Eligible: Education, Tribes
Apply by Oct 14, 2026
Apply now$100,000 - $3,500,000
The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) supports tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions to promote STEM research and education to increase the number of Native Americans in STEM careers.
Grant
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program
U.S. National Science Foundation
Federal
$10,799,836
55
$100,000 - $3,500,000
No
Active
Education, Tribes
Resilience
Education & Outreach, Program Management, Research & Development
Organizations eligible to submit TCUP proposals are federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Other institutions of higher education are eligible to submit collaborative proposals as non-leads with TCUP-eligible institutions under the specific TCUP Partnerships program.
There are several grant activities allowable under different project strands:
• ICE-TI (Instructional Capacity Excellence in TCUP Institutions) – due annually April 1: Supports comprehensive, institution-wide improvements to STEM education and research capacity to expand degree offerings and/or deepen instructional approaches.
• TSIP (Targeted STEM Infusion Projects) – due annually April 1: Funds short-term, focused goals like updating curricula, adding traditional knowledge to STEM courses, or modernizing lab equipment.
• TSETS (TCUP for Secondary & Elementary Teachers in STEM) – due annually Sept. 1: Provides professional development in STEM content and research for K-12 teachers in the institution’s service area.
• TEA Centers (TCU Enterprise Advancement Centers) – due annually June 1: Brings together institutional STEM expertise to address broader tribal or community STEM needs, often across multiple tribes.
• CHAI (Cyberinfrastructure Health, Assistance, and Improvements) – due Oct. 14: Helps institutions upgrade their technology infrastructure to support virtual instruction, advanced computing, and data science.
• Pre-TI (Preparing for TCUP Implementation) – due Oct. 14: Helps institutions that are new to TCUP or pursuing a novel STEM plan conduct self-assessments and develop strategic plans before applying for larger implementation grants.
• TCUP Partnerships – due Oct. 14: Supports collaborative projects between TCUP and non-TCUP institutions to broaden academic and career pathways for TCUP students.
• SGR (Small Grants for Research): Funds individual STEM faculty members to initiate or advance research projects, including opportunities for student and international collaboration.
National
Upcoming Due Dates:
April 1 2026 – Deadline date (and then annually thereafter)
• Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP)
• Instructional Capacity Excellence in TCUP Institutions (ICE-TI) and Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP)
June 1 2026 – Deadline date (and then annually thereafter)
• TCU Enterprise Advancement Centers (TEA Centers)
Sept 1 2026 – Deadline date (and then annually thereafter)
• TCUP for Secondary and Elementary Teachers in STEM (TSETS)
Oct 15 2025 – Oct 14, 2026 – Window (and then annually thereafter)
• TCUP Partnerships
• Cyberinfrastructure Health, Assistance, and Improvements (CHAI)
• Preparing for TCP Implementation (Pre-TI)
Unspecified
Oct 14, 2026
General inquiries can be addressed to:
tcup@nsf.gov
703-292-8640
Get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about funding.
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