Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 011315
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.217. Its main goal is to build and strengthen a universitys capacity to deliver high-quality education in food and agricultural sciences, with particular emphasis on advanced training at the masters and doctoral levels, as well as first professional education in veterinary medicine (for example, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM). In practical terms, the program supports projects that improve the academic and training infrastructure needed to educate graduate students and future professionals in these fields.
HEC funding is aimed at institutional improvements rather than individual student support. The program is designed to help schools modernize and enhance core elements of their educational systems, including curriculum development or revision, faculty capability and instructional capacity, acquisition or upgrading of scientific instrumentation used for teaching and training, and strategies to recruit and retain students in graduate-level food and agricultural sciences programs and professional veterinary medicine pathways. The intent is to produce lasting institutional upgrades that improve program quality and student outcomes, not to function as a scholarship or fellowship source for a single persons graduate education.
Eligibility is centered on institutions that can credibly deliver graduate education in food and agricultural sciences. Land-grant institutions are eligible, along with other colleges and universities that can demonstrate the capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and to confer a graduate degree in at least one discipline or area within food and agricultural sciences. Any institution offering degrees under this program must be accredited by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, research foundations that are maintained by an eligible college or university may also apply, which can be useful for campuses that route sponsored projects through an affiliated foundation.
While the applicant must be an eligible institution (or its qualifying research foundation), the program allows award recipients to subcontract with organizations that would not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed project. This flexibility can support collaborations with specialized nonprofits, industry partners, or other entities that provide expertise, training platforms, or services required for the project, while keeping the primary responsibility and leadership with the eligible institution. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title, Higher Education Challenge Grants Program, and the opportunity number USDA NIFA CGP 011315. The activity category is Agriculture, and the instrument type is Grant. The posted original closing date is 2026-10-15. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $750,000, and NIFA expects to make about 36 awards under this opportunity. The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2026-08-05, indicating when the listing was established or published in its current form.Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 011315
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 36 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
What is the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program?
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.217. It supports projects that build and strengthen a university's capacity to deliver high-quality education in food and agricultural sciences.
What is the main goal of HEC funding?
The main goal is to improve institutional capacity to provide strong education and training in food and agricultural sciences, with particular emphasis on advanced training at the master's and doctoral levels and first professional education in veterinary medicine (such as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM).
Is this program intended to fund individual students or scholarships?
No. HEC funding is aimed at institutional improvements rather than individual student support. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply to support their own graduate education, and the program is not intended to function as a scholarship or fellowship source for one person's degree.
What types of projects does HEC support?
The program supports projects that strengthen academic and training infrastructure for educating graduate students and future professionals in food and agricultural sciences and professional veterinary medicine pathways.
What kinds of institutional improvements are emphasized?
HEC is designed to help institutions modernize and enhance core elements of their educational systems. Examples described in the opportunity include curriculum development or revision, improving faculty capability and instructional capacity, acquiring or upgrading scientific instrumentation used for teaching and training, and implementing strategies to recruit and retain students in relevant graduate and professional pathways.
Does the program focus on short-term student outcomes or long-term institutional upgrades?
The intent is to produce lasting institutional upgrades that improve program quality and student outcomes over time, rather than providing short-term individual aid.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on institutions that can credibly deliver graduate education in food and agricultural sciences. Land-grant institutions are eligible, along with other colleges and universities that can demonstrate capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and confer a graduate degree in at least one discipline or area within food and agricultural sciences.
Does an institution need to be accredited to apply?
Yes. Any institution offering degrees under this program must be accredited by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
Yes. Research foundations that are maintained by an eligible college or university may also apply.
Can ineligible organizations participate in a project?
Yes. While the applicant must be an eligible institution (or its qualifying research foundation), award recipients may subcontract with organizations that would not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed project.
Who must lead and be responsible for the project?
The eligible institution (or its qualifying research foundation) must be the applicant and retains primary responsibility and leadership, even when subcontracting with other partners.
Are individuals allowed to apply directly?
No. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.
What is the funding opportunity title?
The funding opportunity title is Higher Education Challenge Grants Program.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA CGP 011315.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.217.
What is the activity category?
The activity category shown is Agriculture.
What is the instrument type?
The instrument type is Grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $750,000.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make about 36 awards under this opportunity.
When is the application closing date?
The posted original closing date is 2026-10-15.
When was this opportunity record created or published in its current form?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2026-08-05.
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| Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance Apply for USDA AMS TM CCG G 26 0001 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM CCG G 26 0001 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $7,500,000 |
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