Funder: Office of Postsecondary Education
Due Dates: June 23, 2026 (Full application) | August 24, 2026 (Intergovernmental Review)
Funding Amounts: Individual grants: $2,250,000–$3,000,000 total for 5 years; Cooperative grants: up to $5,000,000 total for 5 years; ~600 awards; $350M+ program funding.
Summary: Supports eligible higher education institutions to improve academic programs, management, and fiscal stability for increased self-sufficiency.
Description
This program provides discretionary grants to eligible higher education institutions to enhance their academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. The goal is to help these institutions expand their capacity to serve low-income students and become more self-sufficient. Projects may address a range of priorities, including workforce readiness, short-term credential programs, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The competition includes both Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants, each with a five-year project period.
Due Dates
- Full Application Deadline: June 23, 2026 (applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time)
- Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2026
Funding Amount
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $350,000,000+
- Expected Number of Awards: ~600
- Individual Development Grants: $2,250,000–$3,000,000 total for the 5-year period (maximum $3,000,000)
- Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: Up to $5,000,000 total for the 5-year period (maximum $5,000,000)
- Project Period: 60 months (5 years)
- No cost sharing or matching required unless using funds for an endowment, in which case matching is required for those funds.
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Applicants must meet specific requirements under Section 312 of the Higher Education Act, including:
- Accredited or pre-accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
- Legally authorized by the state to provide eligible educational programs
- Designated as an “eligible institution” based on enrollment of needy students and low per-student expenditures (see 34 CFR 607.3 and 607.4)
- Restrictions:
- An institution may submit one Individual and one Cooperative application
- Current SIP grantees may only submit a Cooperative grant
- Two-year wait-out: Former grantees whose five-year grants ended on or before 9/30/2024 may apply for Individual grants; others only for Cooperative grants
- See the ANI for full eligibility details
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov
- Registration: Applicants must have active registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov
- Required Forms:
- SF 424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF 424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)
- Project Narrative (up to 65 pages recommended)
- Strengthening Institutions Program Profile Form
- Budget Narrative (itemized for each year)
- Abstract, Assurances, Certifications, and other attachments as described in the application instructions
- Absolute Priority: All applicants must address strengthening institutional capacity as defined in the notice
- Competitive Preference Priorities: Applicants may address one of:
- Career pathways and workforce readiness
- High-quality, short-term programs (Workforce Pell-eligible)
- Advancing AI in education
- Rural institutions may also address a rural priority for extra points
- Review: Peer review based on published selection criteria; tie-breakers based on endowment, library expenditures, and certain activities
Additional Information
- Use of Funds: Wide range of authorized activities, including academic program development, facility improvements, student services, and endowment building (with matching)
- Unallowable Costs: Includes activities not in the approved application, religious instruction, non-degree/non-credit course development (except basic skills), fundraising, student recruitment, and others (see program notice for full list)
- Indirect Costs: Not allowed under this program
- Build America, Buy America Act: Applies to infrastructure expenditures
- Performance Measures: Focus on student enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation income
External Links
Contact Information