Applications for New Awards; Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program

The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program is a discretionary grant initiative administered by the Office of Postsecondary Education within the U.S. Department of Education. The primary objective of this program is to support institutions of higher education that qualify as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). These grants aim to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students and improve academic attainment and institutional quality at colleges and universities serving large Hispanic and low-income student populations. The DHSI Program awards Individual Development Grants for a five-year project period. For fiscal year 2025, only these five-year development grants will be funded, with no Cooperative Arrangement or Planning Grants awarded. The funding is intended to strengthen academic offerings, enhance institutional stability, and increase the ability of these institutions to serve Hispanic students more effectively. Eligible projects may involve initiatives like faculty development, curriculum and academic program development, student support services, and institutional management improvements. For FY 2025, the Department of Education has allocated an estimated $66,944,786 for this program. Individual awards will range from $500,000 to $600,000 per year, with an average of $575,000. A total of approximately 116 awards are expected. The application window opens on June 3, 2025, and closes on July 3, 2025. Additionally, the deadline for intergovernmental review is October 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, adhering to all formatting and content requirements laid out in the application instructions. The Notice of Intent to Apply is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Eligibility is restricted to accredited institutions of higher education that are legally authorized to provide bachelor’s degrees or are junior/community colleges and meet the statutory definition of an HSI. This includes having an undergraduate full-time equivalent student population that is at least 25% Hispanic and enrolling a substantial number of needy students. Institutions must also be designated as “eligible institutions” according to 34 CFR 606.2 through 606.5. Institutions currently holding a grant under Title V or Title III programs of the Higher Education Act are not eligible. Matching is not generally required unless funds are used to establish or enhance endowment funds, in which case a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match is required. Applications are evaluated based on several selection criteria, including the quality of the comprehensive development plan, the design and rationale of the proposed project, activity objectives, implementation strategy, management plan, personnel qualifications, and evaluation methods. Competitive preference priorities are awarded to rural applicants and new potential grantees. There is also an invitational priority for expanding distance education and workforce-based options. The designated contact for this funding opportunity is Margarita Melendez, reachable at Margarita.Melendez@ed.gov or (202) 987–0408. Applications should comply with all administrative and national policy requirements, including civil rights laws and open licensing mandates. Successful applicants must commit to rigorous performance reporting, and grant renewals will be contingent upon demonstrated progress and compliance.