The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Graduate Student Grant Program supports projects by graduate students that address sustainable agriculture issues and are part of the student’s degree program.
Donor Name: North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/18/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Graduate Student Grant Program provides funds to students enrolled in graduate programs or in veterinary medicine residence programs at accredited colleges or universities who are exploring some aspect of sustainable agriculture as part of their educational program.
NCR-SARE instituted the Graduate Student Grant Program in 2002 for officially registered graduate students (Masters and Ph.D.) enrolled at accredited colleges or universities. Projects must benefit agriculture in the North Central Region.
Proposals need to address sustainable agriculture issues of importance to the North Central region. SARE funds applied projects that engage farmers/ranchers. NCR-SARE strongly encourages having farmers, ranchers, local organizations, or others who will use or benefit from the project involved in its planning, design, and implementation. This participation enhances the relevance and impact of a sustainable agriculture research or education project.
Funding Information
In 2024, $400,000 will be available to fund about 20 grant projects. Individual grants are for $20,000 total (an increase from last year) and can fund projects lasting up to 36 months. They received 58 applications in 2023 and funded 22 projects averaging $14,700, with durations ranging from 12 to 36 months.
Uses of funds
NCR-SARE funds MAY be used for the following purposes:
- Supplies, including software.
- Labor (this includes wages or salary and benefits, other than tuition, for the student or other individuals working on the project).
- Special reference books not readily available.
- Farm equipment rental or operating charges.
- Travel and per diem necessary for the project (use your university rules for travel expenses).
- Payments for project participants (especially farmers and ranchers) who aren’t drawing salaries or wages from an employer while they’re working on your project.
Geographical Areas
The North Central region (NCR) includes: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Successful projects should contribute to all three of the following NCR-SARE broad-based outcomes:
- Improving the economic viability of farmers/ranchers and associated agricultural businesses.
- Sustaining and improving the environmental quality and natural resource base on which agriculture depends.
- Enhancing the quality of life for farmers/ranchers, rural and urban communities, and society as a whole.
Proposals should clearly explain:
- Expected outcomes for the project and how they will assist NCR-SARE in working toward the broad based outcomes listed above.
- How progress toward project outcomes will be evaluated.
- Expected impact on farmers/ranchers, communities, and society as a whole.
NCR-SARE encourages projects that either involve minority-serving institutions and non-profits (including 1890 colleges, 1994 colleges, and Hispanic-serving institutions) or in other ways include work with historically-underserved audiences. They also encourage projects that, where feasible, include activities addressing the social dimensions of sustainability.
For more information, visit NCR-SARE.
