Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Higher Education Programs (HEP): Institutional Service: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program

The U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Postsecondary Education, has announced a funding opportunity under the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program for fiscal year 2025. This grant initiative is part of Title III, Part A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and is aimed at strengthening the capacity of eligible institutions of higher education to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students. The AANAPISI Program is designed to provide resources for institutions to enhance academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability in order to improve outcomes for students from these underserved communities. Institutions applying for this funding may request support to plan, develop, or implement activities that contribute to the academic success and institutional sustainability. Two invitational priorities have been included for the 2025 cycle. The first encourages the expansion of access to distance education, competency-based education, apprenticeships, work-based learning, or shortened time-to-degree models. The second priority focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into institutional pedagogy and student support services or expanding student knowledge of AI and computer science, including through teacher training and professional development programs. However, proposals aligned with these priorities are not given competitive or absolute preference in the evaluation process. Funding will be distributed in two forms: Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. For Individual Development Grants, the estimated range of awards is $400,000 to $500,000 per year, with an average award size of $450,000 and a maximum of $500,000 annually. For Cooperative Arrangement Grants, awards range from $500,000 to $600,000 per year, averaging $550,000 with a cap of $600,000 per year. A total of approximately $5.4 million is expected to be available, with up to 10 individual awards and 2 cooperative awards anticipated. The project period for both types of grants can extend up to 60 months. Eligible applicants must be accredited or pre-accredited institutions legally authorized to provide postsecondary education and designated as eligible under Title III, Part A. Institutions must also demonstrate that at least 10% of their undergraduate population is comprised of Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander students. A signed assurance form confirming enrollment figures must be submitted with the application. Institutions currently receiving funds under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program are not eligible to receive AANAPISI grants simultaneously, although institutions not currently funded under HSI may apply to both programs in the same year. Applications are currently being accepted with a submission opening date of July 14, 2025. The deadline for transmittal of applications is August 13, 2025, with the intergovernmental review deadline set for September 12, 2025. Applications must include a logic model or conceptual framework as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c). The recommended narrative page limit is 50 pages for Individual Development Grants and 65 pages for Cooperative Arrangement Grants, with an additional 3 pages per invitational priority addressed. The grant application will be evaluated based on criteria totaling 100 points, including the quality of the development plan, objectives, implementation strategy, key personnel, project management plan, evaluation plan, and budget. A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will assess applications, and tiebreaker points may be applied based on specific institutional characteristics. All deliverables created with grant funds must be openly licensed unless otherwise restricted. Applicants with questions or requiring assistance should contact Pearson Owens at Pearson.Owens@ed.gov or by phone at (202) 987-1866.

Limit narrative to 50 pages for Individual Grants and 65 for Cooperative; include 3 additional pages per invitational priority addressed.