The 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program, managed by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), aims to strengthen teaching, research, and extension programs in food and agricultural sciences at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. This program is designed to enhance institutional capacities in areas such as curriculum design, materials development, faculty development, research studies, and extension program support. It supports integrated projects that advance sustainable bioenergy, food security, childhood obesity prevention, and food safety, aligning with NIFA’s strategic goals.

The program has a total funding pool of $28 million, with individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $750,000. It is anticipated that approximately 60 awards will be granted. No cost-sharing or matching is required. Eligible applicants include 1890 Land-Grant Institutions such as Tuskegee University, Florida A&M University, and Virginia State University. Faculty and students benefiting from the program must meet citizenship or residency requirements, and all projects must promote capacity building within the applicant institutions.

Applicants must address at least one of the program’s focus areas and demonstrate the project’s alignment with NIFA’s goals. Faculty serving as Project Directors (PDs) or co-PDs may lead multiple applications, but no faculty member can have more than two active projects concurrently unless one is expiring within the fiscal year. Partnerships with non-eligible organizations are permitted when essential to the project's success, provided they support the capacity-building goals of the 1890 institutions.

Applications are due by May 8, 2025, and must be submitted electronically. Key personnel must complete a current and pending support form and ensure their commitments do not exceed 100% across projects. Required documentation includes evidence of eligibility for faculty or students, detailed project proposals, and relevant institutional approvals. Collaborative and integrated proposals are encouraged.

Applications will be evaluated based on their potential to enhance institutional capacity in teaching, research, and extension, as well as their alignment with the program’s strategic goals. Review criteria will include the significance of the proposed activities, the feasibility of achieving stated objectives, and the strength of partnerships and collaborations.

For more information or assistance with the application process, prospective applicants may contact NIFA support via email at grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov or refer to the program’s full announcement on the USDA-NIFA website. The program is a critical effort to advance food and agricultural sciences through strategic investments in education, research, and extension at historically underrepresented institutions.