1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Research and Education Grant Program (North Central Region SARE) is sponsored by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). This competitive grant program funds research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the North Central region, promoting economic viability, stewardship of the land, air, and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and their communities.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Research and Education Grant - SARE North Central There is no open call at this time. There is no open call at this time. Watch a recorded webinar about the Research and Education Grant program.
Each grant program has its own timeline. Check to see which programs are open at this time. NCR-SARE's Grant Programs NCR-SARE's Grant How-To Video Series This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant.
About the Research and Education Grant Program The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive grant program for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.
Research and Education projects include a strong outreach component and significant farmer/rancher or other end-user involvement from the inception of the idea through the implementation of the project. Generally: Research and Education grant awards range from $10,000 to $250,000. Projects may last up to 36 months or may choose to propose a long-term project.
About 16 projects are funded per year. The NCR-SARE Administrative Council makes Grant-making decisions. Collaborative teams build research and Education grants.
Producers are key participants in grant activities. Coordinators are encouraged to explore social, environmental, AND economic aspects of whole systems. All projects include a strong outreach component.
A sample call for preproposals is available throughout the year, but you should always consult the current call for preproposals when applying. The portfolio of research grants is reviewed and awarded on an annual timeline . Take a look at grants that have been previously funded.
View the grants funded in the last grant cycle . This NCR-SARE Grant How-To Video Series aims to help more people feel equipped to apply for a SARE grant. Many projects are interdisciplinary and/or multi-institutional, involving a broad range of agricultural interests.
Project coordinators in the past have explored sustainable agriculture under the following topics: Sustainable pest and weed mgmt. Marketing and local food systems Water quality and nutrient mgmt.
High tunnels and season extension Cover crops and soil health Small ruminants/poultry/cattle Pastured livestock/grazing systems Pollinators and biodiversity To receive more information about the NCR-SARE Research and Education Program preproposal/proposal process and timeline, contact the NCR-SARE office. Visit projects. sare.
org to see reports of other projects. Funding decisions are made by a regional Administrative Council (AC), with a review from a Technical Committee . The Administrative Council is a collection of producers, university representatives, nonprofit group interests, Extension and NRCS people, other government employees, and agribusiness representatives.
This group sets research priorities and recommends projects for funding. NCR-SARE's Long-Term Funding Option for the Research and Education Grant Program NCR-SARE recognizes that some research/extension systems work is complex and requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that takes many years to complete.
To be effective, these projects are likely to exceed the time limits of North Central SARE’s normal one-to-three year funding cycle. Projects that apply under the long-term (more than 3 years) option in the preproposal will be asked to briefly describe why this is a longer-term project and the project's estimated duration.
The justification might include the complexity of the project's set-up or relationship building, the ecosystem processes at play, or the need for longer-term data collection/analysis.
If invited to complete a full proposal, long-term projects will complete a typical proposal application, requesting funding at no more than the standard cap for the first three year funding period, but will complete an additional segment that provides a projected work plan for a second (and third, if needed) three-year cycle.
Funded long-term projects will receive funding in three-year increments (contingent on NCR- SARE receiving funding.) Each additional increment of funding will be dependent on satisfactory performance in the first round based on reports submitted promptly with yearly objectives and milestones reported on and met, site visits, and an adequate work plan for the next phase.
There are no priorities for long-term projects, but some examples of types of project topics that could be considered long-term include soil/water quality enhancement or degradation, agroforestry, integrated crop-livestock systems, participatory action research, pest resistance mitigation, and climate adaptation. This grant program's timeline has changed for the 2025-2026 funding cycle.
See the Call for Proposals for details, or contact NCR-SARE at ncrsare@umn. edu . NCR-SARE prepared this Research and Education Grant Program presentation.
This presentation explains the grant program and the process for applying for this grant. Download PowerPoint slides about the Research and Education Grant program. Watch a recorded webinar about the Research and Education Grant program.
A unique aspect of NCR-SARE is our personal contact with grantees involved in the program. For questions or additional information regarding the Research and Education Grant Program, contact Pete Huff. Regional Coordinator and Director of Research and Education Programs Click on the links below to access lists of funded project information.
You can also view lists of projects that have been funded in your state .
2025 Professional Development Program Projects Research and Education 2025 Research and Education Projects Youth Educator 2025 Youth Educator Projects Graduate Student 2025 Graduate Student Projects Farmer Rancher 2025 Farmer Rancher Projects Partnership 2025 Partnership Projects North Central SARE Research and Education Grants projects funded since 1988 Totals reflect available data.
Complete information may not be available for all grant programs prior to 2016.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Farmers, ranchers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in the 12 states in the North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Not specified (historically up to $400,000 for some SARE R&E grants) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Partnership Grant Program (North Central Region SARE) is sponsored by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE). This competitive grant program fosters cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture. Projects are funded for up to 24 months.
Farmer-Rancher Grants is a grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program that funds producer-led research and demonstration projects on farms and ranches in the North Central United States. Individual farmers and ranchers may apply for up to $15,000, while groups may receive up to $30,000. Projects test ideas that improve farm profitability, reduce inputs, address erosion, improve quality of life, or develop new marketing approaches. Farmers and ranchers design and conduct their own investigations with minimal bureaucratic requirements. The program values practical, farmer-generated knowledge and funds innovative ideas that producers want to test on their own operations in the 12-state North Central region.