorities (for example, agriculture, natural resources, climate, rural community resilience, and related topics).
What USDA priority areas can WAMS projects align with?
WAMS places its STEM emphasis within five USDA priorities identified by the Secretary. Projects should align clearly with one or more of these priorities:
- Promoting a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply in the United States and globally
- Advancing sustainable agricultural policies that strengthen the economic viability of small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses while protecting natural resources and encouraging value-added agriculture
- Providing national leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Building a modern workplace with a modern workforce
- Supporting resilient, 21st century rural communities
Is this a research grant, an extension grant, or both?
WAMS supports both research and extension, which generally implies an expectation of knowledge generation paired with practical, community-facing delivery.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from competitive proposals?
Based on the opportunity description, competitive proposals would typically include credible plans and measurable outcomes related to recruiting, supporting, and retaining rural women and underrepresented minorities in STEM pathways. Examples mentioned or implied include structured mentoring and support, career exposure, training aligned with agriculture and natural resource challenges, and evidence-based evaluation of participation and impact.
Does WAMS require an evaluation plan?
The description indicates an expectation for measurable outcomes and evidence-based evaluation of participation and impact. Proposals are therefore expected to include a credible approach to evaluating results.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA WAMS 003711, and the CFDA number is 10.318.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The opportunity was posted on March 12, 2012. The application closing date was April 12, 2012.
How much total funding was available under this opportunity?
The estimated total program funding level for this opportunity was $350,000.
What was the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $75,000 (award floor) to $300,000 (award ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants needed to plan for and document non-federal contributions consistent with the program rules described in the full announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes both single-entity applicants and multi-organization partnerships. Eligible applicants include, among others:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations)
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Small businesses
- Individuals
- Other entities as allowed by the program
Can a partnership or network submit an application?
Yes. The eligibility language specifically notes that applications may be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities.
What types of entities are explicitly named as eligible in the detailed eligibility language?
Specifically named eligible categories include state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, or any group consisting of two or more of these entity types.
Is any preference given to certain applicants?
Yes. Priority is given to eligible institutions that already carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary, which signals a preference for applicants with established capacity and sustained engagement.
Who administers the WAMS program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Who should applicants contact for technical help accessing the application?
Applicants needing access assistance were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours.
Where can applicants find additional contacts for application content questions?
Additional contacts for application content questions were referenced in the full announcement for this opportunity.
What is the main theme reviewers will likely look for based on the description?
The description emphasizes coordinated, well-structured collaborations that build or expand STEM pathways for rural women and underrepresented minorities, with measurable outcomes and clear alignment to USDA priority areas and mission needs.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 004209 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 004209 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Develo Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 004491 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 004491 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Develo Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Women And Minorities In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003137 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 003137 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Develo Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Women And Minorities In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003415 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 003415 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Develo Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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