Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions | 25 505

Opportunity Information: Apply for 25 505

Build and Broaden (B2): Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity run through NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate. The core purpose is to strengthen both fundamental research and the long-term research capacity of minority-serving institutions (MSIs), while also expanding meaningful research collaborations that include MSI scholars. The program is positioned as part of a broader national effort to grow and diversify the STEM workforce, recognizing that MSIs play a major role in educating and training future science leaders but have historically been underrepresented in NSF proposal submissions and awards, especially within SBE.

The opportunity is designed to address a specific gap NSF has observed: comparatively few proposals have been submitted by, or in strong partnership with, MSI-based scholars, in part because institutions vary in how familiar they are with NSF funding pathways and with SBE programs in particular. Build and Broaden attempts to close that gap by encouraging more submissions, expanding research networks that include MSI investigators, and supporting research and training activities at MSIs in the SBE sciences. In practical terms, NSF is looking for projects that do strong, publishable, field-advancing SBE research while also building sustainable capability at MSIs, such as improving research infrastructure, strengthening mentoring and training pipelines, increasing investigator productivity, and creating durable partnerships that continue beyond the award.

Build and Broaden welcomes proposals that span any research areas supported by the SBE Directorate, including both single-discipline and cross-disciplinary work. The solicitation explicitly lists a wide range of eligible topics and fields, such as anthropology and archaeology; cognitive neuroscience and decision science; ecological and human-environment research; economics and geography; linguistics; law and science; organizational behavior; political science and public policy; security and preparedness; psychology; and sociology. The key is that the proposed work fits within SBE's scope and is framed as fundamental research, while also showing how the project will broaden participation and strengthen MSI-related research capacity or collaboration.

Projects that are especially encouraged are those that (1) increase students' pursuit of graduate training and research careers, (2) enhance principal investigator (PI) productivity in ways that can persist after the grant ends, (3) build research capacity at MSIs (for example through developing labs, data resources, methods expertise, research administration know-how, or student research opportunities), and/or (4) cultivate partnerships and networks that integrate MSI scholars into larger research communities. Proposals can come from a single PI at an MSI or from multiple co-investigators across a group of MSIs, reflecting the program's interest in both individual research programs and broader collaborative ecosystems.

Eligibility is structured to keep MSIs central. Proposals may be submitted by US-based institutions of higher education (two- and four-year institutions, including community colleges) that are accredited and have a US campus, by certain nonprofit non-academic organizations directly tied to education or research (such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies), and by federally recognized Tribal Nations. If a proposal includes funding that would support work at an international branch campus of a US institution, the applicant must clearly explain why the international location is beneficial and why the activities cannot be performed at the US campus, which signals that NSF expects most work to be anchored domestically unless there is a strong justification.

Who can serve as PI is also tightly defined. The PI can be a full-time scientist, educator, or researcher at an accredited MSI, consistent with US Department of Education MSI eligibility designations. Alternatively, a PI at a non-MSI institution or eligible organization can lead the proposal, but only if the project includes one or more MSI scholars in substantive roles (for example as senior/key personnel, co-PI, or a subaward PI) and the proposal makes MSI partnership or capacity-building a primary goal rather than an add-on. For proposals led by non-MSI PIs, NSF sets a clear financial requirement to reinforce that priority: more than 50 percent of the project's overall direct costs must go to the MSI or MSIs. In addition, the narrative must demonstrate genuine collaboration and explain concretely how the MSI partner's research capacity will be enriched through the work.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number 25-505) under CFDA 47.075, offered by NSF. The original closing date listed is January 23, 2025. NSF anticipates making around 30 awards. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided materials, which usually means applicants need to consult the full solicitation or related NSF guidance for typical budget ranges, allowable costs, and any track-specific limits (if applicable).

Overall, Build and Broaden is best understood as both a research funding mechanism and a participation-and-capacity strategy: it funds high-quality SBE science while deliberately increasing the number and competitiveness of proposals involving MSI scholars, expanding collaborative research networks, and strengthening the institutional conditions that support sustained SBE research and student development at MSIs.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-23. (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 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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