Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program
This grant funds innovative educational projects that help communities prepare for and respond to natural, human-made, or technological disasters.
Funder: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Due Dates: June 1, 2026
Funding Amounts: $20,000–$115,000 per award; total program funding $459,564; typically 5 awards
Summary: Supports education-based projects to enhance disaster preparedness and response for communities at risk from natural, human-made, or technological disasters.
Key Information: 100% cost match required; only 1862 Land-grant Institutions are eligible to apply.
Description
This program funds innovative, education-based projects that address disaster preparedness and response for communities facing risks from natural, human-made, or technological disasters. The goal is to support the Cooperative Extension System in developing and implementing applied scientific programs that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. Projects may include risk communication, educational programming, outreach, and recovery facilitation, with a focus on science-based, practical solutions.
