National Institute of Food and Agriculture · Department of Agriculture
1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 4, 2026 · 28 days left
- Award size
- $50K – $750K
- Total available
- $56M · about 125 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Warren County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 33
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/03297609-7453-4e82-8c53-ce31a0b42e28 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/214bf2f6-ca29-4140-84c5-3e30a24c438f
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
The 1890 CBG program, under Assistance Listing Number 10.216 is designed specifically to build the institutional teaching, research, and extension capacities of the eligible institutions through cooperative programs with Federal and non-Federal entities. The 1890 CBG Program supports Executive Order 14283, “White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU),” in order to foster excellence and innovation at HBCUs.
Who can apply, from the official notice
Applicants for the 1890 CBG Program must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.
Applications may only be submitted by eligible 1890 Land-grant Universities (7 U.S.C. 3152(d)(2)).
The eligible institutions are:
1. Alabama A&M University
2. Alcorn State University
3. Central State University
4. Delaware State University
5. Florida A&M University
6. Fort Valley State University
7. Kentucky State University
8. Langston University
9. Lincoln University (MO)
10. North Carolina A&T State University
11. Prairie View A&M University
12. South Carolina State University
13. Southern University and A&M College
14. Tennessee State University
15. Tuskegee University
16. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
17. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore
18. Virginia State University
19. West Virginia State University
Faculty may not serve as PD on more than two active 1890 CBG projects. If an applicant has two active projects, at least one project must be scheduled to expire by the end of the current fiscal year. Faculty may submit multiple applications for Standard and/or Collaborative Grants as the lead PD to the 1890 CBG Program in FYs 2026 and 2027. Additionally, there is no limit on the number of grants for which faculty may be listed as co-PD or key personnel.
All Collaborative or Integrated Education, Research, and Extension Projects may subcontract, as deemed appropriate, to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary to conduct a successful project. The subcontract must advance capacity building at the 1890 LGU in the area of the proposed project.
USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant and cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.
Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – Submissions of duplicate or predominantly overlapping projects are not allowed. An eligible applicant may submit multiple applications on behalf of the institution whereas they are not essentially duplications of the...
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct14
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Oct28
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Nov2
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov4
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Warren County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice FY26-1890-CBG-NOFO.pdf (44 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Registrations you need first (1)
Grants.gov · p. 22
“The electronic application for this NOFO and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101.” Open page 22
The deadline is in 28 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Data management plan · p. 12
“The progress report must include the implementation of the data management plan (DMP) of the previously funded project.” Open page 12
Form SF-424 · p. 23
“Part IV Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R.” Open page 23
Budget narrative / justification · p. 23
“Budget Justification This is not an exhaustive list of required items; it only serves to highlight items that may be overlooked.” Open page 23
Project abstract or summary · p. 23
“Failure to include any of the three critical required documents of Project Summary/Abstract, Project” Open page 23
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 29
“If the consultant(s) or collaborator(s) are known at the time of the application, a curriculum vitae or resume should be provided, and the budget justification should include need for collaboration and the rate of pay. d.” Open page 29
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 30
“(3) A description of mentoring activities that may include, but are not limited to, peer mentoring or layered mentoring, whereby a set of mentees are progressively mentored by others at a higher level in their careers; please incorporate these activities…” Open page 30
Letters of support or commitment · p. 31
“Additional information regarding consultants and collaborators is required in the detailed budget justification, including the rate of pay, letter of commitment, and vitae.” Open page 31
Length limits
PN: 18 pages max · p. 24
“For Standard and Collaborative Grant, the PN must not exceed 18 pages (1.5-spaced, 1- inch margins), including figures and tables.” Open page 24
PN: 8 pages max · p. 24
“For Professional Development Grant and Workshop Grant applications, the PN must not exceed 8 pages (1.5-spaced, 1-inch margins), including figures and tables.” Open page 24
Formatting rules
1.5-spaced · p. 24
“For Standard and Collaborative Grant, the PN must not exceed 18 pages (1.5-spaced, 1- inch margins), including figures and tables.” Open page 24
1-inch margins, 1.5-spaced · p. 24
“For Professional Development Grant and Workshop Grant applications, the PN must not exceed 8 pages (1.5-spaced, 1-inch margins), including figures and tables.” Open page 24
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 21
“Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The 1890 CBG Program has no matching requirement.” Open page 21
Cost share / match · p. 21
“While not required, cost share is encouraged.” Open page 21
Dates in the notice
November 4, 2026 · p. 9
“Workshop Grant Application Deadline November 4, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET for FY August 25, 2027, at 5:00 pm ET for FY Grant Duration: 12-36 Months Anticipated # of Awards: 17 Minimum Award Amount: $50,000 Maximum Award Amount: i.” Open page 9
Mistakes that get applications rejected (3)
Could get your application rejected: Workshop proposals that solely support existing conferences will be returned without review. · p. 19
“Workshop proposals that solely support existing conferences will be returned without review.” Open page 19
Over the length limit: Proposals with project narratives that exceed the page limit requirement will be returned without review. · p. 24
“Proposals with project narratives that exceed the page limit requirement will be returned without review.” Open page 24
Missing a required part: Applications that do not include the institutional letter will be returned without review. e. · p. 30
“Applications that do not include the institutional letter will be returned without review. e.” Open page 30
Who in Tennessee has won this program
26 awards to Tennessee groups in 1 county since 2018 · 0 in Warren County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $1.8M spent that year | 2025 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $600K | 2024 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $600K | 2021 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $600K | 2026 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $599K | 2026 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $595K | 2023 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $591K | 2023 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $588K | 2020 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $503K | 2022 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $500K | 2024 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $500K | 2022 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $500K | 2022 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse, USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 7 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Warren County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee State University | $34K spent that year | 2025 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee State University | $16K spent that year | 2025 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | Tsu | $13K spent that year | 2023 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee, Franklin County | Tennessee State University | $10K spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Kentucky State University | $8,784 spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Virginia State University | $8,295 spent that year | 2023 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Alcorn State University | $336 spent that year | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants, also called “1890 Capacity (CBG)”
Program number 10.216 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture · Project grant
How applications are judged
NIFA evaluates each application in a two-part process. First, each application is reviewed to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements set forth in the NOFO. Second, a peer-review process will be used to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of applications that have meet the administrative requirements. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the program NOFO.
After each peer review panel has completed deliberations, the responsible NIFA program staff will either recommend an application for support from available funds or decline an application due to insufficient funds or unfavorable review.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: HARVESTING POTENTIAL: SUMMER AGRICULTURE INTRODUCTION PROGRAM-The Harvesting Potential Program is an innovative initiative designed for students in agriculture majors. This immersive experience aims to cultivate interest in agriculture, equip participants with essential skills, and provide exposure to various career pathways. Participants will benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that includes hands-on learning at Research Farm and Aquaculture Center, integrating cutting-edge technology like drones. For outreach and collaboration, students receive training in career pathways and entrepreneurship. Participants engage in group projects, fostering teamwork and practical application of their learning. Networking and professional development ensure students connect with industry professionals.