Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program

The FY2025 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program, administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports projects that enhance the ability of HSIs to offer educational and community development programs in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH). Approximately $15,329,953 is available for funding, with award amounts ranging from $50,000 to $1,200,000 depending on the grant type. Applications are due by March 19, 2025, for Regular Grants, March 20, 2025, for Collaboration Grants, and March 21, 2025, for Conference Grants. The program focuses on fostering equity and inclusion, attracting underrepresented students to FANH disciplines, improving postsecondary instruction, and enhancing workforce readiness in FANH careers. Eligible applicants are accredited institutions designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, defined as having at least 25% full-time undergraduate Hispanic enrollment. No matching funds are required, but cost-effectiveness and alignment with USDA goals are important considerations. There are five grant types available under this program. Regular Grants support single-institution projects aimed at education or community development, with funding up to $400,000 for four years. Bridge Grants are a subset of Regular Grants intended for institutions new to the program, offering up to $200,000. Collaboration Grants require partnerships among two or more HSIs to recruit and support a minimum of 25 students, with funding capped at $1,200,000. Conference Grants, limited to $50,000, support scientific meetings, while a Conference DATA Grant ($175,000 maximum) focuses on evaluating the outcomes of previously funded HSI projects. Applications must include a project narrative outlining goals, methodology, a logic model, and an evaluation plan. Collaboration Grants also require details on partner roles, student tracking, and graduate-level support. A mentoring plan is mandatory for all proposals, addressing how students at various education levels will be guided. Applicants must submit budgets for the full project duration and plan for dissemination of findings, including attendance at annual project director meetings. Applications are evaluated based on their potential to improve education quality, institutional capacity, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with USDA priorities. Factors such as innovation, multidisciplinary approaches, and partnerships are also assessed. Proposals should demonstrate how they address underrepresented groups' needs and provide clear outcomes, such as improved student recruitment, retention, and graduation rates. Award decisions will be announced by September 30, 2025. Funded projects are expected to comply with reporting requirements, attend meetings, and ensure broad dissemination of findings and best practices. For additional details, applicants can consult the program's supplemental information and reach out to Irma Lawrence at ILawrence@usda.gov.