Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Centers Aligned with Areas for National Need (CAANN) Program Assistance Listing Number: 84.015C
This grant funds higher education institutions to teach critical languages, support international studies, and advance U.S. national security interests through research and training on key world regions.
Funder: Department of Education
Due Dates: July 7, 2026 (Full application deadline) | September 4, 2026 (Deadline for Intergovernmental Review)
Funding Amounts: Estimated total: $70,000,000 | Typical award: $1,200,000–$1,400,000 for a 48-month project | ~50 awards expected
Summary: Supports higher education centers or consortia in teaching strategic languages, area studies, and international research to address U.S. national needs in security and economic prosperity.
Key Information: No cost sharing/match required; indirect costs capped at 8% MTDC; pre-application notice encouraged but not required.
Description
This program, administered by the Department of Education in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, funds Centers Aligned with Areas for National Need (CAANN). Grants support institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia to establish or enhance centers that teach languages critical to U.S. national security and economic interests, provide area studies, conduct international research, and promote training in international and foreign language aspects of professional and other fields. The initiative targets languages and regions such as Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Farsi, Swahili, Hindi, and others, with a focus on Latin America, Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
The program aims to advance national security interests, increase global competitiveness, and foster understanding of critical world regions through comprehensive and undergraduate center models.
