Grants for Businesses in US

NSF-supported science and engineering research increasingly relies on cutting-edge infrastructure. With its Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and Major Multi-user Facilities ("Major Facilities") projects, NSF supports infrastructure projects at the lower and higher range of infrastructure project costs, Foundation-wide, across science and engineering research disciplines. The Foundation-wide Mid-scale Research Infrastructure opportunity is intended to provide NSF with an agile, Foundation-wide process to fund experimental research capabilities in the mid-scale range between MRI and Major Multi-user Facilities. NSF defines Research Infrastructure (RI) as any combination of facilities, equipment, instrumentation, or computational hardware or software, and the necessary human capital in support of the same. Major facilities and mid-scale projects are subsets of research infrastructure. The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Program (Mid-scale RI-1) supports either design activities or implementation of unique and compelling RI projects. Mid-scale implementation projects may include any combination of equipment, instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, broadly used large scale datasets and the personnel needed to successfully commission the project. Mid-scale RI-1 design activities include the design efforts intended to lead to eventual implementation of a mid-scale class RI project. Mid-scale RI-1 projects should involve the training of a diverse workforce engaged in the design and implementation of STEM research infrastructure. Mid-scale RI-1 projects should directly enable advances in any of the research domains supported by NSF. Projects may also include upgrades to existing research infrastructure. Mid-scale RI-1 emphasizes strong scientific merit, a response to an identified need of the research community and/or fulfillment of a national need to enable U.S. researchers to be competitive in a global research environment. Well-conceived technical and management plans are essential for both design and implementation proposals, as are well-developed plans (e.g., mentoring and professional development) for student training and the involvement of a diverse STEM workforce in all aspects of mid-scale design and/or implementation activities. The inclusion of individual project participants that will lead to a supportive working environment is especially encouraged at all levels of the project team. Within Mid-scale RI-1, proposers may submit two types of projects, “Implementation” (e.g., acquisition and/or construction) or “Design”. The “Design” track is intended to facilitate progress toward readiness for a mid-scale range implementation project. Both Implementation projects and Design activities may involve new or upgraded research infrastructure. Mid-scale RI-1 "Implementation" projects may have a total project cost ranging from $4 million up to but not including $20 million. Mid-scale RI-1 "Design" activities may request less than $4 million, with a minimum request of $400,000 and a maximum request up to but not including $20 million, as appropriate, to prepare for a future mid-scale range implementation project. Note: Successful award of a Mid-scale RI-1 design activity does not imply NSF's commitment to the future implementation of the project being designed, nor is a Mid-scale RI-1 design award required for the submission of an implementation project. The Mid-scale RI-1 Program seeks to broaden the representation of PIs and institutions in its award portfolio, including a geographically diverse set of institutions (especially those in EPSCoR jurisdictions). Proposals submitted by, or involving partnerships between institutions are encouraged. Participation in this opportunity is encouraged for the full spectrum of diverse talent society has to offer to include PIs who are women, early-career researchers, persons with disabilities, or members of other groups underrepresented in STEM. To improve participation in science and engineering research for persons with disabilities, Mid-scale RI-1 encourages PIs to incorporate accessibility as part of Mid-scale RI-1 design activity and implementation projects. Please consult NSF's Research Infrastructure Guide, or RIG (available at https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/lfo/lfo_documents.jsp ), for definitions of certain terms used in this solicitation, such as the Project Execution Plan (PEP) and Design and Execution Plan (DEP). The RIG provides guidance specific to Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Projects, including references to other parts of the RIG as needed. Note that PEP or DEP should be appropriately scaled for the complexity of the project and may not require all of the elements described in the RIG. Mid-scale research infrastructure projects with total project costs beyond the Mid-scale RI-1 Program limit are separately solicited through the Mid-scale RI-2 Program. Proposals to the Mid-scale RI-1 Program with total project costs outside of this solicitation's budgetary limits, either during initial submission or after cost analyses/revisions during subsequent review, are subject to return without further review.

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Gaborone announces an open competition for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit project proposals for the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF).  This competition seeks projects that position sports as a sustainable driver of economic growth and social inclusion in Botswana. It supports U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting excellence, investment, and shared prosperity through people-to-people engagement, aligned with the Freedom 250 initiative commemorating 250 years of American independence. The 2026 AEIF call for proposals aims to strengthen the governance, management, and sustainability of Botswana’s sports organizations; develop effective business models and fundraising strategies; enhance marketing, branding, and event management capacity; support athletes in preparing for post-sports careers; and foster international partnerships, especially with U.S. collegiate and professional teams. The intended program targets sports federation and club leaders, coaches, administrators, and young athletes across Botswana who seek to build professional skills and organizational capacity. Eligible applicants are alumni of U.S. government exchange programs with the experience and networks to lead impactful projects. Experience in sports or their administration is an added advantage. 

UPDATE APRIL 14, 2026: Proposals for the FY26 Small Grants Program will be reviewed on a rolling basis based on funding availability. Please follow all instructions in the   Annual Program Statement (see Related Documents tab), which includes instructions on required forms and recommended templates and submit proposals to SofiaGrants@state.gov no later than June 15, 2026 with "FY26 APS" in the subject line of the email. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), announces an open competition for programs that strengthen the U.S.-Bulgaria partnership and advance U.S. administration priorities to make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous. All programs must support U.S. foreign policy objectives and comply with applicable Executive Orders and Department of State guidance.    Proposals must include a clear U.S. element, such as collaboration with American experts, organizations, or institutions, and should promote shared interests by strengthening cooperation in areas that advance security, economic growth, innovation, freedom of speech, countering censorship, and citizen diplomacy (people-to-people) ties. Competitive proposals should support Bulgaria as a sovereign, resilient, and economically strong partner and reinforce the role of the United States as a trusted ally and leader.    U.S. Embassy Sofia invites proposals for projects that engage Bulgarian audiences through educational, cultural, professional, and public outreach programs that highlight American excellence, strengthen bilateral cooperation, and promote practical partnerships that benefit both the United States and Bulgaria. Programs must deliver measurable impact, encourage long-term collaboration, and support cooperation in strategically important sectors.    Priority will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following areas:    Freedom250: Celebrating the American story and advancing future cooperation : Programs that support the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States (Freedom250) by highlighting American history, diplomacy, innovation, and culture, while strengthening public understanding of the U.S.–Bulgarian partnership and its importance in advancing peace, security, and prosperity. Programs should connect the American experience to future cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria and promote informed public understanding of U.S. priorities and shared strategic interests.    American leadership, innovation, and applied solutions in strategic sectors:  Programs that showcase U.S. achievements and best practices in entrepreneurship, science, technology, energy, agriculture, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space, and other frontier fields, with an emphasis on practical cooperation, locally applicable solutions, and partnerships that support economic growth, technological advancement, and long-term prosperity. This includes programs that highlight cooperation in strategic sectors such as civil nuclear energy, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies, and that increase public understanding of the benefits of Bulgarian investments in U.S. technologies and continued cooperation in these strategic fields.     Education, exchanges, and workforce development : Programs that expand English language learning, promote study in the United States, strengthen academic and professional exchanges, and build partnerships between U.S. and Bulgarian institutions, especially in fields that support innovation, competitiveness, and economic opportunity. This includes programs for educators, journalists, and young professionals that provide accurate information about the United States and support long-term professional cooperation.   Strong alliances, sovereign partners, and regional resilience:  Programs that increase public understanding regarding the importance of cooperation between the United States, Bulgaria, and other allies and partners, and that demonstrate how strong, sovereign nations working together contribute to stability, security, and economic resilience in Europe and the Black Sea region/NATO’s eastern flank. This includes programs that promote accurate, fact-based understanding of U.S. policies, support freedom of speech and efforts to counter censorship, strengthen professional exchanges with influencers, media and opinion leaders, and increase awareness of the benefits of defense modernization and close cooperation with allies.    Entrepreneurship, investment, and transparent economic growth:  Programs that promote entrepreneurship, financial literacy, intellectual property protection, fair and transparent business practices, and stronger commercial, educational, and technological ties with the United States, helping create an environment that supports innovation, investment, and prosperity. This includes programs that highlight the role of U.S.–Bulgarian cooperation in energy, technology, and strategic investment projects, and that increase understanding of how transparent, rules-based economic partnerships contribute to long-term growth and security.  ELIGIBILITY  The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from Bulgarian, European or, U.S.-based organizations and individuals with proven experience of executing programs. Proposals that demonstrate the long-term sustainability of the proposed project will receive priority.   The following organizations are eligible to apply : Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience Individuals Non-profit or governmental educational institutions Foreign Public Entities (FPE) and Governmental institutions   For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not  eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331.   SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Please carefully review and follow all instructions in the   Annual Program Statement and submit proposals to SofiaGrants@state.gov on a rolling basis, but no later than June 15, 2026 .   Note: all submitted/emailed proposals must include “FY26 APS” in the subject line.

Through this Disaster NOFO, EDA will award investments in regions experiencing severe economic distress or other economic harm resulting from hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. EDA’s goal under this NOFO is to assist communities recovering from a disaster by realizing opportunities to recover and change the economic trajectory of the community for the better. In other words, EDA funding seeks to help communities recover and set them on a path to exceed their previous pre-disaster baseline. EDA seeks projects that are responsive to community needs post-disaster by engaging all aspects of the community, with special focus on private industry partners. This Disaster NOFO provides funding through three pathways: Readiness Path – Standalone non-construction projects designed to increase a community’s readiness to apply for or implement disaster recovery funding from private and public sources including, but not limited to, future EDA NOFOs and the Implementation or Industry Transformation Paths under this NOFO. Projects will fund strategy development, capacity building, and/or predevelopment costs necessary for future recovery projects. Implementation Path – Standalone construction or non-construction projects designed to address the economic challenges faced by a community recovering from a natural disaster and improve economic trajectories beyond pre-disaster economic conditions. Industry Transformation Path – Led by a coalition of regional stakeholders, a portfolio of large-scale, multicomponent construction and non-construction projects designed to fundamentally transform the economic trajectory of a region through the development or acceleration of an industry.

Priority Region: Sub-Saharan Africa  Africa Regional Services (ARS) Paris, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, invites U.S. citizen speakers, artists, and athletes/coaches to submit Statements of Interest (SOIs) for inclusion on the ARS U.S. Speaker Program roster. Roster members may be selected for small program specific grants to conduct in-person and virtual outreach across sub-Saharan Africa.  The ARS Speaker Program supports U.S. foreign policy goals in Africa by strengthening security, supporting shared prosperity, and promoting American excellence. In line with the Department’s Freedom 250 initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Decade of Sport in America programs are encouraged to:  Share the American story and 250 years of American excellence in innovation, technology, and culture; and celebrate American achievement in sports.  Lead the next era of results driven U.S.–Africa partnership.  This Annual Program Statement seeks U.S. citizen individuals with demonstrated expertise who can deliver programs in English  and  either French or Portuguese.   Priority Program Areas include security; economic prosperity, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship; energy security, and critical minerals; and American arts, sports, and creative industries as engines of economic opportunity.  Selected individuals will be added to the ARS roster following review and interview. Being on the roster does not guarantee funding; individual grants will be made only when a specific U.S. embassy or consulate request matches a roster member’s expertise and availability. SOIs must be submitted using the dedicated form available at  https://forms.office.com/g/NyK95VxSH9 . All supporting documents (credentials/testimonials/endorsements, U.S. passport and a CV or résumé) must be emailed to  arsspeaker@state.gov . Make sure the email subject line says “SOI” with your full name. Incomplete Statements of Interest will be rejected.   

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support efficient and innovative natural history studies that advance medical product development in rare diseases/conditions with unmet needs. Through the support of natural history studies with high quality and interpretable data elements, FDA expects to address critical knowledge gaps, remove major barriers to progress in the field, exert a significant and broad impact on a specific rare disease or multiple rare diseases with similar pathophysiology, and facilitate rare disease product development. 

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), builds upon the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) which was initiated in 1996 as one of the key activities in a national action plan to combat antibiotic resistance threats. The purpose of this FOA is to protect and promote public health by enhancing, strengthening, and sustaining antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens within the NARMS program. The NARMS cooperative agreement is intended to improve the detection of antibiotic resistance among bacteria in food commodities, as well as expand to new sites to expand the scope of sampling. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the NARMS Objectives.

This announcement supports Executive Order 14276, Restoring America’s Seafood Competitiveness, by soliciting projects that support: workforce development for marine-related professions in marine science, aquaculture/mariculture, and maritime operations; enhancing seafood safety and management through training in seafood best practices, marketing, and fishery management; technological innovation in fishing practices; outreach and education for consumers on quality and sustainability of wild caught fish or products farmed through aquaculture/mariculture; enhanced regionally-specific management of fishery resources based on local knowledge; and strengthening the seafood supply chain through partnerships with industry, researchers, and community organizations to build relationships that increase the sustainability and competitiveness of the marine community in Alaska. Proposed projects must be conducted in Alaska. 

The far-reaching impact and rate of innovation in the computer and information science and engineering fields has been remarkable, generating economic prosperity and enhancing the quality of life for people throughout the world. More than a decade ago, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) established the Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) program to build on past successes and provide the CISE research and education community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, fundamental research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. In planning Expeditions projects, investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to combine their creative talents in the identification of compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for many years to come. Now funded at levels up to $15,000,000 for seven years, Expeditions projects represent some of the largest single investments currently made by the CISE directorate. Together with the Science and Technology Centers and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes that CISE supports, Expeditions projects form the centerpiece of the directorate's center-scale award portfolio. With awards funded at levels that promote the formation of large research teams, CISE recognizes that concurrent research advances in multiple fields or sub-fields are often necessary to stimulate deep and enduring outcomes. The awards made in this program will complement research areas supported by other CISE programs, which target particular computer and information science and engineering fields. Additionally, CISE offers Innovation Transition (InTrans) awards for teams nearing the end of their Expeditions as well as Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Frontier projects. The goal of InTransis to continue the long-term vision and objectives of CISE’s center-scale projects. Through InTrans awards, CISE will provide limited funds to match industry support.

To support activities that develop, expand, strengthen, or sustain NIST partnership programs and/or support the conduct of research or a recipient's portion of collaborative research in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: Metrology; S tandards; N anotechnology; A rtificial I ntelligence; A dvanced C ommunications; A dvanced M anufacturing; P romotion of U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness; M easurements in S ciences; N eutron R esearch; and enhancing coordination of the U.S. S tandards S ystem with government and private sector organizations.