Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're a researcher at an HBCU, this removes the size and track-record barriers that block participation in larger NSF competitions.
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What this is
This program specifically targets faculty and researchers at public and private HBCUs who have struggled to win larger NSF grants. It funds research projects across multiple NSF divisions (spanning engineering, computer science, biological sciences, and other fields) to build sustainable research capacity and strengthen institutional connections to NSF. This is capacity-building funding rather than purely investigator-driven research.
Who can apply
Must be faculty or affiliated researcher at a federally designated Historically Black College or University (public or private). Solo entrepreneurs and startups are not eligible; this is institution-based funding.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR) program was established in response to direction provided in the Senate Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Report (Senate Report 115-139), and is built on prior and continuing efforts by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This report provided guidance to NSF to establish the HBCU Excellence in Research program "to provide opportunities for both public and private HBCUs, particularly for those who have not been successful in larger NSF Research & Related Activities competitions, in order to stimulate sustainable improvement in their research and development capacity" (https://congress.gov/congressional-report/115th-congress/senate-report/139/1). EiR supports such capacity building by funding research projects aligned with NSF's research programs. The program aims to establish stronger connections between researchers at HBCUs and NSF's research programs.
Topics: hbcu research funding · nsf capacity building · minority serving institutions · research infrastructure grants · historically black colleges
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.