National Science Foundation Fostering Interdisciplinary Networks to Develop Emergent and Responsive Solutions Foundry (NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY)
Applications close Nov 18, 2026
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- Agency
- U.S. National Science Foundation
- Opportunity number
- 26-507
- Posted
- Mar 23, 2026
- Closes
- Nov 18, 2026
- Estimated program funding
- $8,500,000
- Cost sharing required
- false
About this opportunity
The NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program supports collaboration among K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers to develop innovative solutions to persistent challenges in learning and workforce development. These challenges are identified by K-12 students, families, and educators. The program aims to create and scale evidence-based practices, tools, and technologies that improve learning outcomes and prepare students for a digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven future.
A key focus is early exposure to AI to build curiosity, understanding, and readiness for future careers. The program encourages partnerships across sectors - schools, universities, industry, government, and nonprofits - to co-design responsive, technology-based solutions.
NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program includes two phases: Planning and Development. Planning proposals help teams explore one of several focus areas. Only teams awarded Planning grants may submit Development proposals, which support the growth and implementation of promising ideas.
The program aligns with national priorities, including the Executive Order 14277, "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth" (April 23, 2025), and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Public Law 117-167, Sections 10381-10383 and 10395.
Who can apply
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -State and Local Governments -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. -Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131. *Who May Serve as PI: Each NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY leadership team must have at least one member from each of three stakeholder groups: (1) K-12 educators, (2) technologists, and (3) researchers. One of these individuals must act as the Principal Investigator (PI) through an eligible organization described above. Co-PIs and additional Senior Personnel, (sub)contractors, consultants, etc., are also allowed. Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible to submit proposals in response to this solicitation. There are no PI degree requirements (i.e., the PI is not required to hold a Ph.D. nor any other degree).
How to apply
- 1Register your organization
Applications are submitted by your institution, not individuals. Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration (with a UEI) and a Grants.gov account with an Authorized Organization Representative.
- 2Read the full notice
Open the official notice for the complete eligibility rules, review criteria, page limits, and required forms. Applications close Nov 18, 2026.
- 3Download the application package
From the Grants.gov opportunity page, download the package (or apply via your agency's system where required) and prepare each component.
- 4Build and submit
Prepare the budget and narrative, route for institutional sign-off, and submit before the deadline: GrantsManager can track every step for you.
Agency contact: U.S. National Science Foundation · grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
Details are pulled from Grants.gov and can change, always confirm against the official notice. GrantsManager isn't affiliated with these agencies.
Resources for applying
All NSF grants and resources- Research.gov guide
How to sign in to Research.gov, the NSF roles that control who can prepare and submit, and a walkthrough of preparing and submitting an NSF proposal under the PAPPG.
- Proposal submission checklist
A pre-submission checklist for research proposals: solicitation review, internal routing, budget, compliance, and sponsor-system steps to hit the deadline cleanly.
- Direct vs. indirect costs
The difference between direct and indirect costs on research grants, with examples of each, the gray areas like administrative salaries, and how indirect costs are calculated from your F&A rate.
- Reading your Notice of Award
The parts of a Notice of Award that determine what you can spend, when, and what needs prior approval, plus the terms that cause disallowed costs if missed.
- NSF Letter of Collaboration Template
A free NSF letter of collaboration template using the single-sentence format in the NSF PAPPG, with rules on endorsements, where to upload, and the NIH version planned under NOT-OD-26-094.
- Budget Justification Template
A free budget justification (budget narrative) template for research grants, organized by the federal R&R budget categories, with example language for personnel, fringe, equipment, travel, other direct costs, subawards, and F&A.
- Grant Budget Template
A five-year research grant budget in Excel that calculates fringe, the NIH salary cap, the MTDC base, and F&A automatically.
- Grant Tracking Spreadsheet Template
A free grant tracking spreadsheet in Excel for proposals, active awards, and deadlines, with burn rate and time-elapsed formulas, days-until-due countdowns, and status flags.
- NSF summer salary
Calculate summer salary for NSF proposals from a 9- or 12-month base salary, and check the request against the NSF limit of two months of salary per year across all NSF awards.
- F&A & MTDC calculator
Build the Modified Total Direct Cost base, apply your F&A rate, and see total direct costs, indirect costs, and the full award total, with the usual MTDC exclusions handled.
- Grant burn rate
Compare the share of a grant spent and encumbered with the share of the award period elapsed, see the average monthly burn, the monthly spend needed to finish on budget, and the projected run-out date.
- NSF Research.gov
NSF proposal preparation, submission, and annual project reports.
- SciENcv
Biosketches and Current & Pending (Other) Support documents.
- NSF PAPPG
NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide.
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