Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Can you apply?
This grant is for affiliated partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Eligible recipients must be current participating CESU partners. The program funds research on GeoAI-enabled landform mapping, knowledge graphs for landform reference ontology, and GNIS summit feature accuracy improvements. CESU partnerships include universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other institutions working on collaborative research and technical assistance projects.
This grant is for affiliated partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Eligible recipients must be current participating CESU partners. The program funds research on GeoAI-enabled landform mapping, knowledge graphs for landform reference ontology, and GNIS summit feature accuracy improvements. CESU partnerships include universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other institutions working on collaborative research and technical assistance projects.
Program description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner for research focused on advancing GeoAI-enabled automated landform mapping, expansion of the Landform Reference Ontology using knowledge graphs, and improving Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) summit feature positional accuracy using lidar-derived elevation datasets.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for affiliated partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Eligible recipients must be current participating CESU partners. The program funds research on GeoAI-enabled landform mapping, knowledge graphs for landform reference ontology, and GNIS summit feature accuracy improvements. CESU partnerships include universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other institutions working on collaborative research and technical assistance projects.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of CESU partnership affiliation
Program contact
- 👤 Geological Survey
- 📧 rachel_miller@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 916-278-9331
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.808 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$240,000,000
-
$11,148,115
-
$10,533,234
-
$10,055,533
-
$8,476,627
-
$8,454,102
-
$7,659,261
-
$6,894,612
-
$6,800,079
-
$6,644,228
Top States by Funding
- CO 4 awards $245.0M
- CA 18 awards $70.3M
- AK 12 awards $32.6M
- FL 6 awards $22.8M
- WA 3 awards $16.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only current affiliated partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU can apply. Your organization must already be a participating member of this specific cooperative unit.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is July 5, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What research activities does this fund?
The grant supports GeoAI-enabled automated landform mapping, expansion of the Landform Reference Ontology using knowledge graphs, and improving GNIS summit feature positional accuracy using lidar data.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $1 to $29,994. The total available pool is $29,994.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this opportunity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your organization is an active partner of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU before investing time in the application. Contact the CESU coordinator if uncertain.
- Clearly connect your research to at least one of the three priority areas: GeoAI landform mapping, knowledge graphs for landform ontology, or GNIS summit accuracy.
- Small award amounts mean proposal budgets should be realistic and lean. Focus on achievable deliverables within the $29,994 cap.
- Emphasize collaboration and how your work benefits the broader CESU partnership and the Great Lakes-Northern Forest region.
- Budget carefully since no cost-sharing is available. All project costs must fit within the award amount.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed CESU partnership status wastes effort. Weak connection to the three funded research priorities reduces competitiveness. Unrealistic scopes for small awards with low cost-sharing flexibility.
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