STEM, Education, Training

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

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.

Program Information: 

• Organizations must be registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity in good financial and public standing.
• Programs should demonstrate their ability to improve educational outcomes, increase access and/or offer an innovative approach to learning.
• Programs that support teacher professional development is APS Foundation’s primary focus.
• Programs that impact students, supporting them in achievements in STEM, are the next priority.
• Pilot projects may be funded, and those awards are generally in the $10,000 = $30,000.
• Programs requesting substantial funding (≥$75,000) should demonstrate proof of concept, detailed budget, and have a detailed execution plan.
• Strong measurements for proof of success are essential, especially for higher dollar asks. (At minimum, a pre, during, and post survey or variation of measurement will be required)
• Criteria used for evaluation include sustainability, ability to leverage other funding (not required).
• Programs that serve underserved/under resourced students are well-received.
• All grantees will have specific reporting requirements and must submit a final evaluation before they can be considered for additional funding.

Proposal Tips: 

• Proposals should be written in lay language.
• Multi-year funding is not available.
• New interest in board for AI components in proposals (not required)
• Higher asks will be scrutinized at a higher level. Please ensure you have a solid description, strong success measurements, and have an established program/project for best chance of being successful.
• Proposals that involve medical themes are discouraged from applying as the funder has a separate initiative dedicated to medical themes/programming.
• Seed funding applicants should consider the following questions: What will be measured for the ethicality of the program? What is guiding the assumption for need/success of your proposed project/proposal?  
   

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

At The Stocker Foundation, we're all about helping students from prekindergarten through eighth grade become curious lifelong learners. Our grantmaking supports 21st century reading literacy and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities that encourage kindergarten readiness, grade-level reading proficiency, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. We believe that when all students have access to quality education, they develop a passion for learning, which paves the way for future opportunities.

In 2024, The Stocker Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved 199 grants totaling over $2 million to communities served. Our funding supports:

• The development of foundational reading and writing skills so that students can read at or above grade level by third grade
• Cross-disciplinary, project-based STEAM learning that connects subjects through hands-on experiences

We also set aside a small portion of our funding to help remove obstacles that might keep students from academic success.

The Stocker Foundation conducts one grant cycle annually. We welcome applications from organizations who share our passion for transforming educational opportunities for students who need them most.

Deadlines:
Stage 1 (eligibility check) - September 30, 2025
Stage 2 (application) - November 30, 2025

The University of Arizona is not eligible for this opportunity. For more information, please contact RDS. 

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0 (Track 1 only)

G. Chism (College of Information Science)
T. Robinson (Lunar and Planetary Lab) 

Eligibility
An eligible IHE may participate in only two (2) proposals per NRT competition as lead or collaborative nonlead. All Track 1 and/or Track 2 NRT proposals will be counted toward this total limit of two proposals per institution. 

Participation includes serving as a lead institution or a non-lead institution (i.e., as part of a separately submitted collaborative proposal or as a sub-recipient) on any proposal. Organizations participating only as evaluators on projects are excluded from this limitation. Planning proposals, described in Section II, Program Description, are also excluded from this limitation. Proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review regardless of whether the institution on such a proposal serves as lead or non-lead collaborative institution. Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

Proposals may only be submitted by the following: 
Track 1: All Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members and that award a research-based master's degree and/or a doctoral degree in STEM disciplines supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Track 2 and 

Track 2 Planning Grants: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members that award a research-based master's degree and/or a doctoral degree in STEM disciplines supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation including: Master's Colleges and Universities and D/PU Doctoral/Professional Universities that award fewer than 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2, as defined in the Carnegie classification of higher education institutions). Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1) are not eligible for Track 2 consideration. The University of Arizona is not eligible for Track 2. 

Program Synopsis

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. Proposals are requested that address any interdisciplinary or convergent research theme of national priority, as described in section II.D below. The NRT program addresses workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. The program encourages proposals that involve strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners. NRT especially welcomes proposals that reflect collaborations between NRT proposals and existing NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative, Undergraduates (REU), Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM), and Research Experiences for NSF Scholarships in NSF STEM Ed Organizational Postdoctoral Fellowship program (STEM Ed OPRF) projects, provided the collaboration will strengthen both projects. Researchers at minority serving institutions and emerging research institutions are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Collaborations between NRT proposals and existing NSF INCLUDES projects should strengthen both NRT and INCLUDES projects.

Four tracks, see limits below: 

• Departmental/Division Transformation Track (DDTT) – No institutional limits on proposals
• Institutional Transformation Track (ITT) - Limit: 1 // Institutionally Coordinated
• Emerging Faculty Research Track (EFRT) – U of A is NOT ELIGIBLE
• HSI Program Resource Hubs (Hubs) – U of A is NOT (currently) ELIGIBLE  

HSI Initiatives must coordinate the submission for the Institutional Transformation Track or future Resource Hubs proposals. If you are interested in this funding opportunity, please contact Riley McIsaac.

On Hold // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2
 

Purpose and Priorities
For the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) program, NIFA will support projects with a target audience of K-14 students (kindergarten through twelfth grade plus two years of post-secondary schooling (e.g., vocational technical institutions or community or junior colleges)).  

Four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral focused projects will not be awarded under this grant announcement. Projects with a primary target of four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral studies should consider other NIFA workforce development focused programs. The purpose of this program is to support integrated education/teaching and extension/outreach projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. For a definition of “underrepresented minorities” and “rural area” please visit Appendix III of this RFA. NIFA intends for this program to address educational needs, as determined by each institution, within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences and their allied disciplines. 

Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize the development of a competent and qualified workforce in the food and agricultural enterprise. WAMS-funded projects should improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing education and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations for women and underrepresented minorities. Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.  

Duplicate or Multiple Submission – Submissions of duplicate (other than revisions) or predominantly overlapping applications are not allowed. In FY2025, an eligible applicant may submit up to two applications on behalf of multiple institution’s staff whereas they are not essentially duplications of the same project or portions of the same project to multiple programs. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate submissions. For additional information or clarification please contact the NIFA POC listed in this RFA. 

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0

D. Stover (Molecular and Cellular Biology) 
J. Barton (BIO5 Institute)

The submission of this funding program is coordinated by RSD with the assistance of the University of Arizona Foundation. For more information, please contact Selena Valencia-Salazar. 

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.

This program is funded by APS shareholders and not included in customer rates.

Program Information: 

• Organizations must be registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity in good financial and public standing.
• Programs should demonstrate their ability to improve educational outcomes, increase access and/or offer an innovative approach to learning.
• Programs that support teacher professional development is APS Foundation’s primary focus.
• Programs that impact students, supporting them in achievements in STEM, are the next priority.
• Pilot projects may be funded, and those awards are generally in the $10,000 = $30,000.
• Programs requesting substantial funding (≥$75,000) should demonstrate proof of concept, detailed budget, and have a detailed execution plan.
• Strong measurements for proof of success are essential, especially for higher dollar asks. (At minimum, a pre, during, and post survey or variation of measurement will be required) 
• Criteria used for evaluation include sustainability, ability to leverage other funding (not required).
• Programs that serve underserved/under resourced students are well-received.
• All grantees will have specific reporting requirements and must submit a final evaluation before they can be considered for additional funding.

Proposal Tips: 

• Proposals should be written in lay language.
• Multi-year funding is not available.
• New interest in board for AI components in proposals (not required)
• Higher asks will be scrutinized at a higher level. Please ensure you have a solid description, strong success measurements, and have an established program/project for best chance of being successful.
• Proposals that involve medical themes are discouraged from applying as the funder has a separate initiative dedicated to medical themes/programming.
• Seed funding applicants should consider the following questions: What will be measured for the ethicality of the program? What is guiding the assumption for need/success of your proposed project/proposal?  

Limit: 1 // Available: 0

N. Alvarez Mexia

The IDEAS grant competition assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. Building on the work achieved thus far, and the myriad opportunities that have been provided to students, microgrant proposals should seek to build additional capacity in U.S. grantee institutions. Examples may include, but are not limited to, building upon existing partnerships, reaching out to additional student groups, applying successful models to new locations, or creating toolkits for reaching underrepresented students.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, proposals must meet the following criteria:

• The institution must be a current or past IDEAS grantee that has or will have concluded their award activities before September 1, 2024 and is in good standing with World Learning, with all reports and other deliverables up-to-date.
• Proposals must support projects focused primarily on U.S. undergraduate student mobility abroad, although graduate student participation in programs is allowed.
• As with the IDEAS grant, funding may not be used to support direct outbound or inbound student costs. Funds may be used to support U.S. faculty and/or staff travel overseas as well as travel for foreign faculty and/or staff to travel to the United States to support program development, resource development and dissemination, and/or research. Further details about allowable costs can be found in the Grant Competition FAQs.
• Microgrants may support the development of in-person U.S. study abroad programming in countries with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 1, 2, or 3. Development of in-person programming in foreign locations with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 4 is not permitted.
• Microgrants may support the development of virtual U.S. study abroad programming in all countries, regardless of their U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory level.

Note that the Primary Investigator for the microgrant application does not need to have participated personally in the previous or ongoing IDEAS grant activities; this opportunity is open to any faculty or staff person at an IDEAS grantee institution. Only ONE application per institution will be considered. Collaboration among grantee institutions is permitted and encouraged

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0

Eung-Joo Lee (ECE)

Brian Kim (MSE)

Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).

Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Junior faculty members interested in applying should consult their ORAU Councilor, and visit the frequently asked questions.