Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003415
Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 003415
- 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 10, 2011 and posted on Mar 10, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $364,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- 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 competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support projects that expand participation in STEM among women and underrepresented minorities from rural communities. The program is designed for efforts that combine research and extension, meaning applicants are expected not only to generate knowledge or test interventions, but also to translate what they learn into practical educational or outreach activities that can be adopted by communities, schools, organizations, or workforce programs. A central theme of the program is collaboration: proposals are expected to show strong, well-structured partnerships rather than isolated activities, with clear roles for each partner and a plan for sustained impact.
WAMS focuses on STEM pathways that connect directly to USDA priority areas identified by the Secretary. These priority areas include improving the safety, sufficiency, and nutritional quality of the food supply in the U.S. and globally; supporting sustainable agricultural policies that help small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses remain economically viable while protecting natural resources and promoting value-added agriculture; providing national leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation; building a modern workplace with a modern workforce; and strengthening 21st-century rural communities. In practical terms, that means a project might aim to increase rural women and minority participation in fields like agricultural science, food systems, natural resources, environmental and climate science, engineering, data and precision agriculture, rural business innovation, or other STEM disciplines that align with these USDA mission-driven outcomes.
Legally, the program is authorized under Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which amended Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925). The funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument. The associated CFDA number is 10.318 (Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields). The funding activity spans multiple areas, reflecting the broad nature of USDA-related STEM work, including agriculture, education, employment and workforce training, environment and natural resources, community and regional development, and research and development.
For this particular FY11 solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA WAMS 003415), the estimated total available funding was $364,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $75,000 up to a ceiling of $300,000. The opportunity also required cost sharing or matching, so applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources according to the terms in the full request for applications. The posting and creation date were March 10, 2011, and the application deadline was May 10, 2011, with the opportunity later archived on July 11, 2011.
Eligibility is intentionally broad, but it emphasizes networks and partnerships that can bring together the right mix of education, research, and community reach. Applications could be submitted by collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based networks or partnerships of public or private entities. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public, state-controlled, and private); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; and groups made up of two or more eligible entity types. The listing of eligible applicants also explicitly includes small businesses, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations), tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations), and other applicants as further clarified in the full announcement. The program notes that priority may be given to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary, which generally signals an interest in organizations with demonstrated capacity and ongoing alignment with USDA program goals.
Overall, WAMS is aimed at strengthening the STEM pipeline and workforce in rural America by funding projects that remove barriers, create on-ramps, and build durable support systems for rural women and underrepresented minorities pursuing USDA-relevant STEM education and careers. Strong applications would typically be expected to show measurable outcomes (such as recruitment, retention, training completion, or career/education transitions), credible evaluation plans, and partnerships that connect learners to real USDA mission-aligned STEM experiences. For technical issues accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided help desk support, and questions about the request for applications were handled through the contacts listed in the full RFA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Women And Minorities In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)?
WAMS is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports projects designed to expand participation in STEM among women and underrepresented minorities from rural communities.
What is the main goal of WAMS?
The program aims to strengthen STEM pathways and the future workforce in rural America by funding projects that remove barriers, create on-ramps into STEM education and careers, and build durable support systems for rural women and underrepresented minorities in USDA-relevant STEM fields.
What kinds of projects does WAMS support?
WAMS supports projects that combine research and extension. That means applicants are expected to both generate knowledge or test interventions and translate findings into practical education or outreach activities that can be adopted by communities, schools, organizations, or workforce programs.
What does it mean that WAMS requires a "research and extension" approach?
It means a proposal should not be only research-focused or only outreach-focused. Applicants are expected to pair research (for example, evaluating a strategy to increase participation) with extension-style delivery (for example, educational programs or outreach that puts results into practice).
How important are partnerships and collaboration in WAMS proposals?
Collaboration is a central theme. Proposals are expected to show strong, well-structured partnerships rather than isolated activities, including clear roles for each partner and a plan for sustained impact.
Who is the intended beneficiary population for WAMS-funded projects?
The program is aimed at women and underrepresented minorities from rural communities who are pursuing or preparing to pursue STEM education and careers aligned with USDA priority areas.
What STEM fields or pathways are a fit for WAMS?
WAMS focuses on STEM pathways that connect directly to USDA priority areas. Examples mentioned include agricultural science, food systems, natural resources, environmental and climate science, engineering, data and precision agriculture, rural business innovation, and other STEM disciplines aligned with USDA mission-driven outcomes.
What USDA priority areas should WAMS projects align with?
Projects should connect to USDA priority areas identified by the Secretary, including: improving food safety, sufficiency, and nutritional quality (in the U.S. and globally); supporting sustainable agricultural policies that help small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses remain economically viable while protecting natural resources and promoting value-added agriculture; providing national leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation; building a modern workplace with a modern workforce; and strengthening 21st-century rural communities.
What is the legal authority for the WAMS program?
WAMS is authorized under Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which amended Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925).
Is this a discretionary or mandatory funding program?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the CFDA number for WAMS?
The associated CFDA number is 10.318 (Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
For the FY11 solicitation described, the Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA WAMS 003415.
How much funding was available under this FY11 solicitation?
The estimated total available funding was $364,000.
What was the award size range (minimum and maximum) for this solicitation?
Individual awards ranged from a floor of $75,000 to a ceiling of $300,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources according to the terms described in the full request for applications (RFA).
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The posting and creation date was March 10, 2011, and the application deadline was May 10, 2011.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was later archived on July 11, 2011.
What types of applicants were eligible to apply?
Applications could be submitted by collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based networks or partnerships of public or private entities. Eligible applicants listed include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public, state-controlled, and private); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; and groups made up of two or more eligible entity types.
Are small businesses and nonprofits eligible?
Yes. The eligibility listing explicitly includes small businesses and nonprofits, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations, as further clarified in the full announcement.
Are tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility listing explicitly includes tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, as further clarified in the full announcement.
Does the program prefer certain types of institutions or applicants?
The program notes that priority may be given to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary, which generally indicates interest in applicants with demonstrated capacity and ongoing alignment with USDA program goals.
What activity areas does WAMS funding cover?
The funding activity spans multiple areas reflecting USDA-related STEM work, including agriculture, education, employment and workforce training, environment and natural resources, community and regional development, and research and development.
What kinds of outcomes are strong applications expected to show?
Strong applications would typically be expected to include measurable outcomes such as recruitment, retention, training completion, or education/career transitions, along with credible evaluation plans and partnerships that connect learners to real USDA mission-aligned STEM experiences.
Who should applicants contact for technical problems accessing the full announcement?
For technical issues accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided help desk support.
Where should programmatic questions about the request for applications be directed?
Questions about the request for applications were handled through the contacts listed in the full RFA.
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