Discover Funding Opportunities for Cooperative Extension and Higher Education
Explore funding opportunities curated by the Extension Foundation currently available for Cooperative Extension. New grants are added twice a month, so make sure to check back frequently!
National Opportunities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Digital Infrastructure
- FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide | U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $50,000–$250,000
Estimated number of awards: 7
Synopsis: This newly posted BLM competition supports nationally significant rangeland work that crosses state boundaries, including land-health monitoring, soil carbon sequestration, resilient landscapes, restoration, ecological site description work, and stakeholder education and training. Public and private institutions of higher education are explicitly eligible.
Best-fit screen: Strong fit for land-grant universities with Extension, range science, soils, restoration, and multi-state public-lands partnership capacity; especially worth review where field implementation and applied monitoring can be paired.
Deadline: Application deadline, August 14, 2026
Link: FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide (Simpler Grants)
- Unlocking Dataset Value for AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery (AI Datasets) | U.S. National Science Foundation
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: Planning grants up to $200,000; Impact awards up to $2,000,000; Flagship awards up to $5,000,000
Estimated number of awards: 25 to 50
Synopsis: Supports projects that enhance existing scientific datasets for AI-enabled discovery through feature extraction, metadata generation, dataset integration, harmonization, augmentation, and development of automated data pipelines. Two- and four-year U.S. institutions of higher education, including community colleges, may apply directly.
Best-fit screen: Strong fit for research-intensive LGUs with substantial scientific datasets, data-governance expertise, cyberinfrastructure, and interdisciplinary AI capacity; planning grants may be especially useful for institutions still building a research-community consortium.
Deadline: Full proposal deadline, November 4, 2026
Publication date: July 21, 2026; federal listing last updated August 1, 2026
Tags: Federal; Research-heavy; AI; Digital Infrastructure
Link: NSF 26-512: Unlocking Dataset Value for AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery
Workforce Preparation & Job Readiness
- FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange | U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $1,100,000
Estimated number of awards: 1
Synopsis: This newly posted ECA competition funds a U.S. organization to run the CBYX young-professionals exchange and related staff-exchange travel component. The program includes year-long academic and professional exchanges, with American participants studying in Germany and German participants studying in the United States, alongside practical work experience.
Best-fit screen: Best for universities with strong exchange-program administration, international student support, and employer-placement capacity; more operationally intensive than research-oriented.
Deadline: Application deadline, August 14, 2026
Link: FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (Simpler Grants)
Link: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (Simpler Grants) - Strategically Responsive Grants / LOI Process | ECMC Foundation
Eligibility: Postsecondary institutions and systems or their affiliated/supporting foundations
Amount: Not stated
Deadline: Rolling LOI
Why it fits: ECMC is explicitly interested in projects that improve postsecondary persistence, completion, and career success for underserved students; national higher-ed institutions may submit LOIs directly. (ecmcfoundation.org)
Link: Nurse Faculty Loan Program - Strategically Responsive Grants / LOI Process | ECMC Foundation
Eligibility: Postsecondary institutions and systems or their affiliated/supporting foundations
Amount: Not stated
Deadline: Rolling LOI
Why it fits: ECMC is explicitly interested in projects that improve postsecondary persistence, completion, and career success for underserved students; national higher-ed institutions may submit LOIs directly. (ecmcfoundation.org)
Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources Innovation
- Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program | U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $150,000–$2,500,000
Estimated number of awards: Not stated
Synopsis: TCRGP supports research-capacity development at Tribal colleges in agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences, with explicit encouragement for projects involving AI, data science, robotics, and other digital tools. Eligibility is limited to 1994 land-grant institutions.
Best-fit screen: High-priority review for 1994 institutions seeking research-capacity growth with agriculture, community vitality, and emerging technology components.
Deadline: Rolling / open through December 31, 2026
Link: Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program | NIFA (Nation Institute of Food and Agriculture) - Tribal Colleges Extension Program – Capacity Applications | U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $300,000
Estimated number of awards: 35
Synopsis: Newly posted TCEP capacity applications support informal, community-based Extension work led by 1994 land-grant institutions across agriculture, nutrition, family wellbeing, natural resources, and related topics important to Tribal communities.
Best-fit screen: High-priority review for 1994 institutions seeking direct Extension capacity support with strong community delivery plans and durable local relationships.
Deadline: Application deadline, August 14, 2026
Link: Tribal Colleges Extension Program – Capacity Applications (Nation Institute of Food and Agriculture)
- Cochran Fellowship Program FY2026 | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: Up to $150,000
Estimated number of awards: 7
Synopsis: USDA FAS is also seeking colleges and universities to administer the Cochran Fellowship Program, which supports applied research, extension, and education collaborations with foreign counterparts from selected emerging market economies. U.S. state cooperative institutions and other colleges and universities are the eligible applicants.
Best-fit screen: Good fit for LGUs with global agriculture training, export-oriented industry relationships, and capacity to host practical fellowships rather than only lab-based research exchanges.
Deadline: Full application due August 14, 2026
Link: Cochran Fellowship Program FY2026 - Sun Grant Program | U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Eligibility label: Consortium / Partner-Eligible
Amount: $2,801,160
Estimated number of awards: 1
Synopsis: Supports coordinated research, development, distribution, and implementation of biobased energy and bioproduct technologies that improve U.S. energy security, diversify agricultural production, and promote rural economic growth. The eligible applicant must represent a consortium of 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant institutions with representation from each Sun Grant region and sub-region.
Best-fit screen: High-priority review for land-grant institutions already participating in the Sun Grant network and able to contribute bioenergy, biomass, bioproduct, rural-development, research, or Extension capacity to a national consortium. (Quoting from the RFP: “Eligible applicants must represent a consortium of 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant Institutions comprised of one entity from each of the Sun Grant regions and sub-region.”)
Deadline: Full application deadline, August 17, 2026
Publication date: July 31, 2026
Tags: Federal; Research-heavy; Implementation; Rural
Link: Sun Grant Program
Resilient Lands & Communities
- FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide | U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $50,000–$250,000
Estimated number of awards: 7
Synopsis: This newly posted BLM competition supports nationally significant rangeland work that crosses state boundaries, including land-health monitoring, soil carbon sequestration, resilient landscapes, restoration, ecological site description work, and stakeholder education and training. Public and private institutions of higher education are explicitly eligible.
Best-fit screen: Strong fit for land-grant universities with Extension, range science, soils, restoration, and multi-state public-lands partnership capacity; especially worth review where field implementation and applied monitoring can be paired.
Deadline: Application deadline, August 14, 2026
Link: FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide (Simpler Grants)
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Classic for federal fiscal year 2026 | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Eligibility label: Both
Amount: $250,000–$10,000,000
Estimated number of awards: 31
Synopsis: RCPP Classic supports partner-led conservation projects addressing agricultural production, water, soil, habitat, and related natural resource priorities at scale. Institutions of higher education are explicitly named as eligible applicants, and the structure strongly favors multi-actor partnership models.
Best-fit screen: High-priority review for LGUs with Extension, producer networks, watershed or conservation partnerships, and multi-county or multi-state implementation capacity.
Deadline: Full proposal due August 24, 2026
Link: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Classic FY 2026 - U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program Primary Announcement | U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Interagency Fire Center
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $300,000–$500,000
Estimated number of awards: 10
Synopsis: Funds applied research on drivers and consequences of changing wildfire regimes and on smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire. Public and private IHEs are eligible, and proposals must be developed with management relevance and practitioner collaboration.
Best-fit screen: High-priority review for LGUs with fire science, forestry, rangelands, air quality, public health, modeling, and Extension or agency partnerships that can translate results into monitoring and management tools.
Deadline: Full proposal deadline, September 17, 2026
Link: Joint Fire Science Program Primary Announcement - U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement | U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Interagency Fire Center
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $192,000–$262,000
Estimated number of awards: 15
Synopsis: Supports two-year leadership and operation of regional fire science exchanges in nine named regions, including Alaska, Appalachians, Great Basin, North Atlantic, Northern Rockies, Northwest, Oak Woodlands, Pacific Islands, and Southwest. Public and private IHEs are eligible.
Best-fit screen: Excellent Extension-facing fit for LGUs already convening fire managers, researchers, Tribal partners, communities, and land-management agencies through regional knowledge-exchange networks.
Deadline: Full proposal deadline, September 17, 2026
Link: Joint Fire Science Program Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement
Organizational Capacity, Professional Development & Learning Networks
- Institutional Challenge Grant | William T. Grant Foundation
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible—research-practice partnership required
Amount: $650,000 over three years, with an opportunity to apply for a two-year continuation grant
Estimated number of awards: One award per cycle
Synopsis: Supports university-based research institutes, schools, and centers in strengthening sustained partnerships with public agencies or nonprofit organizations to reduce inequality in outcomes for U.S. youth ages 5–25. Projects must pursue a joint research agenda, build both partners’ capacity to produce and use evidence, and change university policies, practices, or incentives to better support collaborative research.
Best-fit screen: Strong fit for university centers with an established youth-serving public or nonprofit partner, a rigorous community-engaged research agenda, and senior institutional commitment to changing promotion, funding, staffing, or other systems that affect research-practice partnerships.
Deadline: Full application deadline, September 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET
Link: Institutional Challenge Grant
Youth, Family & Consumer Heath and Wellbeing
- Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment—EAGLE | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible—limited institutional eligibility
Amount: $300,000–$1,000,000
Estimated number of awards: 31
Synopsis: EAGLE supports Native-community economic and human-capital development through regenerative agriculture, artificial intelligence, energy sovereignty, workforce development, cultural education, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and locally designed solutions. Eligible higher education applicants are limited to Tribal Colleges and Universities and colleges or universities in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders.
Best-fit screen: Priority review for 1994 land-grant institutions and qualifying Pacific-serving universities with strong community partnerships and implementation capacity; most other land-grant universities are not eligible to lead but may explore a partner or subrecipient role only where permitted by the full NOFO and an eligible lead applicant.
Deadline: Full application deadline, August 27, 2026
Publication date: July 28, 2026
Tags: Federal; Implementation; Rural; Capacity Building / TA
Link: Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment - FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Eligibility label: Direct Applicant Eligible
Amount: $2,500–$25,000,000; approximately $4,040,000,000 in total program funding
Estimated number of awards: Approximately 7,000
Synopsis: Supports community-wide systems for quickly rehousing people experiencing homelessness, connecting individuals and families to mainstream services, and improving long-term self-sufficiency. The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program component supports coordinated community approaches for preventing and ending homelessness among youth age 24 and younger, including unaccompanied and pregnant or parenting youth.
Best-fit screen: Worth immediate review for public LGUs with housing, social work, public health, youth development, Extension, evaluation, or community-development capacity and established relationships with Continuums of Care, local governments, housing authorities, Tribal entities, and homelessness-service providers.
Deadline: Full application deadline, August 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET
Publication date: June 1, 2026; materially updated July 31, 2026
Tags: Federal; Implementation; Youth; Community Partnerships; Equity-focused
Updated opportunity: Included based on the material July 31, 2026 update to the federal listing and NOFO. Public and state institutions of higher education are explicitly listed as eligible applicants, although applicants should confirm the applicable CoC project structure and local coordination requirements before proceeding.
Link: FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants
State by State Opportunities
Alaska
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
California
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Connecticut
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Delaware
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Hawaii
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Idaho
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Indiana
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Maine
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Maryland
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Massachusetts
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Michigan
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Minnesota
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Montana
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Nevada
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
New Hampshire
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
New Jersey
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
New York
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
North Dakota
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Ohio
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Oregon
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Pennsylvania
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Rhode Island
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
South Dakota
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Utah
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Vermont
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 1 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $452,420 – supports operation of a regional center helping transportation-related small businesses build financial capacity, obtain bonding, and compete for government and infrastructure contracts. Learn more
Washington
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Wisconsin
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 3 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $278,272 – supports a regional center providing business training, counseling, outreach, financing assistance, bonding support, and procurement readiness for transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Wyoming
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
Guam
- CATEGORY: Community & Economic Development | Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center, Region 6 | U.S. Department of Transportation: $441,559 – supports operation of a regional center delivering capital-access, bonding, procurement, training, counseling, and technical-assistance services to transportation-sector small businesses. Learn more
