The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) aims to increase the scientific and environmental literacy and problem-solving skills of youth in the Gulf of Mexico region. This funding opportunity will support the next generation of STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) leaders in the field of environmental justice (EJ) who will be needed to confront the complex challenges to human health and the environment in the 21st century.

Specifically, the GRP is seeking proposals that provide youth with opportunities to learn about and apply STEMM in the exploration and examination of environmental hazards and their effects on the health and resilience of communities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico region. The GRP will accept proposals from nonprofits and community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, which provide environmental justice programs for youth in grades 9-12. In order to best serve the youth of the region, the GRP aims to limit the overhead charges on educational grants. As such, overhead charges for this grant opportunity cannot exceed a total of 20%. This limit also applies to subawardee budgets.

A total of $4M is available for this funding opportunity, with the number of proposals being funded dependent on the quality and quantity of applications. Applicants must request at least $75,000 for projects, commensurate with the scope of work, that are up to 24 months in duration. The majority of the available funds will support projects that are less than $500,000, and the remainder will support projects between $500,000 and $1,000,000. Applicants that request between $500,000 and $1,000,000 will be subject to an additional Merit Review Criterion and should focus on more transformative projects that have the potential to impact a larger number of students, teachers, classes, school districts, and/or communities.

Key Dates

• February 28, 2024: Online proposal submission opens
• March 18, 2024: Funding Opportunity Question & Answer Office Hours; 1:00 - 3:00pm Central Time / 2:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern Time (see below for FAQ)
• May 7, 2024: Grant Submission Help Hours; 12:00 - 3:00 pm Central Time / 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Zoom link will be sent to active applicants)
• May 8, 2024: Deadline for submissions of proposals due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
• July-August 2024: Award selection and notification
• October 1, 2024: Anticipated funding start date

Online submission website: https://gulfresearchprogram.smapply.io/

Frequently Asked Questions

These written answers are intended to provide quick access to common questions as well as the answers given during the Q&A session. However, if you would prefer, you can watch the Q&A session recording with the Passcode: H9W+r?d5

PROJECT SCOPE AND STRUCTURE

Question: Is this funding opportunity for formal or informal educational settings? Do the activities need to occur in a classroom, or can they occur elsewhere, such as an afterschool program or an outdoor space off-campus?

Answer: Activities may take place in formal or informal educational settings. Several publications that we suggest as you develop your project:

• A Framework for K-12 Science Education
• Learning Science in Informal Environments
• Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12

Question: Should I include professional development activities for teachers? Can I submit an application that is solely professional development for teachers?

Answer: The focus of this funding opportunity is programmatic activity with youth; however, proposals with complementary professional development activities for teachers and other educational and/or community development professionals will be considered. Often, successful projects that focus on teacher professional development include opportunities for teachers to practice what they learn with youth. Budget requests should include competitive teacher stipends commensurate with the proposed activities, as appropriate. Please see the Awards tab for a list of past awardees, along with the details of each year’s funding opportunity, as the details have changed from year to year.

Question: Can I propose a new project designed for the 9-12 grade range, even though my existing programming targets other ages?

Answer: Activities should target youth in the 9-12 grade range. Applicants may propose new projects or activities based in research or experience; or propose to extend existing programming across geographic, sectoral, socioeconomic, or cultural boundaries and/or topic/discipline areas to reach a broader range of participants. Applicants may propose activities that pilot or test new approaches for developing and implementing educational programs critical to advancing students’ scientific and environmental literacy, skills, and competencies. This could include new partnerships between community-based organizations and academic institutions or activities that create a structure for meaningful engagement between youth and the issues and needs of their communities.

Question: Can I propose to sustain my existing programming?

Answer: Applicants may seek funding to sustain and expand existing programming activities if the proposal demonstrates significant positive impact(s) and anticipated programmatic growth. If you are proposing to sustain existing programming, be sure to highlight the impact your project has had, the lessons you’ve learned along the way, and what you hope to achieve with additional funding.

Question: How long can my project be? When is the latest, if awarded, my project could start?

Answer: Grants will be awarded to support projects up to 24 months in length, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2024. Projects would need to be completed within 24 months of the actual start date. For example, if the GRP is able to get all awarded contracts signed for the October 1, 2024 start date, awarded projects would receive their Year 1 funds by October 1, 2024 and would strive to have their project finished by September 30, 2026, even if the project didn’t begin in earnest until January 1, 2025.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Question: Can I propose a project that targets a grade range smaller than 9-12, such as 9-10 or just 12th graders? Can I propose a project that supports the entire 9-12 grade range?

Answer: Yes, and yes. Activities should target youth in the 9-12 grade range.

EVALUATION

Question: What does “independent” mean for the evaluator?

Answer: An independent evaluator is someone who is not developing or working on the project in ways aside from evaluation. An independent evaluator has enough distance from the project to be able to objectively conduct an evaluation of the project.

Question: Does the evaluator have to be from outside the organization?

Answer: Some organizations, like research universities, have independent arms where evaluation services can be contracted out. The evaluation plan must be developed, and implemented, by a qualified, independent, project evaluator. The independent arms referenced earlier would be allowable.

Question: Does the evaluator need to have any specific requirements?

Answer: Evaluators will likely need experience working with the population targeted and working on projects similar to what is proposed. Evaluators should be able to meet the merit review criterion for Project Evaluation: To what extent are the evaluator(s) well-qualified in their experience, knowledge, and skills to ensure the completion of a successful evaluation?

Question: What should I do if I am not sure where to find an independent evaluator or if I am having difficulty finding one?

Answer: If you encounter any difficulties in finding a qualified, independent project evaluator, please request assistance by sending an email to GulfGrants@nas.edu with a description of your project. We will connect you to the Gulf Coast Evaluation Network where you should be able to find a qualified individual.

BUDGET

Question: Can funding awarded from the grant be used to cover the costs of evaluation?

Answer: Yes. In the budget template we will ask you to use (found on page 8 of the RFA and hyperlinked in the online application), there is a line item for the Evaluation Consultant.

Question: My organization is thinking about incorporating an “exchange” between the Gulf of Mexico region and another region. Can I request funds for this exchange?

Answer: Travel expenses are allowed in the budget requests. Please keep in mind the Merit Review Criteria examining if the budget is commensurate with the proposed activities.

Question: Is there a specific limitation on direct and indirect costs?

Answer: Yes. In order to best serve the youth of the region, the GRP aims to limit the overhead charges on educational grants. As such, indirect costs cannot exceed 20% of direct costs. This limit also applies to subawardee budgets.

Question: Are there any specific matching requirements or restrictions?

Answer: No.

Question: Will reviewers look for a specific formula of budget to impact ratio (for example, ~$YY per student)?

Answer: Reviewers will examine to what extent the budget is commensurate with the proposed project activities. Reviewers often calculate how much money is spent on each student, but these values must also be considered in context, such as the activities proposed, the length of each interaction with students, and the number of interactions with each student. Reviewers often like to see that the budget is being directed to support the educators and the students.

PROJECT LOCATION

Question: Where can project activities occur? What do you mean by the Gulf of Mexico region? Are projects limited to the United States?

Answer: Programmatic activities must occur in the United States Gulf of Mexico region, which for this funding opportunity is defined as the US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Question: Should a project include only one state, or does it need to include all five Gulf of Mexico states?

Answer: Projects can focus on either one state or any combination of them.

Question: My organization is thinking about incorporating an “exchange” between the Gulf of Mexico region and another region. Is this sort of exchange allowed?

Answer: Travel expenses are allowed in the budget requests. We are hoping that programmatic activity will occur in the US Gulf of Mexico region. However, an exchange is allowable if it will enable project participants to bring knowledge, skills, and/or networks from one region back to the US Gulf of Mexico region. Be sure to explain in your application the value that this exchange will bring to the Gulf of Mexico region.

ELIGIBILITY

Question: What sorts of organizations are eligible to apply?

Answer: Applications will be accepted from all nonprofit and community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, which support educational, service, and/or coordination activities for youth in the 9-12 grade range

Question: Can a 501(c)(3) partner with an LLC to execute the project?

Answer: Yes. The Project Director should be from an organization that is a 501(c)(3), but other organization are allowed to partner with them. In your application, please explain why the partnership is essential for your project success and what the partners bring to the table.

Question: Are charter school districts able to apply?

Answer: Yes, as long as they have 501(c)(3) status.

Question: Are universities eligible?

Answer: Many universities, such as public universities, are eligible to apply because they meet nonprofit status. However, it will depend on the specific university.

Question: My organization has two potential projects that each could potentially be a good fit for this funding opportunity. What should I do?

Answer: Depending on your situation, you could 1) see which project seems like the best fit for the opportunity, or 2) submit both with different project directors. An individual may be proposed as project director in only one application. If an individual is proposed as project director in any application, they may also be proposed as key personnel in up to two additional applications.

Question: Can I submit an application to this funding opportunity and another GRP funding opportunity at the same time?

Answer: Yes, you can submit one application per Project Director to each funding opportunity. The outcome of one funding opportunity will not affect your eligibility for another funding opportunity.

THE APPLICATION AND CONTACTING THE GRP

Question: Do I need to attach letters of support or commitment?

Answer: You do not need to include these documents, but there is a section at the end of the application where you can upload letters of support, citations, logic models, or any other key document that did not fit elsewhere.

Question: Will this funding opportunity occur on an annual basis?

Answer: We are hoping to host a funding opportunity like this either every year or every other year, but time will tell.

Question: If I send a question to the GulfGrants@nas.edu email address, how can I be sure my question is directed to the Responsible Staff Officer for this funding opportunity?

Answer: The GulfGrants@nas.edu inbox is monitored and will ensure you get the fastest reply. Through this inbox, we track common questions, and you will be able to get a quick answer. For more complicated questions, the question will be forwarded to the Responsible Staff Officer who will ensure you receive an appropriate response.

LESSONS LEARNED

Question: Are you willing or able to provide feedback on a “one-pager” before I submit my full application?

Answer: No, we do not provide feedback on written material in an attempt to not favor one applicant over another. Please see the Awards tab for a list of past awardees, along with the details of each year’s funding opportunity, as the details have changed from year to year.

Question: Are there preferences for a project focused on training teachers and improving educational systems versus for a project focused on directly impacting students? How will the two year project timeline effect the expected project impacts and outcomes?

Answer: All projects will be evaluated on the same Merit Review Criteria. Both of the described projects would have value and would have different outcomes for evaluation. Reviewers will be tasked with keeping these differences in mind as they critique applications based on the Merit Review Criteria. Depending on your situation, you could 1) see which project seems like the best fit for the opportunity, or 2) submit both with different project directors. An individual may be proposed as project director in only one application. If an individual is proposed as project director in any application, they may also be proposed as key personnel in up to two additional applications.

Question: My organization previously applied and did not receive funding. How can we receive feedback on our last application to strengthen our next application?

Answer: Please email GulfGrants@nas.edu with the year and name of the funding opportunity to which you applied and we will send you the written reviewer comments.