Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 010338
The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its central purpose is to fund research and extension projects that increase participation in STEM fields by rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas. The program emphasizes expanding access and involvement "to the maximum extent practicable," meaning projects should be designed with clear, intentional strategies to reduce barriers and strengthen pathways into STEM for these populations, particularly in rural communities where educational and workforce opportunities can be limited.
This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program, meaning awards are made through a competitive review process rather than by formula. Projects supported under WAMS generally fall into the research and extension space, which in USDA terms often includes applied research, outreach, education, and community-facing programming that helps move knowledge into practice. In practical terms, strong proposals typically connect STEM participation goals to real-world rural needs, such as agriculture and food systems, natural resources, environmental science, or related technology and engineering challenges that matter to rural regions. The program is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.318 and is tied to statutory authority in federal law, specifically Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which amended earlier provisions in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925).
Eligibility is broad but clearly defined by statute and the program's Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals. The program also allows applications from groups or partnerships consisting of two or more eligible entity types. While the list is expansive, applicants still must meet all requirements in the RFA, and missing eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to removal from consideration or make an award impossible even if the proposal scores well. For applicants that are new to federal grants, NIFA points to its Grants Overview resources as guidance for navigating federal application standards and compliance expectations.
From the funding details provided, the opportunity number is USDA NIFA WAMS 010338. The award ceiling is $200,000 per award, and NIFA anticipated making around 10 awards under this cycle. The original closing date for applications was February 9, 2024, and the opportunity record was created on December 11, 2023. As with many NIFA programs, the expectation is that proposals will present a coherent plan, measurable outcomes, and a clear explanation of how project activities will expand STEM participation among the targeted rural populations. This could include strategies like mentorship and cohort models, hands-on research experiences, extension-led STEM programming, partnerships with rural schools or community organizations, recruitment and retention supports, and evaluation methods that demonstrate progress and impact.
Overall, WAMS is aimed at strengthening the STEM pipeline in rural America by directly supporting projects that broaden participation for groups historically underrepresented in STEM, with an emphasis on practical, place-based approaches that can translate into long-term educational and workforce gains in rural communities.Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 010338
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.318.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Women and Minorities in STEM (WAMS) Program - FAQs
What is the WAMS Program?
The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It funds projects that increase participation in STEM fields by rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is to expand access to and involvement in STEM "to the maximum extent practicable" for rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural communities. In practice, this means proposals should include clear, intentional strategies to reduce barriers and strengthen pathways into STEM for those groups.
Which federal agency runs this program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is WAMS a competitive program or a formula program?
WAMS is a discretionary (competitive) grant program. Awards are made through a competitive review process rather than being distributed by formula.
What types of projects does WAMS typically support?
WAMS supports research and extension projects. In USDA terms, this often includes applied research, outreach, education, and community-facing programming designed to move knowledge into practice while increasing STEM participation among the targeted rural populations.
How should projects connect to rural needs?
Strong proposals typically connect STEM participation goals to real-world rural needs. Examples mentioned include work tied to agriculture and food systems, natural resources, environmental science, and related technology and engineering challenges that matter to rural regions.
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program is intended to benefit rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas, with an emphasis on strengthening participation and pathways into STEM in rural communities where educational and workforce opportunities can be limited.
What does "to the maximum extent practicable" mean in this context?
It signals that projects should be deliberately designed to broaden participation as much as realistically possible. Proposals should spell out the specific strategies they will use to reduce barriers and improve access, recruitment, involvement, and persistence in STEM for the target populations in rural areas.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for WAMS?
The program is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.318.
What is the statutory authority for the WAMS Program?
The program is tied to Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which amended earlier provisions in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925).
What is the opportunity number for this funding cycle?
The opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA WAMS 010338.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $200,000 per award.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA anticipated making around 10 awards under this cycle.
When was the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications was February 9, 2024.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on December 11, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals.
Can partnerships apply?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by groups or partnerships consisting of two or more eligible entity types.
Does being on the eligible applicant list guarantee eligibility?
No. Applicants still must meet all requirements in the Request for Applications (RFA). Missing eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to removal from consideration or make an award impossible even if the proposal scores well.
What kinds of activities might a strong proposal include?
The opportunity description notes examples such as mentorship and cohort models, hands-on research experiences, extension-led STEM programming, partnerships with rural schools or community organizations, recruitment and retention supports, and evaluation methods that demonstrate progress and impact.
What does USDA mean by "research and extension" in this program?
As described, research and extension can include applied research plus outreach, education, and community-facing efforts that translate knowledge into practice, especially in ways that broaden STEM participation in rural communities.
What does NIFA expect to see in proposals?
NIFA expects proposals to present a coherent plan, measurable outcomes, and a clear explanation of how activities will expand STEM participation among the targeted rural populations.
How important is evaluation in WAMS projects?
Evaluation is highlighted as a component of strong proposals, particularly evaluation methods that demonstrate progress and impact related to increasing STEM participation among rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas.
Where can first-time federal grant applicants find guidance mentioned in the description?
For applicants new to federal grants, NIFA points to its Grants Overview resources for guidance on navigating federal application standards and compliance expectations.
What is the overall intended impact of WAMS?
WAMS aims to strengthen the STEM pipeline in rural America by supporting practical, place-based projects that broaden participation for groups historically underrepresented in STEM and contribute to long-term educational and workforce gains in rural communities.
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