The Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) is accepting applications for its Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP), an initiative aimed at enabling primary and secondary students in North Carolina to engage in creative, hands-on STEM activities. Since its inception in 1996, the SSEP has awarded 299 grants totaling $45.1 million, impacting over 43,000 students. The program focuses on after-school and supplemental education initiatives that use inquiry-based, hands-on learning to foster a deeper appreciation of the scientific process among K-12 students.
The program provides grants of up to $60,000 per year for three years, with a total possible award of $180,000 per grantee. Eligible applicants must propose programs that align closely with school-day curricula, employ well-trained staff, and offer structured follow-up with participating students. SSEP especially supports programs that serve students with exceptional skills in STEM as well as those perceived to have high potential, with a strong emphasis on closing opportunity gaps for underserved and underrepresented populations.
Applications for the 2025 cycle open on March 14, 2025, and must be submitted by June 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET. Award decisions will be announced on November 30, 2025, with funded projects starting on December 1, 2025, and concluding on August 31, 2028. The entire application process, including instructions and FAQs, is accessible online via the BWF website.
For program-specific inquiries, applicants may contact Alfred Mays (Senior Program Officer), Samantha Moore (Program Associate), or Kendi Kajogo (Program Coordinator) at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
