The University of Arizona has an existing award for this program and thus is not eligible to apply for additional awards.
Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0
M. Zepeda-Wilson (College of Engineering Academic Affairs)
C. Trejo (Educational Policy Studies and Practice)
The APS Foundation will be holding an informational webinar for interested applicants January 9, 2026 at 10:00am Arizona time. Attendance is expected if you plan to submit a pre-proposal.
Webinar link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87144295161
The submission of this funding program is coordinated by RSD with the assistance of the University of Arizona Foundation. For more information, please contact Cyndi Laughren.
The APS Foundation supports programs that enhance academic achievement in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Since 1981, the Foundation has invested more than $44 million in projects throughout Arizona that help prepare students to compete in a 21st century economy.
A workforce proficient in STEM skills is critical to attracting and retaining high-quality businesses and industries to the state. The APS Foundation targets projects that help educators increase content knowledge in STEM subjects as well as the ability to transfer this knowledge effectively to students.
Average funding amount: ~ $75,000
Program Information:
Please note, the APS Foundation will not support:
• Individuals
• Individual K-12 schools
• Religious organizations, churches and programs that are purely denominational in purpose
• Political, labor or fraternal organizations, associations or civic service clubs
• Legislative, lobbying or advocacy efforts or organizations
• Private or family foundations
• Animal shelters or agencies
• Foundations or organizations which are grant-making entities or that distribute funds to other nonprofit organizations (pass through)
• Start-up organizations defined as nonprofits whose ruling year has been granted by the IRS for less than three years
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status or any other classification protected by law
• Health organizations whose primary focus is funding programs or services for a specific disease or illness
• Sports teams or sporting programs
• Scouting troops
While not a part of our traditional grant program, the APS Foundation occasionally supports capital requests of our long-standing partners on an invite-only basis.
Proposal Tips:
No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Limiting Language
Only one application will be accepted per organization. Higher education applicants must partner with a library that is not directly affiliated with their institution.
About Big Read
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is a program that awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to organizations.
These grants support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. As our nation moves into its 250th year, the goal of this program is to honor America’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.
Grantees will receive funding for their programming and purchasing books, and tools to support them in working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and leading meaningful book discussions.
NEA Big Read programs vary and can be as short as a week or as long as several months. Beyond discussions of the book, organizations may choose to include a kick-off event, invite the author for a visit, or have other events inspired by the content and themes of the book. These may include panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, poetry slams, writing workshops and contests, and community storytelling events.
In total, Arts Midwest will be awarding $1,090,000 in project grants through NEA Big Read this year. We anticipate making approximately 75 grants.
Limit: One application per department, school, or program
O. Neto (Global Health Institute) - AI Challenge
Limiting Language
An organization may only serve as a Lead Organization on one application for each of the three challenges. An organization may be a partner on more than one application if each one proposes a separate and distinct solution. And each application must be submitted by a different, eligible Lead Organization.
Please note: Regional or location-specific branches of larger organizations, as well as departments, schools, and programs within or based in a college/university, may each submit separate applications naming their parent organization as the Lead Organization on their applications. Similarly, applicants may include a specific branch or department along with the parent organization in the Lead Organization field on the registration form.
Program Overview
The Workplace Innovation Now (WIN) AI Challenge is seeking bold solutions that address the impact and potential of AI in quickly evolving workplaces, from AI-powered solutions that help support women at work, to AI skill-building and solutions that mitigate bias in AI.
When women succeed in the workplace, we all win. Pivotal recently conducted research that shows that removing barriers for women creates better workplaces for everyone and strengthens our economy.
This initiative will source innovations that open opportunities for women’s careers, while improving workplaces for everyone and expanding prosperity for communities across the country. The workplace is where life barriers thread together, and it’s quickly transforming. Lifting these barriers and better equipping everyone to thrive in the workplace of the future can have a multiplier effect on women’s lives, their families, their communities, and the overall economy.
Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0
H. Budinoff (Systems and Industrial Engineering)
B. Kim (Materials Science and Engineering)
This opportunity is being institutionally coordinated by Research Development Services and the Office of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives. If you are interested, please check your eligibility then contact Riley McIssac.
Limiting Language
Limit on number of proposals per university: 2
About ASCENDʳ
ASCENDʳ Research is a competitively funded DOD research program that is aligned to the U.S. National Defense Science and Technology Strategy and the DOD Critical Technology Areas and part of the HSRU’s Advancing STEM Careers through Education, Networking, Development + Research (ASCENDʳ) Initiative (for more information about ASCENDʳ visit www.hsru.org) For this opportunity, research priority areas are: Advanced Materials, Human-Machine Interfaces, and Space Technology. Through this competitively funded research program, HSRU Alliance member institutions’ research strengths will be leveraged, faculty leadership development will be provided, and graduate student researchers will be integrated. This research program will have the aims to (1) expose both faculty and students to military operations and defense and national security real-world challenges, (2) deploy and enhance the research environments conducive for the successful progression and participation of the students in the process (e.g. mentoring, professional development, and financial support), and to (3) conduct research and deliver research outcomes to meet DOD technical challenges/gaps.
Eligibility
The proposal must originate from an HSRU member institution in good standing.
Notify Limited Submissions of Your Intent to Submit a Proposal Please include a brief summary of the planned project scope // Limit: Must notify if there are two or more planned institutional proposals
Limiting Language
Organizations are limited to submitting one Entry to the Challenge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Challenge may consider multiple Entries from large organizations such as universities. Any such Entries must be distinct, without overlap in the scope of the proposals or the project teams. If you are aware that two or more teams within your organization are submitting Entries to the Challenge, please notify us by email at challenge@data.org and include an explanation as to how your team meets the foregoing requirement.
Funding Highlights
The Activate AI: Economic Opportunity Challenge is a global call for innovative AI applications that empower people and communities, and that unlock economic opportunity for a resilient future. With the launch of this challenge, data.org and Zoom are seeking out projects that drive AI workforce development and organizational capacity, develop pathways to create future friendly jobs leveraging data and AI, and build climate resilient communities for a green economy.
Sponsor Notes
The Challenge will award at least five final winners with a combination of grant funding and in-kind support with a combined total value of $115,000 USD. In-kind support may include, but is not limited to, data science talent, staff training, technical support and consulting, media production, marketing and promotional outreach, and software and infrastructure licenses.
Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0
M. Zhang (COM-P)
V. Kamath (COM-P)
Limiting Language
Each Nominating Institution may nominate up to two (2) applicants in Chemical Biology Research.
Program Overview
Annually, the Ono Pharma Foundation considers proposals from PIs for research that could ultimately transform human health. Although additional areas of research may be added in future years, the Ono Pharma Foundation is only considering proposals for scientific research addressing Chemical Biology at this time.
Chemical Biology is defined as research that deals with the interface between chemistry and biology. The criteria for this field are deliberately broad so as not to disqualify potentially innovative and groundbreaking projects.
The goals of the Ono Initiative are to:
Eligibility:
Limit: 4* (see below) // Tickets Available: 3
Cancer Data Science // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Cancer Control Science // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0
J. Llavona-Ortiz (Cancer Center)
Molecular Precision/Cancer Prevention // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Other Cancer Research // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Number of Applications
Each eligible institution (defined as having a unique UEI number or NIH IPF number) may submit up to a combined total of four applications (one in Cancer Data Science, one in Cancer Control Science, one in Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention, and one in Other Cancer Research) to any companion NOFO or any combination of companion NOFOs (PAR-23-286, PAR-23-287, and/or PAR-23-288).
Scientific Areas
No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Limiting Language
Applicant organizations may submit only one application per cycle.
Program Overview
Recordings at Risk is a national regranting program administered by CLIR to support the preservation of rare and unique audio, audiovisual, and other time-based media of public value through digital reformatting.
Eligible media may include but are not necessarily limited to, magnetic audio and video tape, grooved discs, wax cylinders, wire recordings, and film (with or without sound).
Recordings at Risk encourages professionals who may be constrained by limited resources and/or technical expertise to take action against the threats of degradation and obsolescence. The program aims to help organizations identify priorities and develop practical strategies for digital reformatting, build relationships with partners, and raise awareness of best practices.
Institutionally Coordinated
National Need Areas:
Limiting Language
An eligible entity may submit only one (1) grant application under an area of national need as the lead applicant. An entity can be included as a partner in multiple applications. The eligible entity may apply to all four (4) areas of national need as the lead applicant but must submit a separate grant application for each area of national need.
Program Overview
In order to support these four crucial needs, this competition includes seven absolute priorities under which applicants can apply: two priorities dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of AI in postsecondary education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2), one priority dedicated to promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses (Absolute Priority 3), two priorities within promoting accreditation reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5), and two priorities for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7). The Department intends to award $50 million to advance AI in Education, $60 million to promote civil discourse on college and university campuses, $7 million to support accreditation reform, and $50 million for high-quality short-term programs. The Department may adjust these estimates based on interest and quality of applications.