Science & Research Grants for Governments & tribes

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF INCLUDES program funds collaborative, national-scale efforts to broaden participation and build inclusive infrastructure in STEM, supporting pilots, consortia, alliances, network connectors, and conferences. Eligibility is relatively broad: for-profit organizations including small businesses, nonprofit non-academic organizations, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations may apply. No specific award amounts are listed. This is a research and capacity-building opportunity open to a range of organizations, though not to individuals.

U.S. Dept. of Treasury RESTORE Act Program · $5.7M–$14.5M

This Treasury RESTORE Act program funds Centers of Excellence research on Gulf Coast coastal sustainability, fisheries, offshore energy, economic growth, and Gulf monitoring. Only state governments may be the direct applicant; eligible states then issue competitive subawards to nongovernmental entities and consortia, including universities. Awards range from roughly $5.7 million to $14.5 million. Because only state governments can apply directly, nonprofits, businesses, individuals, and researchers would need to participate through a state's subaward process rather than apply themselves.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program funding partnerships of K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers to develop technology-based solutions to learning and workforce challenges, with a focus on early AI exposure. Eligible applicants are limited to US nonprofits/non-academic research organizations, state and local governments, US institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations; unaffiliated individuals cannot apply and no PI degree is required. Only teams awarded planning grants may later submit development proposals. No award amount is specified.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds Antarctic and Southern Ocean research that does not require U.S. Antarctic Program field support, including data/sample-based studies and analogue-site work. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations, institutions of higher education acting for their faculty, and federally recognized tribal nations. It is aimed at researchers and academic or research institutions. No specific award amount is stated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $1M–$1.5M

An NSF EPSCoR program funding interjurisdictional research collaborations in STEM, open to higher-education institutions, certain nonprofit research organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and Tribal governments located in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Applicants and investigators must be in EPSCoR jurisdictions and projects must span at least two such jurisdictions, which is a significant geographic restriction. Awards run roughly $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. Not a fit for organizations outside EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions or without a research mission.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $100K–$750K

An NSF program funding research on the coupling, energetics, and dynamics of the upper atmosphere, including ground- and space-based observations and modeling. Eligibility is relatively broad: U.S. for-profit organizations including small businesses, nonprofit non-academic research organizations, higher-education institutions, and federally recognized Tribal Nations may apply. Awards run roughly $100,000 to $750,000. While the entity types are broad, the work is specialized atmospheric science suited to research-capable applicants.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $300K–$1M

An NSF program funding development and testing of innovative approaches to STEM graduate education. Eligible applicants are U.S. two- and four-year higher-education institutions (including community colleges), certain nonprofit non-academic research/education organizations, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Awards run roughly $300,000 to $1,000,000. This is geared to colleges, universities, and education-focused nonprofits rather than small businesses or individuals.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

A U.S. Army (West Point / U.S. Military Academy) Broad Agency Announcement soliciting basic and applied research and analysis across science, engineering, education, policy, ethics, history, and economics. Eligibility is broad, including higher-education institutions, nonprofits, state and local governments, for-profit organizations (large and small businesses), and foreign organizations/public entities, with no restriction on place of performance. No award amount is specified, and funding depends on the specific proposal. Proposals must advance the state of the art or basic knowledge rather than target specific devices.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds open-science work such as research data management, cyberinfrastructure, and scientific publication models that make research data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profit non-academic research organizations, federally recognized tribal nations, and certain federal agencies and FFRDCs. No award amount is listed.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF solicitation funds Antarctic research that requires logistical fieldwork support from the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), spanning Earth systems, biological, geochemical, and physical sciences. Eligible applicants are limited to U.S.-based non-profit non-academic research organizations (such as museums, observatories, and research laboratories), accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations; individuals and businesses are not among the listed eligible submitters. Available USAP logistical support is currently limited due to facility maintenance, so applicants should follow the solicitation's guidance. Award amounts are not specified.

Department of Housing and Urban Development · Amount varies

This HUD notice of intent previews a future opportunity inviting unsolicited research proposals on housing and community development priorities such as affordability, homelessness, and housing stability. Eligible applicants are philanthropic entities (including 501(c)(3) foundations and public charities), other federal agencies, state or local governments, Indian tribes, tribally-designated housing entities, and colleges or universities; individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible, and no profit may be earned. Note a significant disqualifier: projects must include matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of total project cost. Award amounts are not specified in the notice.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement (BAA) solicits extramural basic and applied medical research and development proposals that benefit both military and civilian medical practice. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. The selection process is highly competitive, and projects must focus on advancing scientific knowledge rather than developing a specific system or product.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

This Air Force Research Laboratory solicitation (CHEERS) seeks white papers, and potentially later proposals, on human-effectiveness and aerospace-medicine research for experimental and test purposes in defense development. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. Applicants must reference the related Multiple Authority Announcement to obtain required attachments, and the work is tied to specific defense research objectives.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement solicits foundational (basic and applied) research proposals supporting Army modernization. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a competitive merit-based process; no specific award amount is stated.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army DEVCOM Analysis Center Broad Agency Announcement solicits applied-research proposals supporting Army modernization, tool development, and data curation. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a whitepaper-then-proposal process; no specific award amount is stated.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · $750K–$50M

Open broadly to any type of entity — universities, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and others. This Department of Defense / Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement funds extramural biomedical and human-performance research and development through FY28. Awards span a very wide range, from about $750,000 to $50 million.

Washington Headquarters Services · $2.5K–$800K

This Department of Defense program funds research on security cooperation and irregular warfare topics, open to individual researchers (with or without institutional affiliation), academic institutions, think tanks, and federally funded R&D centers; past awardees may reapply. Applicants can submit only one proposal at a time as principal investigator, and research products must be unclassified and made publicly accessible. Awards range from $2,500 to $800,000, and the deadline is not imminent.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

The Army Applications Lab Broad Agency Announcement funds basic and applied scientific research in defense-relevant areas described in the BAA. Eligibility is unusually broad: institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations and public entities, and for-profit businesses (large and small) may all apply. No specific award amount is listed, and projects are selected through full and open competition, so applicants should review the BAA's stated research areas of interest.

National Institute of Standards and Technology · From $10M

This NIST CHIPS R&D Office Broad Agency Announcement funds research, prototyping, and commercial solutions that advance U.S. microelectronics technology, with a stated floor of about $10 million per award. Eligible applicants include for-profit and non-profit organizations, accredited universities, FFRDCs, and federal entities, but they must be domestic; individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Some foreign partners may participate as subawardees, subject to restrictions (foreign adversaries excluded). Given the large award size, applicants should review the full BAA for compliance requirements.