Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic institutions and research organizations that conduct mathematical sciences research. Eligible applicants typically include universities, colleges, and nonprofit research centers recognized by NSF. Projects must strengthen research infrastructure across the mathematical sciences community at regional or national scale, not just at the applicant's institution.
Proposals fall into three categories: novel infrastructure projects that create or enhance research facilities; training projects with core research components that go beyond common practice; and conferences or workshops with cross-disciplinary impact. All projects must demonstrate engagement in broadening participation, professional development, or involving students and early-career researchers.
Geographic scope is national—any U.S. institution conducting mathematical sciences research may apply. The program specifically complements NSF's Workforce Program in Mathematical Sciences and prioritizes activities with impact substantially beyond a single institution.
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Program description
The primary aim of the Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program is to foster the continuing health of the mathematical sciences research community as a whole. In addition,the program complements the Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences in its goal to increase the number of well-prepared U.S. based individuals who successfully pursue careers in the mathematical sciences and in other professions in which expertise in the mathematical sciences plays an increasingly important role. The DMS Infrastructure program invites projects that support core research in the mathematical sciences, including: 1) novel projects supporting research infrastructure across the mathematical sciences community; 2) training projects complementing the Workforce Program, and 3) conference, workshop, and travel support requests that include cross-disciplinary activities or have an impact at the national scale.
Proposals under this solicitation submitted to DMS Infrastructure must show engagement in developing or enhancing the mathematical sciences research infrastructure in the U.S., including, but not limited to, broadening participation activities; professional development training; or involvement of students and early career researchers. Proposals must explain the regional or national scale impact of the activity that goes substantially beyond the submitting institution or the location of the event.
Full proposals (with exception of conference proposals, which are subject to lead-time requirements) must be submitted close to one of the Full Proposal Target Dates.
See below for more information about each category of Infrastructure projects.
(1)Novel projects that serve to strengthen the research infrastructure: The DMS Infrastructure Program will consider novel projects that support and strengthen the research infrastructure across the mathematical sciences community. These projects most often cut across multiple sub-disciplines supported by DMS or involve interdisciplinary collaborations. The main goal of these projects should be to create a new research infrastructure or substantially enhance or transform an existing infrastructure with regional or national impact that goes substantially beyond the submitting institution or the location of the project. Full proposals must be submitted by the Full ProposalTarget Date.
(2)Training projects: Training proposals submitted to DMS Infrastructure must not fit into one of the areas covered by solicitations in the Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences; they must be submitted by the Full ProposalTarget Date; and they must:
A. Include a core research component for trainees in mathematical sciences;
B. Demonstrate promise for an impact at the regional or national scale that goes substantially beyond the submitting institution or the location of the project;
C. Satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
i. Serve as models to be replicated,
ii. Promote partnerships with non-academic entities, minority-serving institutions, or community colleges, or
iii. Include a substantial broadening participation initiative.
In addition, all proposals of this type must clearly identify:
- Goals to be achieved;
- Specific new activities to be conducted, the way in which these address the goals, and the way in which the activities significantly differ from or enhance common practice;
- Measurable outcomes for the project;
- Plans and methods for assessment of progress toward the goals to be achieved, and for evaluation of the success of the activity;
- Recruitment, selection, and retention plans for participants, including members of underrepresented groups;
- Sustainability plans to continue the pursuit of the project’s goals when funding terminates; and
- A budget commensurate with the proposed activity.
3) Conferences, Symposia, Working Research Sessions, Travel Support Requests: Principal Investigators should carefully read the program solicitationConferences and Workshops in the Mathematical Sciencesto obtain important information regarding the substance of proposals for conferences, workshops, summer/winter schools, international travel support, and similar activities.Conference/workshop proposals that concern topics within a particular subdiscipline of mathematics or statistics should be submitted to the appropriate DMS disciplinary program(s). These submissions are subject to the lead-time requirements specified by the disciplinary program(s); see the program web pages listed on theDMS home page.
Conference/workshop proposals may be submitted to the DMS Infrastructure program only if the intended topical areas span a wide range of the mathematical sciences and are consequently not within the scope of DMS disciplinary programs. The required lead time for submission of such proposals is:
- 6 months in advance of the meeting date for proposals requesting no more than $50,000 to support a domestic meeting;
- 9 months in advance of the meeting date for proposals requesting more than $50,000 to support a domestic meeting;
- 12 months in advance of the meeting date for proposals requesting support for participation in a meeting taking place outside the United States.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project Narrative (proposal)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae (for key personnel)
- Departmental or Institutional Commitment Letter
- Letters of Support (for partnerships, if applicable)
- Biographical Sketches (NSF format)
- Data Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.049 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$570,618,065
-
$482,311,346
-
$415,151,013
-
$236,459,999
-
$190,969,692
-
$176,820,578
-
$156,947,247
-
$145,000,000
-
$144,261,921
-
$116,471,167
Top States by Funding
- VA 5 awards $965.8M
- DC 3 awards $632.1M
- AZ 8 awards $616.2M
- CA 12 awards $610.6M
- NY 7 awards $325.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.049). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,539,910,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,537,650,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $512,280,000 |
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for this grant?
Universities, colleges, and nonprofit research institutions eligible to receive NSF funding may apply. Your organization should have capacity to manage federal research funds and conduct mathematical sciences research.
What are the three main categories of proposals?
Novel infrastructure projects that create or enhance research facilities; training projects that build workforce capacity; and conference/workshop proposals with national or regional impact and cross-disciplinary activities.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this program. However, voluntary cost-sharing may strengthen your proposal's competitiveness.
What makes a proposal competitive?
Strong proposals demonstrate regional or national impact beyond your institution, include clear measurable outcomes, plan for assessment and evaluation, and show broadening participation or partnership with underrepresented groups or non-academic entities.
What is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is August 4, 2026. Conference proposals have different lead-time requirements, so check the solicitation for your specific submission date.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize impact beyond your institution. Reviewers must see regional or national significance that benefits the broader mathematical sciences community, not just your campus or event location.
- Choose your category carefully. Ensure your project clearly fits "novel infrastructure," "training," or "conference/workshop." Misalignment wastes reviewer time and weakens competitiveness.
- Build evaluation and assessment into your proposal from the start. Define measurable outcomes and explain exactly how you will track and report progress toward your stated goals.
- Include broadening participation or partnerships if possible. Projects that engage underrepresented groups, partner with minority-serving institutions, or involve non-academic collaborators score higher.
- Demonstrate how your approach is different or better than current practice. Explain what's novel about your infrastructure or training model and why it advances the field beyond existing efforts.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Focusing solely on institutional benefits instead of demonstrating regional or national impact. Submitting proposals that replicate existing infrastructure or training without substantial innovation or differentiation from common practice. Lacking clear assessment plans, measurable outcomes, or evaluation methods for tracking project success.
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