Education Workshop: Crafting Successful Education and
Outreach Grant Proposals
ASPB - Minneapolis, MN
August 7, 2011
Shing F. Kwok, Ph.D.
National Program Leader
Division of Plant Systems – Production
Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
US Dept. of Agriculture
skwok@nifa.usda.gov
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
established by the 2008 Farm Bill
• Research enables us to develop the knowledge
needed to solve many of the issues facing our
nation
• Education strengthens schools and universities
to train the next generation of scientists,
educators, producers, and citizens
• Extension brings the knowledge gained through
research and education to the people who need it
most – in the United States and around the world
NIFA is Organized Into Five Institutes/Centers
Institute of Food Production and Sustainability
• Enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems
Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment
• Ensuring energy independence through clean, biobased energy systems
• Ensuring sustainable and adaptive agro-ecosystems in response to climate change
Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
• Ensuring a safe food supply
• Improving citizens’ health through nutrition
• Reducing childhood obesity
• Improving food quality
Institute of Youth and Community Development
• Enabling vibrant and resilient communities
• Preparing the next generation of scientists
• Enhancing science capacity in minority-serving institutions
• Enhancing youth development
Center for International Programs
• Enhancing agriculture with international partners
• Development of agricultural programs with other federal agencies (USAID, State Dept.)
Program Objectives:
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Develop Human Capital & Expertise in Food and
Agriculture Sciences (STEM education &
workforce development)
Enhance Institution Capacity Building (Domestic
(MSIs) & International – Teaching, Research &
Extension)
Advance Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) &
Underrepresented Students (access
&opportunities)
Foster Partnerships & Collaborations
Education Programs at NIFA and the Academic
Pipeline
K-8
AITC
SPECA
Secondary Postsecondary Graduate
Graduate
SPECA
RTP
4H
Post-graduate
SPECA
NNF
NNF
RTP
NIFA Fellows NIFA Fellows
HEC
MSP
Capacity Building Programs for MSIs , Education ,
and Research Programs (1890, 1994, HSI, ANNH)
International Science Education Program
NIFA- AFRI R-E-E and Integrated Programs
AITC- Ag in the classroom
SPECA- Secondary Post Secondary Education and AITC Challenge Award
RTP- New Era Rural Technology Program
HEC- Higher Education Challenge Award
MSP- Multicultural Scholars Program
NNF- National Needs Fellowship
Competitive Education Programs
I. Programs with General Eligibility:
A. Challenge Grants
1. AITC Secondary Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge
Grants - curriculum and faculty development (NPL: Greg Smith,
gsmith@nifa.usda.gov)
2. Higher Education Challenge Grants – innovative teaching
enhancement (NPL: Greg Smith, gsmith@nifa.usda.gov)
B. Scholarships and Fellowships
1. Multicultural Scholarship Program - increase multicultural diversity
(NPL: Ray Ali, rali@nifa.usda.gov)
2. National Needs Fellowship Program – M.S. and Ph.D. scholarships of
national needs (NPL: Irma Lawrence, ilawrence@nifa.usda.gov)
3. AFRI- NIFA Fellowship Programs - Ph.D. and post-doctoral fellowship
programs (NPL: Margo Holland, mholland@nifa.usda.gov)
Competitive Education Programs Continued…
II. Programs for Targeted Groups:
A. Rural Areas
1. New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program –
community college in rural areas, technology development, applied
research and training (NPL: Greg Smith, gsmith@nifa.usda.gov)
2. Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Grants Program – research
and extension projects focused on women and minorities in rural
areas (NPL: Ray Ali, rali@nifa.usda.gov)
B. Insular Areas
1. Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher
Education in Insular Areas – capacity building programs in teaching
and education (NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli, sfaamuli@nifa.usda.gov)
2. Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in
Insular Area – capacity building programs for distance learning in
insular areas (NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli, sfaamuli@nifa.usda.gov)
Education Programs Continued…
C. Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions
Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions
Education Grants Program – innovative teaching enhancement (NPL:
Saleia Afele-Faamuli, sfaamuli@nifa.usda.gov)
D. 1994 Land Grant Institutions Programs
1. Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program –innovative research
projects (NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli, sfaamuli@nifa.usda.gov)
2. Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grant Program – innovative teaching
enhancement (Tim Grosser, tgrosser@nifa.usda.gov)
3. Tribal Colleges Extension Program - *Federally-Recognized Tribes
Extension Program (NPL: Tim Grosser, tgrosser@nifa.usda.gov)
Competitive Education Programs Continued…
E. Hispanic Groups
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program – innovative
teaching enhancement (NPL: Irma Lawrence, ilawrence@nifa.usda.gov)
F. 1890 Grants Programs
1. 1890 Facilities Grant Program - enhancing facilities in 1890
institutions (NPL: P.S. Benepal, pbenepal@nifa.usda.gov)
2. 1890 Institutions Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants
Program – innovative teaching, research, and extension projects
(NPL: Ray Ali, rali@nifa.usda.gov; Greg Smith,
gsmith@nifa.usda.gov)
10 Tips for Successful Grantsmanship
1. Read the Request for Applications (RFA)….then read it
again two more times
2. Call the National Program Leader (NPL) managing the
program if you have any questions
3. Serve on a panel
4. Assemble an effective team and write the proposal
together, define role for each team member
5. Clear goals and objectives
6. Write a meaningful and engaging project summary
7. Write the proposal for reviewers
8. Have a colleague review your proposal
9. Proofread your proposal
10. Submit early
Secondary, 2-Yr. Postsecondary & Ag in K12 Classroom Education Challenge CFDA: 10.226
Innovative Teaching Enhancements
• Curriculum & faculty development…etc.
• Improve how faculty deliver academic
instruction
• Emphasis on encouraging students to transfer to
higher education institutions and complete
advanced degrees
Award Range: $25,000 - $300,000
Applications Due: January 18, 2011
% Funded: 32%
NPL: P. Gregory Smith
Higher Education Challenge
CFDA: 10.217
Innovative Teaching Enhancements
• Curriculum & faculty development…etc.
• Focused on NIFA Strategic Objectives
• Improve faculty academic instruction and
enhance how students learn
• Collaborations with employers and other
academic institutions are encouraged
Award Range: $30,000 - $750,000
Applications Due: Feb 4, 2011
NPL: P. Gregory Smith
% Funded: 28%
Multicultural Scholars
CFDA: 10.220
• Scholarships (Undergraduate) to increase the
multicultural diversity of the food and
agricultural scientific and professional
workforce
• Special Experiential Learning Grant
supplements to increase activities for current
Multicultural Scholars
Award Range: $20,000 - $480,000
Applications Due: TBA (July 2011)
NPL: Ray Ali
% Funded:
21%
National Needs Graduate Fellowships
CFDA: 10.210
Fellowships for M.S. & Doctoral level students to
pursue and complete education and training in
areas of specified, national need
• To meet emerging workforce demands in the food
and agricultural sciences
• International Research/Thesis Travel Allowance
Award Range: $4,500 - $258,000
Applications Due: TBA (April 2011)
% Funded: 26%
NPL: Irma Lawrence
NIFA Fellowship Programs
CFDA: 10.310
Fellowships for predoctoral (Ph.D. candidates) and
postdoctoral scientists
• Supports fundamental research, applied
research, education, extension, and integrated
research, education, and extension projects.
• Student applies individually with mentor and
institutional support.
Award Range: $75,000-$130,000
Applications Due: TBA
% Funded: TBD
NPL: Margo Holland
New Era Rural Technology
CFDA: 10.314
Technology development, applied research, and
training to increase the Nation's technical,
scientific and professional workforce in the fields
of bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and
agriculture-based renewable energy resources.
• Restricted to community colleges in rural areas.
Award Range: $10,000 - $300,000
Applications Due: April 15, 2011
NPL: Greg Smith
% Funded: 42%
Women and Minorities in STEM
CFDA: 10.318
Supports research and extension projects that
have robust collaborations to increase the
participation of women and underrepresented
minorities, from rural areas, in science,
technology engineering and mathematics fields
that are relevant to USDA priorities.
Award Range: $75,000 - $300,000
Applications Due: TBA (April 2011)
NPL: Ray Ali
% Funded:
15%
Resident Instruction Grants Program for
Institutions of Higher Education in Insular
Areas (RIIA)
CFDA: 10.308
Capacity-building program to promote and
strengthen the ability of Insular Area Institutions
to carry out teaching and education programs
within a broadly defined arena of food and
agricultural sciences-related disciplines.
• Restricted to Insular Area Institutions
Award Range: $70,000 - $860,000
Applications Due: April 8, 2011
% Funded: 50%
NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli
Distance Education Grants for Institutions
of Higher Education in Insular Area (DEG)
CFDA: TBA
Capacity-building program to promote and
strengthen the ability of Insular Area Institutions to
carry out distance education teaching and
education programs within a broadly defined arena
of food and agricultural sciences-related
disciplines.
• Restricted to Insular Area Institutions
Award Range: $70,000 - $720,000
Applications Due: April 8, 2011
% Funded: 100%
NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli
Alaska Native-Serving and Native
Hawaiian-Serving (ANNH) Institutions
CFDA: 10.228
Innovative Teaching Enhancements
• Student, curriculum & faculty
development…etc.
• Increase diversity in food and agricultural
scientific and professional workforce
Award Range: $150,000 - $1,500,000
Applications Due: March 4, 2011
% Funded: 100%
NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli
Tribal Colleges Research
CFDA: 10.227
Innovative Research Projects
• Support investigative and analytical studies in
the food and agricultural sciences
• High significance and priority within tribal
community
• Research requirement: cooperative agreement
between 1994 & 1862/1890 Land Grant
University.
Award Range: $75,000 - $200,000 % Funded: 90%
Applications Due: February 4, 2011
NPL: Saleia Afele-Faamuli
Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants
CFDA: 10.221
Innovative Teaching Enhancements
• Curriculum & faculty development…etc.
• Promote and strengthen higher education
instruction in the food and agricultural sciences
at the 34 Tribal Colleges designated as 1994
Land-Grant Institutions.
Award Range: $90,000 - $111,400 *
% Funded: 100%
*This funding is distributed equally among applicants, award size depends in
part on applicant pool
Applications Due: March 15, 2011
NPL: Tim Grosser
Tribal Extension Grant Program
CFDA: 10.500
Build Innovative Extension Capacity:
• Increase Extension program capacity at 1994
Land-Grant Institutions; and
• Address special needs, take advantage of
important opportunities, and/or demonstrate
long-term sustained benefits of Extension
projects at 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
Award Range: $85,000-$100,000
Applications Due: February 2011
NPL: Tim Grosser
% Funded: 82%
Hispanic-Serving Institutions – HSI
CFDA: 10.223
Innovative Teaching Enhancements
• Curriculum & faculty development…etc.,
• Focused on NIFA Strategic Objectives
• Increase the diversity of the food and agricultural
scientific and professional workforce
• Collaborations with employers and other
academic institutions are encouraged
Award Range: $0 - TBD (up to $1.1 million)
% Funded: 35%
Applications Due: February 2011
NPL: Irma Lawrence
1890 Institutions Teaching, Research &
Extension Capacity Building
CFDA: 10.216
Innovative Teaching, Research & Extension
• Curriculum & faculty development…etc.
• Focused on NIFA Strategic Objectives
• Collaborations with industry and other academic
institutions are encouraged.
Award Range: $150,000 - $600,000
Applications Due: February 15, 2011
NPL: Edwin Lewis
% Funded: 35%