Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 111225 001
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), is offering a discretionary grant competition under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): Special Projects program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.116J (Funding Opportunity Number: ED GRANTS 111225 001). The program is designed to fund innovative postsecondary education projects that address areas of national need identified by the Secretary of Education. This particular competition is organized around four current national-need themes: expanding the understanding and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in postsecondary education, promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses, advancing accreditation reform, and building institutional capacity to deliver high-quality short-term programs.
The structure of the competition is built around seven "absolute priorities," meaning applicants must align their proposed project to at least one of these required priority categories to be considered for funding. Two absolute priorities (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2) are devoted to AI in postsecondary education, reflecting an emphasis on helping colleges and universities responsibly adopt and better understand AI tools and practices. One absolute priority (Absolute Priority 3) is dedicated to civil discourse, focusing on strengthening the ability of campuses to foster productive dialogue, constructive engagement across differences, and healthier climates for discussion. Two absolute priorities (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5) address accreditation reform, which may include efforts to modernize quality assurance systems and improve how postsecondary providers demonstrate educational value and outcomes. The remaining two absolute priorities (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7) focus on capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs, signaling interest in workforce-relevant, shorter-duration education and training options that still meet strong quality standards.
The Department has also shared intended funding allocations across the four national-need areas, which helps illustrate where it expects the most activity. It intends to award about $50 million for projects advancing AI in education, $60 million for initiatives promoting civil discourse on campuses, $7 million for accreditation reform work, and $50 million for efforts supporting high-quality short-term programs. These are planning estimates rather than fixed set-asides, and the Department notes it may adjust these amounts depending on the number of applications received in each area and the overall quality of proposals.
Eligibility is broad but limited to specific nonprofit and public-sector education-related entities. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act), consortia of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies that the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the program, including State higher education agencies (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1003(22)). A key application rule is that an eligible entity may submit only one application as the lead applicant per area of national need. However, the same organization can apply as the lead across multiple areas if it submits separate applications for each area, and it may also participate as a partner on multiple applications submitted by other lead entities. In other words, the "one application" limitation applies within each national-need area for lead applicants, not across the entire competition.
For nonprofit organizations, the notice highlights how applicants can document nonprofit status under 34 CFR 75.51. Acceptable documentation includes evidence of IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization, certification from a state taxing body or the state attorney general confirming nonprofit status and restrictions on private benefit, or incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status. If the relevant documentation is held by a state or national parent organization, that can be used as long as it is paired with a statement confirming the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
Key administrative details included in the synopsis are that the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the education activity area (CFDA/ALN: 84.116). The original application closing date is listed as December 3, 2025. The synopsis also references the Department of Education's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published August 29, 2025, 90 FR 42234), which applicants are expected to use for instructions on obtaining and submitting applications, as well as standard requirements that apply across many Education discretionary grant competitions. The synopsis emphasizes that the authoritative requirements, priorities, performance measures, and submission instructions are contained in the official Federal Register application notice, and applicants should rely on that official notice for the full set of rules and expectations.Apply for ED GRANTS 111225 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): Special Projects; Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.116J" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.116.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-11-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-12-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 89 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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