STOKES ALLIANCES FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (LSAMP)
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Aug 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for alliances of colleges and universities working to increase STEM degrees among underrepresented minorities. Eligible applicants include two- and four-year institutions (including community colleges) accredited in the US. For Bridge-to-Baccalaureate alliances, the lead institution must be a two-year college. All institutions must act on behalf of their faculty members and have a US campus. Supported activities include student recruitment, retention strategies, transfer support, graduate degree pathways, and research on broadening STEM participation for Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students.
Funding tracks support different alliance stages: new alliances (ADG, SPIO, NETWORKS), established alliances conducting research (SPRA), and graduate degree support (BD-Master's, BD-Doctoral).
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Program description
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program invests in the Nation’s colleges and universities to aid student success to create a new generation of STEM discoverers for the national STEM enterprise. The program takes a comprehensive approach to the STEM Learning Ecosystem to impact STEM student development and retention.
LSAMP is an alliance-based program, whereby a group of institutions of higher education (IHEs) work together to diversify the nation’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to persons from LSAMP populations. LSAMP populations are defined as persons from groups underrepresented in the STEM enterprise: Blacks and African-Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The LSAMP program provides funding to alliances that implement comprehensive, evidence-based, innovative, and sustained strategies that ultimately result in the graduation of well-prepared, highly competitive students from LSAMP populations who pursue graduate studies or careers in STEM, while also supporting knowledge generation, knowledge utilization, assessment of program impacts, dissemination activities and dissemination of scholarly research into the field.
Projects supported by the LSAMP program include:
–Alliance Development Grants (ADG) support the conceptualization and development of new B2B and new SPIO alliances. (New)
–Bridge-to-the-Baccalaureate (B2B) alliances facilitate the successful transfer of students from LSAMP populations to four-year institutions in pursuit of STEM baccalaureate degrees.
–STEM Pathways Implementation-Only (SPIO) alliances are designed for new and reconstituted alliances. These projects focus on building and strengthening strategies and approaches to assist Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) increase STEM baccalaureate degrees to LSAMP populations and facilitate entry into STEM graduate degree programs.
–STEM Pathways Research Alliances (SPRA) are designed for well-established alliances. These projects serve as models of excellence in STEM broadening participation by (1) steadily increasing STEM baccalaureate degrees to LSAMP populations and facilitating entry into STEM graduate degree programs; (2) producing and disseminating new scholarly research on the broadening participation of LSAMP populations (or underrepresented and underserved populations in STEM disciplines and the nation’s STEM workforce) and, (3) holistically assess the state of institutionalization and sustainability of the alliance.
–Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees in National Priorities (BD-Master’s) projects support cohorts of six graduate students pursuing a M. S. degree in STEM national priority areas, providing financial support (stipends and cost of education) and support to help develop and maintain academic and research skills that enable participants to successfully persist in STEM graduate degree programs at Master’s comprehensive-degree producing institutions only. (New)
–Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees in National Priorities (BD-Doctoral) projects support cohorts of twelve graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. degree in STEM national priority areas, providing financial support (stipends and cost of education) and support to help develop and maintain academic and research skills that enable participants to successfully persist in STEM doctoral degree programs.
–STEM Networking Incentives and Engagement (NETWORKS) projects provide support to incentivize the creation and participation of LSAMP populations in STEM networks. (New)
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Form)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letters
- Letters of Support from Partner Institutions
- Data on Current STEM Student Demographics
- Evidence of Institutional Capacity
- Evaluation Plan
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
-
$82,631,883
-
$50,756,502
-
$50,428,430
-
$47,063,293
-
$45,382,137
-
$42,090,891
-
$39,324,893
-
$33,065,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 24 awards $512.2M
- MA 7 awards $273.5M
- TX 7 awards $143.1M
- NY 5 awards $127.9M
- IL 5 awards $99.4M
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
Can a four-year university lead a Bridge-to-Baccalaureate alliance?
No. B2B alliances must be led by two-year institutions. Four-year universities can participate as partners to support transfer pathways.
What populations does LSAMP target?
Black and African-American, Hispanic and Latino American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students pursuing STEM degrees.
What types of projects can we propose?
Options include new alliance development (ADG), implementation-focused alliances (SPIO), research alliances (SPRA), graduate bridge programs (Master's and Doctoral), and networking initiatives (NETWORKS).
Is cost-sharing required?
No. There is no cost-sharing requirement for this grant.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $125,000 to $5,000,000 depending on the project track and scope.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Form alliances with complementary institutions before submitting. Strong institutional partnerships demonstrate commitment to collaboration and increase competitiveness.
- Use data and evidence to show past success in recruiting and retaining STEM students from underrepresented groups. Document retention rates, graduation timelines, and student outcomes.
- Align your project with STEM national priorities where relevant, especially for graduate bridge programs that focus on high-need fields.
- Include a clear dissemination and research plan if proposing a research alliance (SPRA). NSF values projects that generate knowledge for the broader STEM education field.
- Build institutional support into your proposal. Secure commitment letters from all partner institutions showing financial and administrative backing for the alliance.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing a four-year institution as lead for Bridge-to-Baccalaureate alliances. B2B requires two-year institutions to lead.
Weak or missing evidence of past institutional capacity to support underrepresented STEM students. Applications need data on retention, completion, and graduate placement.
Unclear alliance structure or partner roles. Explain how each institution contributes distinctly and how collaboration strengthens student outcomes.
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