NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative
The NSF INCLUDES Initiative funds projects that build collaborative infrastructure to broaden participation and inclusivity in STEM fields, aiming to create a diverse workforce reflecting the nation’s population.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: October 27, 2026: Full proposal deadline | October 27, 2026: Network Connectors full proposal deadline | October 26, 2027: Design and Development Launch Pilots and Collaborative Change Consortia full proposal deadline | October 26, 2027: Alliances full proposal deadline | October 30, 2026: Conferences submission window final deadline | May 11, 2027: Conferences full proposal target date
Funding Amounts: Total program funding approx. $5,500,000/year; typical awards: DDLPs up to $300K/year (2 yrs), Consortia up to $1M/year (5 yrs), Alliances up to $2M/year (5 yrs), Network Connectors up to $250K/year (2 yrs), Conferences up to $100K (1 yr).
Summary: Supports collaborative projects to broaden participation and foster inclusion in STEM, building infrastructure for systemic, sustainable change at local, regional, and national levels.
Key Information: Strict limits: one proposal per project type per organization and only one per PI/co-PI per annual due date (conferences excluded).
Description
This National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative aims to catalyze systemic change to broaden participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, with a focus on building collaborative infrastructure and fostering inclusive excellence across the nation. The program funds five types of projects—Design and Development Launch Pilots, Collaborative Change Consortia, Alliances, Network Connectors, and Conferences—each designed to connect and contribute to a national network dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. Projects must integrate five core design elements: shared vision, partnerships, goals and metrics, leadership and communication, and expansion, sustainability, and scale. The initiative encourages proposals that address persistent barriers to participation in STEM, especially those affecting underrepresented populations, and supports both research and implementation activities.
