Higher Education - Institution Challenge Grants Program
Department Of Agriculture, National Institute Of Food And Agriculture
The purpose of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development.
Jargon-free version
Helps colleges and universities improve education in food and agricultural sciences. Provides funding to develop a skilled and diverse workforce in these fields.
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What Is This Program?
What Benefits Are Offered?
Funding for higher education projects that address state, regional, national, or international educational needs in food and agricultural sciences. Projects must involve creative or non-traditional approaches, encourage university-private sector relationships, and result in benefits transcending the project duration. No matching funds are required.
Who Is Eligible?
Business Size: large
Industries: education, food & agricultural sciences
Region: U.S., Insular Areas
Demographics: Hispanic-Serving Institutions, colleges/universities having significant minority enrollments
Other Criteria: 1862 Land-grant Institutions, 1890 Land-grant Institutions, 1994 Land-grant Institutions, State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed, U.S. public or private, nonprofit colleges/universities offering baccalaureate or 1st professional degree in at least one discipline/area of food & agricultural sciences, land-grant colleges/universities, colleges/universities having demonstrable capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences
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📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?
- 📝Steps to Apply
- Review the program guidelines
- Prepare the application materials
- Submit the application through the designated portal
- 🌐Application Portal
- https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities
- 📤Submission Method
- online
- 📅Key Dates
- Wed, 13 May 2026Opening DateTue, 16 Jun 2026Closing Date
- 🔄Intake Type
- fixed-deadline
📄What Documents Are Required?
- ✅Required Documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A (Budget Information - Non-Construction)
- SF-424B (Assurances)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Narrative
- Indirect cost rate agreement
- IRB approval letter
- Environmental review
- 📐Format Requirements
- PDF only, max 10MB
- ✉️Supporting Letters
- Letters of support are required.
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💰What Expenses Are Eligible?
- 🧾Eligible Expenses
- Research costs
- Educational program costs
- Extension activities
- 🚫Ineligible Expenses
- Costs not directly related to the project
- Entertainment expenses
- Fines and penalties
- 📏Expense Caps
- Indirect costs limited to de minimis 10% MTDC
- 💳Payment Model
- reimbursement
- ⏪Retroactive Expenses Eligible
- No
🤝Is Matching Funding Required?
- 🔀Matching Required
- No
- 📚Stacking Rules
- No stacking rules mentioned; combining with other government funding is not addressed.
📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?
- 🗓️Reporting Frequency
- annual
- 📑Reporting Requirements
- SF-425 Federal Financial Report
- performance progress report
- 🔍Audit Requirements
- OMB Uniform Guidance Single Audit if the recipient expends $750,000 or more in federal awards.
- 📢Branding Requirements
- Acknowledgment of federal funding is required.
- 🗄️Record Retention Period
- 3 years post-final-report
How Do I Apply?
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FAQFrequently Asked Questions
This program is available to large businesses in education, food & agricultural sciences industries located in U.S., Insular Areas.
This program offers funding up to $5,330,000 (minimum $5,061,425).
This program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
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