Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: November 21, 2025 (All Alliance, BD-Master's, BD-Doctoral proposals) | Annually, third Friday in November
Funding Amounts: Up to $5,000,000 over 5 years (SPIO); $4,000,000 over 5 years (SPRA); $2,000,000 over 5 years (B2B); $597,000 (BD-Master's, 3 years); $1,173,000 (BD-Doctoral, 3 years); $600,000 (NETWORKS, 3 years); $125,000 (ADG, 18 months)
Summary: Supports alliances and projects to increase STEM degree attainment and workforce participation among underrepresented minority groups through evidence-based, collaborative strategies.
Key Information: Limited submission: only one active alliance proposal per institution; PI must be a senior administrator for most project types.
Description
The National Science Foundation's program supports the formation and operation of alliances among institutions of higher education (IHEs) and other organizations to broaden participation and success of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields. The program funds a range of project types, including alliance development, student transfer pathways, research on broadening participation, graduate degree bridges, and STEM networking initiatives. The overarching goal is to increase the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to individuals from LSAMP populations: Blacks/African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Due Dates
- Next full proposal deadline: November 21, 2025 (third Friday in November, annually thereafter)
- Applies to: BD-Master's, BD-Doctoral, and all Alliance proposals (ADG, B2B, SPIO, SPRA)
- NETWORKS and BD-Master's proposals: Also accepted on June 24, 2024 (past deadline; future cycles follow November schedule)
Funding Amount
- Alliance Development Grants (ADG): Up to $125,000 for 18 months
- Bridge-to-the-Baccalaureate (B2B): Up to $2,000,000 for 5 years
- STEM Pathways Implementation-Only (SPIO): Up to $5,000,000 for 5 years
- STEM Pathways Research Alliances (SPRA): Up to $4,000,000 for 5 years
- Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees (BD-Master's): Up to $597,000 for 3 years (supports 6 students)
- Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees (BD-Doctoral): Up to $1,173,000 for 3 years (supports 12 students)
- STEM Networking Incentives and Engagement (NETWORKS): Up to $600,000 for 3 years
Estimated total program funding: $38,000,000 per year. Number of awards: 45–60 annually.
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- U.S.-accredited two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges), acting on behalf of their faculty.
- For NETWORKS: also eligible are U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations (e.g., museums, professional societies) and for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong STEM research/education capabilities.
- Project Type Requirements:
- ADG, SPIO, SPRA: Lead by IHEs; alliances must include at least four IHEs.
- B2B: Alliances of two-year IHEs; lead must award associate-level STEM degrees.
- BD-Master's: Only Master's Comprehensive IHEs (per Carnegie Classification).
- BD-Doctoral: Four-year IHEs.
- NETWORKS: Up to four collaborating organizations per proposal; non-LSAMP institutions must partner with at least one LSAMP alliance institution.
- PI Requirements:
- For most project types, PI must be a cabinet-level administrator (e.g., Provost, Dean, VP Academic Affairs); faculty may serve as Co-PIs.
- For NETWORKS, faculty may serve as PI/Co-PI.
- Submission Limits:
- Only one active alliance proposal (ADG, B2B, SPIO, SPRA) per institution.
- Up to two BD-Master's or BD-Doctoral proposals per alliance per competition.
- No limit for NETWORKS proposals.
Application Process
- Submission Platforms: Research.gov or Grants.gov
- Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals: Not required.
- Full Proposal: Must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and the specific requirements in the program solicitation.
- Required Documents:
- Project description (page limits vary by project type)
- Budget and budget justification (including subawards for partner institutions)
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Letters of collaboration/support from partner institutions
- Data tables (for alliance and BD-type proposals)
- For BD proposals: mentoring plan and, if applicable, status of previous cohorts
- Review Criteria: NSF standard criteria (Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts) plus program-specific criteria (e.g., alliance structure, evidence-based activities, evaluation plan, institutionalization, dissemination).
Additional Information
- Cost Sharing: Not required or allowed.
- Indirect Costs: No specific limitations.
- Special Conditions: All alliance projects must establish a governing board of senior administrators from partner institutions.
- Reporting: Annual and final reports required, including progress on institutionalization and sustainability, and data on student outcomes.
- Build America, Buy America Act: All materials used in the project must be produced in the U.S.
External Links
Contact Information