Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for minority-serving institutions (MSIs) that want to establish research centers combining education and research in STEM.
Eligible applicants are MSIs offering graduate degrees in NSF STEM areas with 50%+ enrollment of underrepresented minority students. Institutions primarily serving students with disabilities that meet the 50% enrollment threshold also qualify.
PIs must hold full-time faculty appointments at the submitting institution. Proposals include Phase I awards (five-year funding) and Phase II continuation awards. Partnership supplements are available only to current CREST Center awardees.
All subawards must be requested in the full proposal; separate collaborative proposals are not accepted.
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Program description
CREST Center awards provide support to enhance the research capabilities of Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. CREST Center awards promote the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Successful CREST Center proposals will demonstrate a clear vision and integration of STEM research and education and will align with the mission of the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) with respect to the development of a diverse STEM workforce. CREST Centers are also expected to provide leadership by meaningfully involving the efforts of those faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM at all levels. Centers are required to use evidence-based and innovative strategies to address salient broadening participation and workforce development issues, such as recruitment, retention, and mentorship of participants from underrepresented groups. Successful proposals are expected to achieve national research competitiveness, broaden participation in STEM, and generate sustained, non-CREST funding from federal, state, and/or private-sector sources.
PhaseI and Phase II CREST Center Awards
Preliminary proposals are required for Phase I and Phase II projects. Thus, an invitation from NSF must be received before submitting a full proposal. Both Phase I and Phase II CREST Center awards provide multi-year support for institutions that demonstrate a strong research base. Phase I CREST Center awards provide funding for five years of research on a specific NSF-supported topic. If invited, institutions may submit a Phase II CREST Center proposal requesting funding to continue research in the same disciplinary area as the Phase I Center or may submit a Phase I proposal focused on a disciplinary area that is significantly different from those of the previous award(s).
CREST Partnership Supplements
CREST Partnership Supplemental funding requests are invited from current CREST Center awardees. Supplements support the establishment or strengthening of partnerships and collaborations with active CREST Centers and other nationally or internationally recognized research centers (including NSF-supported research centers), private sector research laboratories, K-12 schools, and/or informal science entities, including museums and science centers, as appropriate. Such partnerships and collaborations should aid CREST Centers’ quest in advancing knowledge and education on a research theme of national significance.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Preliminary proposal (invitation-only; required before full proposal submission)
- Full project narrative describing research and education integration
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of commitment from partner institutions (if applicable)
- Evidence of institutional eligibility (IPEDS data documentation)
- Biographical sketches of PI and key personnel
- Current and pending support documentation
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.076 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$116,005,485
-
$111,205,673
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$82,631,883
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$50,428,430
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$45,382,137
-
$42,090,891
-
$41,100,753
-
$39,174,893
-
$33,116,189
-
$30,232,784
Top States by Funding
- CA 18 awards $419.3M
- MA 4 awards $209.8M
- TX 7 awards $123.0M
- NY 5 awards $115.7M
- IL 5 awards $96.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.076). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,087,560,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,169,550,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $286,650,000 |
FAQ
What institutions are eligible?
MSIs offering graduate STEM degrees with 50%+ underrepresented minority enrollment. Institutions serving students with disabilities at 50%+ enrollment also qualify.
Do I need a preliminary proposal?
Yes, an NSF invitation is required before submitting a full proposal for both Phase I and Phase II awards.
How long is the funding period?
Phase I awards provide five years of research support. Phase II continuation awards extend research in the same or new NSF-supported disciplinary areas.
What makes a proposal competitive?
Strong demonstrated research base, clear integration of research and education, evidence-based strategies for broadening participation, and plans for obtaining non-CREST federal or private funding.
Can my partner institutions submit separate proposals?
No. All subaward partners must be included in one full proposal. Separately submitted collaborative proposals are not accepted.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify institutional eligibility using IPEDS data before starting. Confirm 50%+ underrepresented minority enrollment or disability enrollment threshold.
- Demonstrate a strong existing research base in your proposed STEM discipline. NSF prioritizes institutions with demonstrated research capacity.
- Use evidence-based recruitment, retention, and mentorship strategies specific to underrepresented groups. Generic diversity statements will not be competitive.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the five-year award. Identify realistic pathways to non-CREST federal, state, or private funding sources.
- Include all partner institutions as subawards in your main proposal. Do not submit separate collaborative proposals, which NSF will not accept.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Unclear integration of research and education goals. Proposals must show how the center advances both knowledge and workforce diversity.
Generic broadening participation activities without evidence-based strategies. NSF expects specific, measurable approaches to recruitment, retention, and mentorship of underrepresented groups.
Unrealistic sustainability plans or failure to identify non-CREST funding sources for continuation beyond the award period.
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