As funding opportunities are announced and shared with the Office for Research & Graduate Education we will compile the opportunities, here. This page will be updated periodically as new opportunities come about.
External Funding Opportunities
Foundation for Food and Agriculture (FFAR)
Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research
The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program provides nimble deployment of funds to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. ROAR participants, including but not limited to university researchers, farmers or producers, commodity groups and government officials, may apply for funds in response to an outbreak for development of diagnostics, monitoring and mitigation strategies. The ROAR program fills the gap until traditional, longer-term funding sources can be secured.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Institute of Health (NIH)
NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The purpose of the NIH Research Conference Grant (R13) is to support high quality conferences that are relevant to the public health and to the scientific mission of the participating Institutes and Centers.
Deadline: December 12, 2025: April 12, 2026; August 12, 2026; December 12, 2026
National Science Foundation (NSF)
National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. Proposals are requested that address any interdisciplinary or convergent research theme of national priority, as noted above.
Deadline: September 8, 2025
EDU Core Research (ECR:Core)
This program supports research on STEM education in one or more of three research areas: STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM, and STEM workforce development.
Deadline: October, 2, 2025
Environmental Sustainability
The Environmental Sustainability program is part of the Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster together with 1) the Environmental Engineering program and 2) the Nanoscale Interactions program. The goal of the Environmental Sustainability program is to promote sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. Research efforts supported by the program typically consider long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics. The program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions.
There are five principal general research areas that are supported: Circular Bioeconomy Engineering, Industrial ecology, Green engineering, Ecological engineering, Earth systems engineering.
Deadline: Full proposal accepted anytime. For additional information regarding the removal of deadlines for this program, please refer to the Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 18-082) and Frequently Asked Questions (NSF18-083).
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Open Data Framework (ODF)
ODF builds frameworks to create neutral and secure data repositories and cooperatives where producers, universities and nonprofit entities can store and share data in ways that will foster agricultural innovation, support technological progress, and production efficiencies. The ODF must have a clear and complete sustainability plan for updates, expansion, and user support beyond the award period. It must delineate principles and examples of specific mechanisms for integration with current and future tool development, cyberinfrastructure facilities, and programs that will support effective use of the data, with detailed information on how data transfer speed and any co-location needs will be addressed.
The project should address Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data principles. Proposals are expected to focus on the framework’s development from use cases through platform growth and expansion. The management structure should be clear, and the proposal must detail how stakeholder feedback will be fully integrated into the project, and how this feedback will be documented and shared.
Deadline: August 6, 2025
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization.
The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.
Deadline: September 23, 2025
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific detail.
Deadline: Under Review
Other Funding Agencies
Conservation Partners Program 2025 Request for Proposals
The Conservation Partners Program seeks to foster systems change and achieve environmental and social benefits at a landscape scale. As such, it supports projects that generate impact on the order of thousands or tens of thousands of acres, with a strong preference for projects on the larger end of the scale. Projects that propose smaller acreages and outcomes are likely less competitive.
Grant recipients will provide technical assistance to interested farmers and ranchers to develop conservation plans, design and implement conservation practices, share their experiences and lessons learned, and enroll in Farm Bill conservation programs, especially the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). A particular emphasis should be placed on implementing, designing, and promoting conservation practices that improve soil health increase grazing system function, restore wetlands, develop perennial wildlife habitat, improve nutrient management, enhance forest health, and support social and economic resilience among agricultural producers. Successful projects will complement NRCS technical assistance capacity by helping to reduce the Farm Bill conservation practice planning, contracting, and implementation backlog.
Deadline: July 15, 2025
Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between thinkers working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. In the three years between Fall 2023 and Summer 2026, we will dedicate $1M to supporting small, early stage grants of $2,500–$50,000 toward achieving this goal.
We are mainly but not exclusively interested in activities that build connections between basic/early biomedical scientific approaches and ecological, environmental, geological, geographic, and planetary-scale thinking, as well as with population-focused fields, including epidemiology and public health, demography, economics, and urban planning. Also of interest is work piloting new approaches or interactions toward reducing the impact of health-centered activities, such as developing more sustainable systems for health care, care delivery, and biomedical research systems.
Another area of interest is preparation for the impacts of extreme weather and other crises that can drive large-scale disruptions that will immediately impact human health and the delivery of health care. Public outreach, climate communication, and education efforts focused on the intersection of climate and health are also appropriate for this call. This program supports work conceived through many kinds of creative thinking. Successful applicants include academic scientists, physicians, and public health experts, community organizations, science outreach centers, non-biomedical academic departments, and more.
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through July 2026. A review will be conducted quarterly. Deadline dates for the upcoming cycles are:
-
July 24, 2025
Young Investigator Program
The Beckman Young Investigator Program provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in the chemical and life sciences, particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science. The BYI program funds scientists early in their careers who have not yet received a major award from another organization and are pursuing projects that are truly innovative, high-risk, and show promise for contributing to significant advances in chemistry and the life sciences. To be eligible, candidates must have achieved a tenure track appointment after 1/1/2020 and before 8/1/2024.
Dedadline: August 1, 2025
Collaborative Capacity Program for Forests & Communities
The National Forest Foundation’s Collaborative Capacity Program financial awards provide resources to support collaborative activities that increase wildfire resilience, recreation opportunities, forest health, and rural economies. Eligible efforts must describe how investments in collaboration will support a long-term strategy for achieving stewardship outcomes and how these outcomes benefit National Forest System lands.
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Small Grants Program
Sponsor: Clif Family Foundation
Through the program, the foundation will award general support grants as well as funding for specific projects in the three focus areas: strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and safeguard our environment and natural resources. Priority is given to applicants that address two or more of the funding priorities at the same time, demonstrate strong community ties, and operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change.
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Farmers Advocating for Organic
Farmers Advocating for Organic (FAFO) is a grant program funded entirely by annual, voluntary contributions from Organic Valley farmers to address the long-term needs of the organic marketplace and the future of organic agriculture by supporting the development of long-term solutions. Grants support research, education, and advocacy projects that advance FAFO’s mission to protect and promote the organic industry and the livelihood of organic farmers. Nonprofit organizations and academic/research institutions are eligible to apply. The program is currently prioritizing projects that benefit family farmers who produce organic dairy, eggs, meat, produce, and grain/forage and projects that focus on organic soil health and biology.
August 15, 2025
Health Foundation of Greater Massilon
A supporting foundation of the Stark Community Foundation, the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon has awarded more than $3 million to local organizations focused on improving the health and wellness of individuals and families in the Ohio counties of (western) Stark, (northern) Tuscarawas, and (eastern) Wayne.
The foundation invites applications from local organizations to support health and wellness programs and initiatives. Proposals must demonstrate well-planned programs and activities that promote physical, emotional, and mental health. Proposals must directly impact residents living in Western Stark County (Beach City, Bethlehem Township, Brewster, Canal Fulton, East Greenville, Jackson Township, Lawrence Township, Massillon, Navarre, North Lawrence, Perry Township, Richville, Sugarcreek Township, Tuscarawas Township, Wilmot), northern Tuscarawas County (Bolivar, Strasburg) and/or eastern Wayne County (Dalton, Orrville, Wooster).
Deadline: August 29, 2025
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is looking for innovative ideas to develop novel capabilities for national security. DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO) wishes to catalyze future efforts to defend agriculture against threats both naturally occurring and manmade. The goal of Ag BTO is to fund proposals that catalyze future innovation in agricultural defense throughout the supply chain. Toward this goal, Ag BTO’s objective is to spark innovation regarding defending our nation’s food supply, to include crops, promoting national security interests. Proposed work will serve as a springboard for further program development at DARPA if compelling.
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Challenges in forest management: Climate change, biodiversity and forest products
The overall objective of the program is to improve sustainable forest management that addresses the pressing problems of climate change and biodiversity loss as well as society’s need for forest products.
Deadline: September 22, 2025
Ohio Soybean Council
The mission of the Ohio Soybean Council is to invest soybean checkoff funds to maximize the value of soybeans and increase profit opportunities for Ohio farmers. To achieve this mission, the Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees has developed a three-year strategic plan with several key goals and objectives. A copy of the OSC Strategic Plan is linked for your reference, and also will be available on the online project management system.
After you have clicked on “Create New Proposal” in the online proposal system, you will see a form that requests basic information regarding your proposal, including contact information, an executive summary and a project budget. In addition to completing this information, please attach a document of no more than six pages in either PDF (.pdf) or Word (.doc) format that addresses the following:
- OSC Goal the project would address – please choose from the three OSC Goals in the OSC Strategic Plan;
- Budget – provide a detailed line-item budget – preference will be given to projects that do not contain capital spending and can be completed within 12 months;
- Project Purpose – describe what the project is designed to accomplish and how it would enhance profit opportunities for Ohio Soybean farmers;
- Project Relation to OSC Objectives – describe how this project will assist OSC in accomplishing one or more of the objectives listed in the OSC Strategic Plan;
- Project Work Plan – describe how you propose to accomplish the work outlined in the proposal;
- Measureable Project Milestones – describe project milestones (not less than quarterly), and describe how progress and success will be measured for the project;
- Project Team Members – provide relevant information regarding the background and capabilities of the applicant that would allow OSC to judge the ability of the applicant to successfully complete the project;
- Project Partnerships – identify any support from third parties on the budget summary form; also list each collaborator and whether the support is in-kind, financial, or both.
Please note: Plant Research proposals should include a list of other research projects in which the principal investigator is participating. This should include the title and brief description of the project, the funding source, time period of research and the amount funded.
Resources
Create New Proposal
Save as Draft and Submit Proposal
Submit Invoice and Report
OSC Strategic Plan 2023-2026
If you have any questions, please contact Kirk B. Merritt, Executive Director, Ohio Soybean Council.
P: (614) 476-3100 | E: kmerritt@soyohio.org
Deadline: Quarterly
Awesome Foundation Grant
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiatives and public or social practice art projects.
Deadline: None
Grants Program
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) provides grants for projects related to three areas of focused work: Thriving Children - to support a healthy start and quality learning experiences for all children; Working Families - to invest in efforts to help families obtain stable, high-quality jobs; and Equitable Communities - to encourage all communities to be vibrant, engaged and equitable.
Deadline: Proposals accepted at any time
Internal Funding Opportunities
IPR Seed Grant Program
Sponsor: Institute for Population Research (IPR), The Ohio State University
Through the program, the foundation will award general support grants as well as funding for specific projects in the three focus areas: strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and safeguard our environment and natural resources. Priority is given to applicants that address two or more of the funding priorities at the same time, demonstrate strong community ties, and operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change.
Deadline: October 15, 2025