Diversity Funding Opportunities

Below is a listing of notable funding opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and higher education. If you have questions about any of these opportunities, we encourage you to contact the FAS Research Development team to discuss your funding needs. We are also happy to help you find additional opportunities that are specific to your projects. If you would like to suggest an opportunity to be added to this list, please email research_development@fas.harvard.edu

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› Department of Defense Opportunities
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Additional Resources
Award Program Eligibility Deadline Month Award Amount Description
Department of Defense (DoD) Opportunities
DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program The fellowship is awarded to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. dual citizens who intend to pursue a Doctoral degree at a U.S. institution. Applications are encouraged from women, persons with disabilities and minorities, including members of ethnic minority groups such as Native American, African American, Hispanic American, Native Alaskan (Inuit and Aleut) or Pacific Islander (Polynesian or Micronesian). December $38,400 per year for 3 years plus a cost-of-education allowance per tenure year; a $5,000 travel budget over the Fellow’s tenure for professional development; and up to $1,200 a year in health insurance. The DoD NDSEG is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to those pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the supported STEM disciplines of interest to the DoD.
Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program The program sponsors undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral study in 21 academic disciplines. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom at time of application. December SMART makes full-tuition awards. Stipends also provided and range from $25K-38K, plus  allowances as well as summer internships and guaranteed employment after graduation. Scholars who have obtained their Ph.D. through SMART are eligible to submit proposals as PIs for a SEED grant for up to $100K.

SMART is a highly competitive STEM focused scholarship-for-service program and is one of the largest STEM education and workforce initiatives under DoD STEM - the Department’s comprehensive K-20 STEM education and talent development effort. Upon graduation, students move directly into employment at DoD facilities. Awards can be made during any phase of a scholar’s education and vary in length from a minimum of one to a maximum of five years. The service commitment is one year of DoD employment for each academic year of SMART funding. Under the Federal Strategic Plan, DoD is charged with broadening the participation of historically underserved groups in STEM.

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) GFSD welcomes applications from any qualified U.S. citizen who has the ability to pursue graduate work at a GFSD university associate. Harvard is a GFSD university associate. Applicants at any stage of their graduate program may apply, as long as they will be available to accept two summers of paid internship. Those who already possess a doctoral degree are ineligible. December Up to $120K annually for graduate students. NSA sponsors students pursuing doctorate degrees in mathematics, engineering, computer science and physics. NSA also offers a wide selection of paid programs for high school and undergraduates. For graduate students, the Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) is a partnership between government agencies and laboratories, industry and higher education. GFSD's goal is to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in STEM fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool. In addition to providing financial support NSA also provides technical mentoring and at least two summers of employment to each sponsored student.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Opportunities
NIH offers an aggregated listing of diversity related announcements. For more on NIH’s interest in diversity, see Extramural Diversity website or tune in to the All About Grants podcast on NIH’s Interest in Diversity and Diversity Supplement Programs.   
Administrative Supplements to Recognize Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Mentorship PIs of existing awards are eligible to apply. The parent award must be active and the research proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment. April

up to $250,000 for one year, not to exceed the value of the parent award.

Administrative supplements are available for existing awards of scientists who are outstanding mentors and who have demonstrated compelling commitments and contributions to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the biomedical sciences. Funds will be provided to perform additional research within the scope of the parent grant, to develop curricula or training activities to enhance mentor training, and/or to help foster the research career development of additional students, post-doctorates, or other trainees, and/or for additional trainee slots.
BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required By the time of award, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the U.S. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. 

 

February, June, and October, annually Up to $249,000 per year (R00 phase) plus salary support (K99 phase).  This program aims to enhance workforce diversity in the neuroscience workforce and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds in BRAIN Initiative research areas. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. This FOA is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to the companion RFA (RFA-NS-19-043).
Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) (K99/R00 and UE5) Varies by FOA Varies by FOA Varies by FOA The MOSAIC program is part of NIH’s efforts to enhance diversity within the academic biomedical research workforce, and is designed to facilitate the transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds, for example individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level, into independent, tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty positions. The program has two components: an institutionally-focused research education cooperative agreement (UE5) and an individual postdoctoral career transition award (K99/R00) to enhance diversity.
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research This announcement is for supplements to existing projects. To be eligible, the parent award must be active and the research proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates who will enhance diversity on a national basis. Supplemental awards under this announcement are limited to citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. 
Deadline varies by the awarding NIH Institute or Center Direct costs for individual administrative supplements vary from less than $5,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the career level of the candidate. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. Funds are available for administrative supplements to enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting high school students, undergraduates, graduate/clinical students, postdocs and eligible investigators from underrepresented backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in health-related research. This supplement opportunity is also available to PD(s)/PI(s) of research grants who are or become disabled and need additional support to accommodate their disability in order to continue to work on the research project.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Opportunities
To view all programs with a focus on broadening participation at NSF, use the Funding Search tool and filter by "Advancing Diversity". 
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) An institution may submit up to two proposals in any track. See solicitation for a list of eligible degree programs and disciplines.  February Collaborative Planning -  $100,000 for 1 year; Track 1 -  $750,000 for 6 years; Track 2 - $1.5M for 6 years;  Track 3 - up to $5M The main goal of the S-STEM program is to enable low-income, talented domestic students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields. The program provides institutions with funds for scholarships and supports the implementation and testing of an ensemble of existing effective evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities featuring: (1) close involvement of faculty in S-STEM eligible disciplines, (2) student mentoring, (3) provisions and adaptation of activities that support student success.
NSF Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) Principal investigators must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Co-investigators are not permitted, but collaborations are permitted. This LEAPS-MPS call aims to broaden participation to include members from groups underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences, including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.  June Up to $250,000 total costs (direct plus indirect) for 24 months. The intent of these LEAPS-MPS awards is to initiate the research careers of pre-tenure faculty in tenure-track positions, particularly those at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and Carnegie Research 2 (R2) institutions, promoting the participation of scientists from all segments of the MPS scientific community, including those from underrepresented groups. This solicitation complements the NSF CAREER program by providing additional funding opportunities to increase the number of proposals to MPS from such institutions, and by providing early federal funding to help launch the academic careers of individuals who can serve as role models for the U.S. scientific workforce of the future. Another specific goal is to support innovative plans for recruiting and retaining a broad representation of researchers in research programs supported by these grants.
ADVANCE: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions Proposals may only be submitted by institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic Organizations. NSF ADVANCE does not provide fellowships, research, or travel grants to individual students, postdoctoral researchers, or faculty to pursue STEM degrees or research.  August (LOI); October (full proposals) NSF expects to make approximately six Adaptation awards (up to $1,000,000 for 3 years); six Partnership awards (up to $1,000,000 for up to 5 years); and four Catalyst awards (up to $300K for 2 years). NSF anticipates that two to four of the twelve Adaptation and Partnerships projects may qualify for an additional $250,000 for collaborating with a project initiated with NSF funding as described in the project description. The goal of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) ADVANCE program is to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce. ADVANCE encourages institutions to address various aspects of STEM academic culture and institutional structure that may differentially affect women faculty and academic administrators. All NSF ADVANCE proposals are expected to use intersectional approaches in the design of systemic change strategies in recognition that gender, race and ethnicity do not exist in isolation from each other and from other categories of social identity. 

The solicitation includes four funding tracks: Institutional Transformation (IT), Adaptation, Partnership, and Catalyst.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements Undergraduate student participants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S. NSF is particularly interested in increasing the numbers of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities in research. REU projects are strongly encouraged to involve students who are members of these groups. When designing recruitment plans, REU projects also are encouraged to consider students who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and first generation college students. August An REU Supplement typically provides support for one or two undergraduate students to participate in research as part of a new or ongoing NSF-funded research project. However, centers or large research efforts may request support for a number of students commensurate with the size and nature of the project. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is a Foundation-wide program that supports active participation in science, engineering, and education research by undergraduate students. REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year of graduate school. To be eligible, you must be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident; intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in a GRFP-supported field; be enrolled in an eligible program by fall following selection; and have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent). October The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution. The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program seeks to attract a diverse and qualified applicant pool - with particular attention to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), EPSCoR Jurisdictions, and non-traditional education tracks.
NSF Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) Individuals with disabilities eligible for facilitation awards include principal investigators, other senior project personnel, and graduate and undergraduate students. FASED requests are made in conjunction with the submission of regular competitive proposals, or as a supplemental funding request to an existing NSF award. No maximum funding amount has been established. The goals of NSF's FASED funding are to reduce or remove barriers to participation in research and training by persons with physical disabilities by providing special equipment and assistance under awards made by NSF; and to encourage persons with disabilities to pursue careers in science and engineering by stimulating the development and demonstration of special equipment that facilitates their work performance. There is no separate program for funding of special equipment or assistance. Requests are made in conjunction with regular competitive proposals, or as a supplemental funding request to an existing NSF award. The cognizant NSF Program Officer will make decisions regarding what constitutes appropriate support on a case-by-case basis.
NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) PILOT CISE supports meaningful actions that address the longstanding underrepresentation of various populations including women, minorities (African Americans/Blacks, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds), and persons with disabilities, in the computing field. Varies by CISE core programs and SaTC program The costs for the BPC activities are separate from the stated budget limits for proposals, and additional funding may be provided to carry out BPC activities. At award time, PIs will submit for review, a budget for the cost of any BPC activities with justification. This pilot encourages CISE PIs to include meaningful Project BPC plans in proposals submitted to a subset of CISE’s research programs and requires them at time of award. Currently, these programs include medium proposals submitted to CISE Core Programs in its Computer and Network Systems (CNS), Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), and Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) divisions and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC), as well as the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and Expeditions in Computing programs.
NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG): Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE) BPE focuses on enhancing the diversity and inclusion of all underrepresented populations in engineering, including gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity (African Americans/Blacks, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders), disability, LGBTQ+, first generation college and socio-economic status. Rolling The average award size for a BPE research grant is $350,000 for 36 months. BPE research activities will provide scientific evidence that engineering educators, employers, and policy makers need to make informed decisions to design effective programs that broaden the participation of persons from historically underrepresented groups in the engineering workforce. BPE is equally interested in research activities that align with and provide meaningful connections to the NSF INCLUDES National Network. Collaborations are encouraged between BPE proposals and existing NSF INCLUDES projects. 
Non-Federal Opportunities
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program Applicants must have no more than 36 months of postdoctoral research experience at the time of application, not be more than 5 years from his/her Ph.D., be a U.S or Canadian citizen, and must devote at least 75% of time to research. January $60,000 over 3 years
The PDEP supports the career development activities for underrepresented minority postdoctoral fellows in a degree-granting institution in the U.S. or Canada whose training and professional development are guided by mentors committed to helping them advance to stellar careers in biomedical or medical research.
American Mathematical Society: Award for Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference Preference is given to programs with significant participation by underrepresented minorities. June $1,000 This award was established to compile and publish a series of profiles of programs that aim to bring more persons from underrepresented backgrounds into some portion of the pipeline beginning at the undergraduate level and leading to advanced degrees in mathematics and professional success, or retain them once in the pipeline; have achieved documentable success in doing so; and are replicable models. One program is selected each year by the AMS Committee on the Profession and is awarded $1,000 by the Mark Green and Kathryn Kert Green Fund for Inclusion and Diversity.
American Philosophical Association: Diversity & Inclusiveness in Philosophy Projects aiming to increase the presence and participation of women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and other underrepresented groups at all levels of philosophy. Programs must have a clear application to diversity in a US/Canada context. The board wishes to express its particular interest in supporting programs that explicitly address more than one type of diversity (e.g., gender and race/ethnicity). Only APA members may submit a grant proposal. July $10,000 The American Philosophical Association, in keeping with its mission and goals and the association’s longstanding commitment to addressing philosophy’s serious lack of demographic diversity, will fund a project that convincingly demonstrates the potential to decisively impact diversity and inclusion within philosophy.
Google Research: Award for Inclusion Research Program Open to professors at degree-granting research institutions. Applicant may only serve as PI or co-PI on one proposal per round. There can be a maximum of 2 PIs per proposal. Proposals must be related to computing or technology. Proposed research must impact users from historically marginalized groups. July up to $60,000
The Award for Inclusion Research (AIR) Program recognizes and supports academic research in computing and technology that addresses the needs of historically marginalized groups globally. The AIR Program funds topics including accessibility, AI for social good, algorithmic fairness, education, and gender bias, and many other areas that aim to have a positive impact on underrepresented groups.
Institute for Citizens & Scholars: Career Enhancement Fellowships for Junior Faculty

Minority junior faculty: African Americans, Latinos and Latinas, Native Americans, and Native Alaskans. Applicants should be in the third year of a tenure-track teaching appointment. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. 

October up to $30,000 plus up to $1,500 for research, travel, or publication 
The Career Enhancement Fellowship Program seeks to increase the presence of minority junior faculty members and other faculty members committed to eradicating racial disparities in core fields in the arts and humanities. Each fellow is provided with a six-month or one-year sabbatical grant; a stipend for research and travel or publication; and participation in an annual conference/retreat.
Institute for Citizens & Scholars: Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders Award Assistant professors in tenure-track appointments who have successfully passed the standard third-year/midpoint review or their institution’s equivalent. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. 

 
December $17,500 stipend The award is structured to free the time of junior faculty who have passed their midpoint tenure review—including those from underrepresented groups and others committed to eradicating disparities in their fields—so that they can both engage in and build support systems, networks, and affinity groups that make their fields and campuses more inclusive. Emerging Faculty Leaders may be working in any field of the humanities or social sciences with an emphasis on scholarly topics that relate to or provide context for the study of culture, equity, inclusion, civil rights, and education in the Americas. 
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Ford Foundation Fellowships for Postdoctoral Fellows These fellowships provide one year of support for individuals engaged in postdoctoral study after the attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. December $50,000 for 1 year The Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Each Fellow is expected to begin tenure on June 1 (for 12 months) or September 1 (for 9 or 12 months) of the year in which the award is received.
Simons Foundation SFARI Supplement to Enhance Equity and Diversity (SEED) Eligible groups include the following: African American/Black; Latin American/Hispanic; Native American/Alaskan Native; Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (including Filipino). Rolling $100,000 per year for up to 3 years The SFARI SEED is a new program that provides supplements to existing grants for the recruitment of new lab members from American underrepresented minority groups at the postdoctoral level.