National Science Foundation Fostering Interdisciplinary Networks to Develop Emergent and Responsive Solutions Foundry
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations collaborating on K-12 learning and workforce development solutions that incorporate AI. K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers must partner to address challenges identified by students, families, and educators.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, higher education institutions, state/local governments, and federally recognized tribal nations. International branch campuses of US institutions may participate with justification. Leadership teams must include at least one K-12 educator, one technologist, and one researcher.
The program has two phases: Planning grants help teams explore focus areas. Development grants support scaling promising ideas from Planning projects. Both focus on creating evidence-based practices and AI-ready learning solutions.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program supports collaboration among K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers to develop innovative solutions to persistent challenges in learning and workforce development. These challenges are identified by K-12 students, families, and educators. The program aims to create and scale evidence-based practices, tools, and technologies that improve learning outcomes and prepare students for a digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven future.
A key focus is early exposure to AI to build curiosity, understanding, and readiness for future careers. The program encourages partnerships across sectors – schools, universities, industry, government, and nonprofits – to co-design responsive, technology-based solutions.
NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program includes two phases: Planning and Development. Planning proposals help teams explore one of several focus areas. Only teams awarded Planning grants may submit Development proposals, which support the growth and implementation of promising ideas.
The program aligns with national priorities, including the Executive Order 14277, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth” (April 23, 2025), and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Public Law 117-167, Sections 10381-10383 and 10395.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NSF Proposal Cover Sheet (SF-424)
- Project Narrative/Description
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Current and Pending Support
- Institutional Certification (for IHEs)
- Letters of Commitment from Partnership Organizations
- Evidence of Student/Family Involvement in Problem Identification
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.084 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$33,821,660
-
$31,976,680
-
$30,163,581
-
$30,013,596
-
Icamr, Inc. FL$29,938,673
-
$29,869,465
-
$29,494,884
-
$28,841,053
-
$27,448,182
-
$25,127,344
Top States by Funding
- MA 15 awards $140.6M
- NY 9 awards $104.0M
- DC 9 awards $98.7M
- CA 8 awards $95.1M
- IL 7 awards $76.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.084). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $607,870,000 | |
| 2025 | $609,179,999 | |
| 2026 est. | $346,570,000 |
FAQ
Who can be the principal investigator (PI)?
Leadership teams must include at least one K-12 educator, one technologist, and one researcher. The PI can come from any of these groups.
What is the deadline and application process?
The deadline is May 27, 2026 (fixed date). Submit proposals through Grants.gov using the NSF application portal.
What activities can the grant fund?
Planning grants explore innovative solutions to learning and workforce development challenges. Development grants scale evidence-based practices, tools, and technologies with AI components.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong applications demonstrate clear partnerships across sectors, student/family involvement in problem identification, and potential for scaling evidence-based solutions.
Are there cost-sharing requirements?
No cost-sharing is required for this program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Form interdisciplinary teams early. Secure commitments from K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers before submitting.
- Connect solutions to student and family-identified challenges. Show how proposed work addresses real learning barriers.
- Emphasize AI integration. Highlight how your solution builds student readiness for AI-driven careers.
- Plan for evidence and scaling. Design evaluations that demonstrate impact and identify pathways to broader implementation.
- Detail partnerships across sectors. Explain how schools, universities, industry, government, and nonprofits will collaborate effectively.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting without required three-stakeholder leadership structure (educator, technologist, researcher). Failing to explain how challenges were identified directly by K-12 students and families. Proposing technology solutions without clear connection to learning outcomes or workforce development evidence.
Similar grants
- OPEN Training-based Workforce Development for Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (CyberTraining) — U.S. National Science Foundation
- ROLLING Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12 — U.S. National Science Foundation
- CLOSED TechAccess: AI-Ready America — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN Foundations — U.S. National Science Foundation