Limited Competition: Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers for Schools and Colleges of Nursing with Limited NIH Funding (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Schools and Colleges of Nursing that award research doctoral degrees. Your institution must have received no more than $5 million annually in NIH support (direct and indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 fiscal years.
The program funds nursing research centers that develop community-partnered research capacity. Your center must establish centralized research resources and build interdisciplinary, nurse-led teams.
This is a limited competition grant restricted to eligible nursing schools. Partnerships with communities are required to address persistent health challenges through nursing research.
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Key dates
- May 9, 2025 Applications open
- Dec 13, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The purpose of this notice is to inform the research community that the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) intends to publish a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), Limited Competition: Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers for Schools and Colleges of Nursing with Limited NIH Funding (P20 Clinical Trial Optional). This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.
This NOFO will utilize the P20 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.
Research Initiative Details
The P20 Exploratory Centers will aim to foster nursing-led programs that promote community-partnered research to address persistent health challenges. This will be accomplished by developing and enhancing capacity for interdisciplinary, community-partnered research that advances the NINR mission by:
- Establishing centralized research resources in Schools or Colleges of Nursing (SON/CONs).
- Building the Center’s community-partnered research expertise.
- Developing nurse-led, interdisciplinary research teams that partner with the community in the development, implementation, and evaluation of research efforts.
This will be a limited competition request for applications. Eligible Schools or Colleges of Nursing must award research doctoral degrees and have received no more than $5 million dollars per year of NIH support (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in any 4 of the last 7 fiscal years (does not have to be consecutive).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Research plan/narrative demonstrating community partnerships
- Description of proposed center structure and resources
- Evidence of institution's doctoral nursing degree programs
- NIH funding history documentation (last 7 fiscal years)
- Letters of commitment from community partners
- Budget and budget narrative
- Curriculum vitae of key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Karen A. Kehl, PhD, RN National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
- 📧 karen.kehl@nih.gov
- 📞 301-594-8010
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.361 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$57,577,134
-
$22,922,703
-
$21,569,241
-
$21,520,028
-
$20,637,207
-
$20,579,767
-
$20,359,653
-
$20,254,434
-
$19,085,847
-
$18,080,014
Top States by Funding
- NY 12 awards $77.2M
- NC 7 awards $63.0M
- AK 1 awards $57.6M
- PA 9 awards $50.0M
- CA 5 awards $35.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.361). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $153,520,124 | |
| 2025 | $152,273,865 | |
| 2026 est. | $156,087,739 |
FAQ
What type of institution can apply?
Only Schools or Colleges of Nursing that award research doctoral degrees are eligible. Your institution must meet the NIH funding cap requirements based on recent history.
How do I know if my institution meets the funding cap?
Review your institution's NIH support over the last 7 fiscal years. You must have received $5 million or less annually in at least 4 of those years (direct and indirect costs combined).
What kind of research can I propose?
Community-partnered nursing research that addresses persistent health challenges. Your project must involve nurse-led, interdisciplinary teams working with community partners.
Is this a very competitive grant?
Yes, this is a limited competition with specific eligibility criteria. Only qualifying nursing schools can apply, which reduces the applicant pool but increases competition among eligible institutions.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is December 13, 2025. Applicants should begin developing community partnerships immediately, as collaboration development takes time.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building community partnerships now. This grant prioritizes demonstrated relationships and shared research priorities with community stakeholders.
- Document your institution's NIH funding history carefully. Verify your eligibility based on the $5 million annual threshold across the last 7 fiscal years.
- Emphasize nurse leadership in your proposed research center. NINR expects nurses to lead research design, implementation, and evaluation, not just participate.
- Align your research focus with NINR priorities. Address persistent health challenges that nursing research is uniquely positioned to tackle.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the funding period. Show how your center will maintain community partnerships and research capacity after grant support ends.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirming your institution meets the $5 million NIH funding cap threshold. Proposing research without genuine community partnership involvement from the start. Failing to emphasize nurse-led research leadership in your center structure.
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