Federal Agency · NSF · 21 programs
National Science Foundation
21 federal assistance programs administered by National Science Foundation, sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog.
- 21
- Programs
- 21
- Active
- 2
- Categories
- NSF
- Abbreviation
Agency overview
National Science Foundation administers 21 federal assistance programs across 2 categories. According to SAM.gov Assistance Listings program count among agencies on PlainGrants, National Science Foundation ranks #9 of 24. 21 of 21 are currently active in SAM.gov.
- 21
- catalogued programs
- 21
- currently active
- 2
- grant categories
- $6.0 million
- largest award ceiling
Agency portfolio posture
Small agency, dollar bands largely filled in
NSF publishes ceilings on 21 of 21 programs (median $2.0 million). Largest listed band: Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (CFDA 47.046).
Derived from SAM.gov Assistance Listings program_count, funding_range fields, and eligibility tags. See methodology · corpus placement.
Catalog breadth vs live notices
Every agency plotted by program count (X) against currently posted Grants.gov opportunities under those programs (Y). The two don't move together: a wide catalog is not the same thing as live funding activity right now.
Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listings (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, CFDA) National Science Foundation federal grant programs (CFDA codes), descriptions, eligibility, and funding categories · 2026 SAM.gov Assistance Listings replaced the legacy CFDA catalog; all federal financial assistance programs must publish here. Updated continuously as agencies revise program details.
Grant Programs (21)
Accelerating Research Translation
Strengthens translational research capacity at emerging research institutions to move ideas to practice.
Up to $2M
ADVANCE Institutional Transformation
Grants to increase participation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers.
Up to $3M
Antarctic Research Grants
Supports scientific research in Antarctica including glaciology, geology, biology, and atmospheric sciences.
Up to $2M
Biological Sciences
Research in cellular, molecular, organismal, and ecological biology.
Up to $2M
Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Grants for research in computing, information, and communications systems and applications.
Up to $3M
Convergence Accelerators
Accelerates convergence research addressing critical national challenges through use-inspired research programs.
Up to $5M
Division of Ocean Sciences
Research on ocean systems, biogeochemistry, marine biology, and physical oceanography.
Up to $2M
Engineering Grants
Research grants in engineering disciplines including chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
Up to $3M
Geosciences
Research grants in atmospheric, earth, ocean, and polar sciences.
Up to $2M
Integrative Organismal Systems
Research on organism physiology, behavior, development, and interactions with their environment.
Up to $1M
International Science and Engineering Research
Grants supporting international research collaborations and exchanges for U.S. scientists and students.
Up to $1M
Major Research Instrumentation Program
Grants to acquire shared instrumentation to enhance research and training capacity.
Up to $4M
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Grants for research in astronomy, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, and physics.
Up to $2M
Noyce Scholarship Program
Scholarships and stipends to attract talented STEM students to careers in K-12 teaching in high-need schools.
Up to $3M
NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Phase I and II SBIR grants for small businesses to conduct transformational R&D with commercial potential.
Up to $2M
NSF Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Phase I and II STTR grants for small businesses partnering with research institutions on R&D projects.
Up to $2M
Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials
Collaborative research and education partnerships between minority-serving institutions and research centers.
Up to $6M
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Supplements research grants to involve undergraduates in meaningful research activities.
Up to $500K
Research Opportunity Awards
Grants to enable researchers at primarily undergraduate institutions to conduct research.
Up to $500K
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Research on human behavior, social institutions, language, economics, and decision-making.
Up to $2M
STEM Education Grants
Grants to improve STEM education for all students from K-12 through graduate levels.
Up to $3M
What to do next
NSF: 21 SAM.gov listings · 21 active.
- Science & Research is the largest shelf (20 programs) - start there if your mission aligns. Browse Science & Research
- Highest listed ceiling in this portfolio: Partnerships for Research and Education in Ma… (47.046). Open program
- Nearest catalog peer by program count: NIH (22 listings). Compare agency
Program availability and deadlines change frequently; always verify with the current NOFO on Grants.gov.
Agencies with similar catalog size
Nearest peers by SAM.gov program_count (21 here).
All agencies →Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, or grant-consulting advice. For a specific application, consult National Science Foundation directly or a qualified grants professional; see our full disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainGrants is rendered directly from SAM.gov Assistance Listings data, no number is typed in by an editor. This agency's figures are rendered directly from SAM.gov Assistance Listings data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data issue on this page.
| Publisher | PlainGrants |
| Sources | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |