The National Institute of Food and Agriculture seeking applications for its New Beginning for Tribal Students Grant Program.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/02/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 4 Years
Details:
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to advancing these principles and encourages applicants to actively engage farmers, ranchers, and foresters when applying for funding opportunities to ensure relevancy and adherence to them. NIFA also encourages agricultural leaders to engage in the peer review panel process to ensure American producers are better served through research, education, and extension activities.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to the extent permitted by law, will no longer make grants or otherwise fund programs or activities that improperly discriminate on the basis of race or sex, including discrimination in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Instead, USDA will prioritize merit and efficiency. USDA recognizes programs and initiatives will have the greatest impact when these programs and initiatives put American farmers, ranchers, and foresters first by:
- solving the most pressing challenges they face;
- protecting America’s food, fuel, and fiber supply to enhance national security;
- supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers;
- expanding and developing domestic markets;
- training the next generation of agriculturalists; and
- fueling innovation to keep American farmers at the forefront of productivity.
The purpose of the NBTS grant program, Assistance Listing 10.527, is to increase the retention and graduation rate of Tribal students attending 1994, 1862, and 1890 Land-grant Institutions. The primary goals and objectives of the program are for Land-grant Colleges or Universities to use NBTS funding to support Tribal students through all the following, but not limited to: recruiting; tuition and related fees; experiential learning; student services, including tutoring; counseling; academic advising; and other student services that would increase the retention and graduation rate of Tribal students enrolled at Land-grant Colleges or Universities.
Any student in any discipline can be funded under this project if they are taking or have taken STEM-related general education requirements that are required in any of the agricultural sciences. The students funded under this program do not need to be enrolled in an agriculture-seeking degree program, but the project needs to show how the project will enhance agriculture in the future.
Types of Grant
Applicants must propose one of two types of grant types:
- Standard Grant
- Applicants may request up to $250,000 (including indirect costs) for a Standard Grant.
- Project periods may not exceed 4 years/48 months.
- Applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners.
- Collaborative Grant
- Applicants may request up to $500,000 for a Collaborative Grant (CG1) project.
- Project periods may not exceed 4 years/48 months.
- Applicant executes the project with assistance from one collaborator, for example, a 1994 Land-grant Institution or non-land-grant Tribal college, high school, Tribal Government, community college, technical school, or an organization that works with Tribal students.
Funding Information
The amount available for New Beginning for Tribal Students in 2026 is approximately $5,000,000.
Grant Period
24-48 Months
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) program, the applying entity must be an 1862, 1890 or 1994 Land-grant College or University. Unless otherwise specified, only United States citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States, and lawful permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply for and receive NIFA awards.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
