Grant Alert: NSF has $25M for Racial Equity in STEM Education

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The National Science Foundation's (NSF) "Racial Equity in STEM Education" ("EHR Racial Equity" is the official short title, although I'm not sure why it's not called "RESE," but you can ask the NSF that question) program should be of great interest to grant writers and grant applicants, because it has $25 million available for up to 35 awards for any program that will decrease "racism" in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. Given how much funding is available for the NSF's Racial Equity in STEM Education (EHR Racial Equity), grant writers should be thinking about how to apply and the need to apply.

If you are seeking grant writers for your EHR Racial Equity or any other NSF application, call us at 800.540.8906 ext. 1, or message us . We'll analyze the program requirements and make sure your application is competitive and fundable. Keep in mind that, for this program, it's interesting that a variety of applicants can apply, including community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities with post-graduate degree offerings. Moreover, Racial Equity in STEM Education is offering money to colleges and universities—sometimes referred to with the awkward phrase "Institutions of Higher Education" (IHEs)—to do activities that they're already likely doing. Although "supplantation" is technically a no-no in federal, state, local, and foundation grants, it's common for applicants to realize that funding is available for something they're already doing, or trying to do, and then to create a new program for purposes of the grant application that is more or less the same as a current program.

How the college or university applicant should accomplish the goal of "Racial Equity in STEM" is inherently inscrutable, since, while "racism" can be defined in many ways, action steps to do something about it aren't always obvious. Still, the program is well-funded, so it's worthwhile to close your eyes and imagine solutions, as the activities to be pursued in the larger program purpose are largely up to the applicant. Thus, grant seekers and grant writers should pay attention to the NSF's EHR Racial Equity program because of the large amount of money available, combined with the extremely loose project criteria. The grant project can be used to do almost anything, including things like "building theory" and "establishing, cultivating, and assessing authentic partnerships with communities impacted by systemic racism" and "convening conferences." Moreover, essentially any kind of applicant is eligible, as noted above, such as IHEs (including community colleges) and 501(c)3 nonprofits (which may include nonprofits that haven't received NSF grants before—this program is stuck in a curious spot, but adventurous nonprofits should consider applying).

There's much talk in the program solicitation—which is NSF-speak for "RFP"—about research, evidence-based practices, and so on, but little about how applicants should concretely execute their programs. A great deal of university research may be charitably termed "research," with scare quotes, and this NSF program isn't an exception. Many grant applications include lists of eligible and ineligible activities, but this one, from what we've seen, does not. The program solicitation does, however, encourage applicants to establish, cultivate, and assess "authentic partnerships with communities impacted by systemic racism." That means finding local ethnic-specific nonprofits, including advocacy groups, and letting them get a piece of the NSF grant pie via a subcontract from the grant in return for some kind of collaboration.

Overall, grant writers should look at the NSF's Racial Equity in STEM Education (EHR Racial Equity) program as a promising source of funding. STEM majors are growing, and yet most IHEs pay lip-service to teaching quality without actually hiring and promoting professors and staff based on teaching expertise. The NSF program is an attempt to remedy this challenge, and the money available makes it appealing for organizations looking for their piece of the anti-racism grant pie.