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 (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to broaden STEM participation among underrepresented groups. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, for-profit and non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and tribal nations—all US-based. Projects must build collaborative infrastructure to sustain systemic change in STEM access and inclusion. Activities can span research, education, and workforce development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
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Program description
In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) unveiled a set of “Big Ideas,” 10 bold, long-term research and process ideas that identify areas for future investment at the frontiers of science and engineering (see https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas/index.jsp). The Big Ideas represent unique opportunities to position our Nation at the cutting edge of global science and engineering leadership by bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives to support convergence research. As such, when responding to this solicitation, even though proposals must be submitted to the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) / Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES), once received, the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors.
The INCLUDESInitiative is a comprehensive, national effort to enhance U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) discovery and innovation, focused on NSF’s commitment to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in STEM fields, as communicated in the NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 – 2026. The vision of the INCLUDES Initiative is to catalyze the STEM enterprise to work collaboratively for inclusive change, resulting in a STEM workforce that reflects the Nation’s population. More specifically, the INCLUDES Initiative seeks to motivate and accelerate collaborative infrastructure building to sustain systemic change to broaden participation in STEM fields at scale.Significant advancement of the INCLUDES Initiative’s goalswill result in a new generation of STEM talent and leadership to secure the Nation’s future and long-term economic competitiveness.
With this solicitation, NSF offers support for five types of projects that connect and contribute to the National Network: (1) Design and Development Launch Pilots, (2) Collaborative Change Consortia, (3) Alliances, (4) Network Connectors, and (5) Conferences. The INCLUDES National Network is a multifaceted collaboration of agencies, organizations, and individuals working collectively to broaden participation in STEM. The INCLUDES National Network serves as a testbed for designing, implementing, studying, refining, and scaling collaborative change modelsand is composed of:
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INCLUDES funded projects
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Other NSF funded projects
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Subcommittee on Federal Coordination in STEM Education (FC-STEM) agencies
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Scholars engaged in broadening participation research and evaluation, and
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Organizations that support the development of talent from all sectors of society to build an inclusive STEM workforce.
All INCLUDES funded projects must operationalize five design elements of collaborative infrastructure – (1) shared vision, (2) partnerships, (3) goals and metrics, (4) leadership and communication, and (5) expansion, sustainability, and scale– to create systemic change that broadens participation in STEM.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF-required cover sheet (typically SF-424 or equivalent)
- Project Narrative (proposal description)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Letters of support from partner organizations
- Current/Pending Support documentation
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.074 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$401,043,378
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$268,297,107
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$66,886,066
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$59,000,000
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$46,262,435
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$39,723,283
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$39,454,013
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$31,000,000
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$24,500,000
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$22,800,000
Top States by Funding
- OH 2 awards $413.5M
- CO 3 awards $295.1M
- NY 4 awards $119.3M
- CA 9 awards $96.9M
- AZ 3 awards $91.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.074). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $813,390,000 | |
| 2025 | $789,240,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $221,290,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
US-based institutions of higher education, for-profit companies, nonprofits, state/local governments, and federally recognized tribal nations. All applicants must demonstrate capacity in research or education.
What types of projects are funded?
Projects that build collaborative infrastructure to broaden participation in STEM. Focus areas include systemic change, inclusive practices, and workforce development.
Is there a cost-sharing requirement?
No cost sharing is required for this grant.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is October 27, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What should I know about competitiveness?
Strong proposals emphasize collaborative networks, sustainable systemic change, and measurable impact on underrepresented groups in STEM. Clear partnerships and infrastructure development strengthen applications.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start early to build or strengthen partnerships with organizations committed to STEM inclusion. Strong collaboration is essential.
- Focus your proposal on systemic infrastructure rather than one-off programs or events. NSF prioritizes sustainable change.
- Clearly articulate how your project will reach underrepresented communities in STEM. Be specific about target populations.
- Use data and evidence to support your approach. Include baseline metrics and realistic outcome goals.
- Align your proposal with NSF's broader STEM equity vision and the INCLUDES Initiative's collaborative model.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals that focus narrowly on individual mentorship or scholarships without systemic infrastructure fail to meet INCLUDES goals. Applications lacking clear partnerships or collaborative networks underestimate the initiative's emphasis on collective action. Vague definitions of "underrepresented" groups or weak evidence of community need reduce competitiveness.
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