Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fields Program?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.318. The program funds research and extension projects that use strong, clearly defined collaborations to increase participation in STEM among women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The purpose is to build pathways into STEM education and careers for rural women and underrepresented minorities, with pathways that connect directly to agriculture and related rural priorities. Projects are expected to include practical plans for recruitment, training, mentorship, and sustained engagement.

What types of projects does the program fund?

The program funds research and extension projects that rely on collaborations or partnerships and can demonstrate real reach and credibility in rural communities. Supported projects should have clearly defined roles across collaborators and show how the collaboration will recruit participants, train them, provide mentorship, and maintain engagement over time.

Who is the intended participant population for funded projects?

The program focuses on increasing STEM participation among women and underrepresented minorities who come from rural areas.

Why does the program emphasize collaborations and partnerships?

Competitive proposals are expected to show coordinated roles across collaborators, such as pairing research capacity with extension delivery, adding community-based recruitment partners, and/or involving industry and workforce partners. The program description highlights that collaborations should be strong and clearly defined, with the ability to demonstrate real reach and credibility in rural communities.

What USDA priority areas must projects align with?

Projects must align with USDA priority areas identified by the Secretary, including: (1) promoting a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply in the United States and globally; (2) advancing sustainable agricultural policies that support the economic viability of small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses while protecting natural resources and encouraging value-added agriculture; (3) providing national leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation; (4) building a modern workplace with a modern workforce; and (5) strengthening 21st century rural communities.

How should applicants connect STEM participation goals to USDA priorities?

Proposals should show how increasing rural women and minority participation in STEM will contribute to the USDA priorities, such as through agricultural innovation, natural resource stewardship, climate resilience, food systems research, rural workforce development, or community-based extension and education.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.318.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

Is cost-sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning awardees must contribute non-federal resources in the form specified in the full announcement.

Where do applicants find the exact cost-sharing/matching rules and application requirements?

The detailed instructions (including how to meet matching requirements, formatting rules, allowable costs, and required components of the application package) are typically accessed through the full announcement via the additional information link associated with the program.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is defined in federal statute (Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, amending earlier law at 7 U.S.C. 5925). Applications may only be submitted by eligible applicants, and proposals may be submitted by collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based networks or partnerships of public or private entities.

What types of organizations or entities are listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible applicant types 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; and any group consisting of two or more of those entity types.

Can individuals apply, or does it have to be an organization?

Individuals are listed among the eligible applicant types. The program also emphasizes collaborative networks and partnerships, so proposals are expected to reflect coordinated roles among collaborators where applicable.

Are partnerships required to be state, tribal, local, or regional?

The opportunity notes that proposals may be submitted by collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based networks or partnerships of public or private entities, signaling an emphasis on such collaborative structures.

What is the estimated total funding available for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding listed is $400,000.

When was the notice posted and when was it created?

The notice was posted April 29, 2015, and the creation date is April 30, 2015.

What were the closing dates for applications?

The original closing date was June 15, 2015. The current closing date was updated to May 29, 2015.

Is this opportunity still open?

The archive date is July 15, 2015, which generally indicates the opportunity is no longer open after that time frame. The summary information still describes the program’s intent and structure.

What kind of assistance is available if an applicant cannot access the full announcement electronically?

NIFA provides help desk assistance for applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.

How do I contact the NIFA Help Desk for support?

You can contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.

What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?

The help desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.

What should a strong proposal be able to demonstrate in rural communities?

The program emphasizes partnerships that can demonstrate real reach and credibility in rural communities, along with practical plans for recruitment, training, mentorship, and sustained engagement.

Does the program focus only on education, or also on career pathways?

The program is meant to build pathways into STEM education and careers that connect directly to agriculture and related rural priorities.