Environmental Grants for Schools & universities
40 open opportunities. Open environment grants that schools & universities are eligible to apply for, each with a plain-English summary of who qualifies, the deadline, and the award size.
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Due May 8, 2027National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH mentored career development award (K23) supports individuals with a clinical doctoral degree committed to patient-oriented research, providing protected research time under mentorship, and this version requires an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityMentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due May 8, 2027National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH mentored career development award (K08) prepares individuals with a clinical doctoral degree for research careers through supervised biomedical, behavioral, or translational research; this version does not allow leading an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityMentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Due May 8, 2027National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH mentored career development award (K08) prepares individuals with a clinical doctoral degree for research careers through supervised biomedical, behavioral, or translational research, and this version requires an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityChange of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
Due Jul 12, 2027National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH mechanism is narrowly limited to organizations that already hold specific types of NIH grants and need to transfer an existing award to a new recipient institution (a change of recipient organization). It is an administrative prior-approval request, not a new funding opportunity, and there is no guarantee a transfer will be approved. Only current NIH grantee organizations should apply; it does not apply to individuals, new applicants, or general nonprofits. No award amount applies.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNarrow eligibilityBlueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
Due Aug 18, 2027National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH program supports preclinical discovery and development of biologic-based therapies for nervous system disorders, from lead optimization through Phase I clinical testing. Eligible applicants are research organizations such as universities, colleges, government and tribal agencies, faith- or community-based organizations, and (for this announcement) foreign organizations; it is geared toward established research teams, not individuals or general nonprofits. Award amounts are not specified. Applicants should be prepared for a complex, multi-phase research undertaking with NIH-funded consultants and contract research organizations.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNarrow eligibilityNPS Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU) Master Cooperative Agreements
Due Dec 31, 2027National Park Service · Amount varies
This National Park Service opportunity offers Master Cooperative Agreements to participants in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network across listed regions, supporting research, technical assistance, education, and capacity building. Only existing CESU network partners may apply, so applicants must already have joined the network. No specific award amount is provided.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNarrow eligibilityNIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Up to $50K
The NIH parent Small Research Grant (R03, clinical trial not allowed) supports small, short-term projects such as pilot and feasibility studies, secondary data analysis, and methodology development. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $50,000. The small budget suits research institutions pursuing limited-scope projects to generate preliminary data.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNonprofits+2 moreNIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial required) supports early-stage research projects with at least one clinical trial, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNonprofits+1 moreNIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial required) supports investigator-initiated research projects, with at least one clinical trial required, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNonprofits+1 moreResearch Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K
The REAP program funds small-scale research at health professional and graduate schools that haven't been major recipients of NIH support, while giving students hands-on research experience. Eligibility is limited to institutions awarding NIH-relevant degrees that received under $6 million per year in NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years — a specific financial threshold worth checking before applying. Awards go up to $375,000.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityNIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial not allowed) supports early-stage, higher-risk research projects that may lead to breakthroughs or novel methods. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is an exploratory research mechanism aimed at research institutions.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNonprofits+1 moreAcademic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K
An NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA/R15) for undergraduate-focused institutions that do not receive substantial NIH funding, supporting small-scale biomedical research with undergraduate involvement. Eligibility is narrow: institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than about $6 million per year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible. The award is capped at about $375,000. This is restricted to qualifying lower-NIH-funded undergraduate institutions.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityNIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Jan 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) supports investigator-initiated research projects aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions, excluding clinical trials. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a core NIH research mechanism aimed at research institutions.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribalNonprofits+1 more2026 Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program
Due May 1, 2028DOC 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.
IndividualsSmall businessGovernment / tribalNonprofits+2 moreRuth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)
Due May 4, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
This NIH training grant funds domestic institutions of higher education (including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges) to build predoctoral and postdoctoral biomedical research training programs, not individual researchers directly. Eligibility is fairly broad among institution types, but non-domestic entities and their foreign components are excluded, and the program does not support short-term-only training plans. No dollar amount is listed, and the deadline is not near-term.
Schools & universitiesBroad eligibilityRuth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35)
Due May 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
Open to domestic institutions — universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations (foreign institutions are not eligible). This NIH T35 funds short-term (often summer) research-training experiences for health-professional and graduate students. It supports the institution's training program rather than an individual.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNonprofitsGovernment / tribalStephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Aug 25, 2028National Institutes of Health · Amount varies
Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R01 supports early-stage investigators pursuing a new research direction, and applications must include no preliminary data. Award size follows standard R01 limits; aimed at researchers early in their independent careers.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNonprofitsGovernment / tribalSupport for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Sep 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Up to $100K
This NIH award (SuRE, up to $100,000) funds investigator-initiated biomedical research by full-time faculty at resource-limited higher education institutions who do not currently hold other NIH research project grants, aiming to build research capacity and student research experience. Foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components are not eligible. The maximum award is under $100,000, and the application deadline is not imminent.
Schools & universitiesResearchersSmall awardNarrow eligibilitySupport for Research Excellence First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Due Sep 7, 2028National Institutes of Health · Up to $125K
This NIH award (SuRE-First, up to $125,000) funds investigator-initiated biomedical research by full-time faculty at resource-limited institutions who have never previously held an independent, peer-reviewed external research grant, aiming to build research capacity and provide student research experience. Foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components are not eligible. The maximum award is small, and the deadline is not imminent.
Schools & universitiesResearchersSmall awardNarrow eligibilityNOAA Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants
No deadline listedDOC NOAA - ERA Production · $250K–$30M
Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit companies, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply to this NOAA program for fish habitat restoration in the Great Lakes. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants can be located anywhere, but the proposed work must take place within the Great Lakes basin in one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN). Awards range from about $250,000 to $30 million, making this a large-award opportunity with a strong geographic restriction.
NonprofitsSmall businessResearchersGovernment / tribal+3 more
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What environment grants can schools & universities apply for?
UseGrants currently lists 40 open environment grant opportunities that schools & universities are eligible to apply for, each summarized in plain English with its eligibility, deadline, and award amount. The feed covers federal Grants.gov programs plus state grant portals.
How do I know which of these I qualify for?
Every listing includes a plain-English summary of who is eligible, so you can gauge fit before spending hours on an application. The free UseGrants eligibility checker (no signup) also matches you to open grants based on your organization type and focus. Always confirm the official eligibility criteria on the funder's listing before you apply.
How current are these environment grants?
UseGrants aggregates opportunities from public records — federal Grants.gov programs and state grant portals — normalized into one plain-English feed and refreshed regularly. Past-deadline opportunities are removed. Confirm the current deadline and eligibility on the official listing before applying.