The Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a research and action competition that facilitates community-driven solutions to pressing local challenges. It accelerates the transition of foundational research into real-world applications through strong partnerships between academic researchers and civic organizations. By emphasizing projects that address priorities within communities, CIVIC seeks to foster scalable, impactful, and innovative solutions. The competition is designed as a two-stage process with two thematic tracks: Climate and Environmental Instability and Bridging the Gap Between Essential Resources and Services and Community Needs.

The program offers Stage 1 Planning Grants of up to $75,000 for six months, during which teams develop their partnerships, refine project plans, and prepare proposals for Stage 2. Only Stage 1 awardees are eligible for Stage 2 funding. Stage 2 Full Awards provide up to $1,000,000 for a 12-month pilot project that tests solutions within the identified community. Projects must demonstrate tangible, measurable outcomes that can be sustained and scaled, with components transferable to other communities. Civic partners—such as local governments, non-profits, and service providers—are integral to the process, contributing to project design, implementation, and evaluation alongside academic researchers.

CIVIC requires collaborative, multidisciplinary teams consisting of researchers, civic leaders, and community stakeholders. Track A focuses on building resilience to climate and environmental instability by addressing challenges such as extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and other disasters. Track B addresses disparities in access to essential services and resources like food, transportation, housing, education, healthcare, and digital connectivity. Proposals in either track must consider innovative solutions that leverage technology, policy, and community engagement while addressing equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations located in the United States. Civic partners, though not direct awardees, may receive funding through subawards. Stage 1 proposals must outline a vision for a pilot project, identify research questions, and describe plans to strengthen partnerships. Stage 2 proposals build on this foundation, providing detailed plans for pilot execution, evaluation, scalability, and sustainability. Teams must participate in activities led by the MetroLab Network, including workshops, showcases, and progress-sharing sessions.

The review process evaluates proposals based on NSF’s merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals are assessed for their potential to advance knowledge, achieve societal benefits, and successfully execute a pilot project within the 12-month Stage 2 timeline. Additional criteria include the strength of civic partnerships, clarity of research questions, and the scalability and transferability of outcomes. The program emphasizes rapid, impactful, and measurable solutions that address community-identified priorities.

Stage 1 proposals are due by May 1, 2024, and Stage 2 proposals by February 10, 2025. Budgets must include travel for team members to attend program events, which include kickoff workshops, mid-year reviews, and final showcases. The anticipated funding for the program ranges from $22.3 million to $25.6 million, supporting approximately 35–40 Planning Grants and 15–20 Full Awards across the two tracks. The CIVIC program is jointly supported by NSF’s directorates, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring a broad, interdisciplinary focus on advancing research for societal benefit.