STEM Education Grants: Federal and Foundation Sources
STEM education grants fund programs, curriculum, equipment, teacher training, and enrichment activities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The federal government has invested substantially in STEM education through NSF, the Department of Education, NASA, USDA, and the Department of Energy. Private foundations — particularly technology company foundations — have made STEM education a primary focus. This directory covers the major grant sources for K-12 schools, nonprofits running STEM programming, and higher education institutions.
Federal STEM Education Grants
National Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF is the primary federal funder of STEM education research and innovative programming. Key programs include:
- Discovery Research preK-12 (DRK-12): Funds research and development of innovative learning and teaching resources in STEM for preK-12. Awards range from $450,000 to $3 million over three years.
- Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE): Funds improvements in undergraduate STEM teaching and learning at higher education institutions.
- STEM+C (Computing): Now integrated into the CS for All initiative; funds computer science education research and implementation projects.
- Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST): Funds programs that provide students and teachers with authentic STEM experiences connected to career pathways.
- Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program: Funds scholarships and stipends for STEM majors who commit to teaching in high-need schools, with grants to institutions of higher education.
- Advanced Informal STEM Learning (AISL): Funds STEM learning experiences in informal settings including museums, science centers, community organizations, and media.
Department of Education — Title IV Programs
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) funds STEM education through multiple Title IV programs:
- Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE): State formula grants that fund well-rounded education including STEM activities, technology access, and safe/healthy schools. Local education agencies apply to their state education agency for SSAE funds.
- Magnet Schools Assistance Program: Competitive grants to school districts to establish or strengthen magnet programs, including STEM magnet schools.
- Education Innovation and Research (EIR): Tiered-evidence competitive grants (Early Phase, Mid-Phase, Expansion) for developing, evaluating, and scaling evidence-based innovations including STEM programs.
NASA STEM Engagement
NASA funds STEM education through cooperative agreements and grants under its STEM Engagement programs. The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) funds Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges to conduct STEM research. NASA's Office of STEM Engagement awards grants to nonprofits, school districts, and universities for programs that connect NASA's mission to STEM learning. Solicitations are posted on Grants.gov and the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review (NSPIRES) system.
USDA STEM and Agricultural Education
USDA funds STEM education through several programs: the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funds agriculture and food science education through the Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program and Higher Education Challenge Grants; the USDA Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants fund innovative agriculture STEM curriculum; and USDA's 4-H program funds STEM clubs and competitions through state land-grant universities.
Department of Energy
DOE's Office of Science funds the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) and Community College Internships (CCI) programs for students. DOE also funds STEM workforce development grants through its Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS), including programs for K-12 teachers in STEM fields related to energy.
Foundation STEM Education Grants
Technology foundations are among the largest private funders of STEM education. Key sources include: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for STEM teaching quality and postsecondary access; Google.org for computer science education, particularly for underrepresented students; the Siemens Foundation for STEM education at the secondary and postsecondary level; the Motorola Solutions Foundation for STEM programming for underserved communities; the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for science education in K-12; the Cognizant U.S. Foundation for STEM workforce development; and the Overdeck Family Foundation for math learning. Code.org funds computer science curriculum dissemination. The ExxonMobil Foundation has historically been a major STEM education funder through its Math and Science Teaching Initiative.
Application Tips for STEM Grants
- Evidence of impact matters more at NSF: NSF's education programs increasingly require evidence of educational effectiveness. Review the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards and ensure your evaluation design can generate credible evidence of learning outcomes.
- Broader Impacts section: NSF grants require both an Intellectual Merit and a Broader Impacts statement. The Broader Impacts section should explicitly address how the project contributes to diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM — reviewers weight this heavily.
- Community partnerships for informal STEM: NSF's AISL program favors community-based learning networks over single-institution projects. Building partnerships with libraries, science centers, community organizations, and schools before applying strengthens AISL applications.
- Career pathways alignment: Technology company foundations (Google, Siemens, Motorola) prioritize STEM programs with clear pathways to STEM careers, particularly in computer science and engineering. Document how your program connects to career and workforce outcomes, not just academic enrichment.
Find STEM Education Grants with FindGrants
NSF, DOE, NASA, ED, USDA, and scores of private foundations collectively make STEM education one of the most well-funded areas of American grantmaking. FindGrants.io indexes STEM education grant opportunities and matches them to your organization type — K-12 school, nonprofit, community college, or university — so you can quickly identify the funding sources most aligned with your programs and populations. Search STEM grants across all major sources in one place.