Funding Opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Applying for an IES grant involves multiple steps. Here are some common questions we get from applicants to our research and research training programs and the answers to help you through the IES application process.

May I submit an application if I did not submit a letter of intent (LOI)? Yes. However, IES strongly encourages you to submit one. If you miss the deadline for submitting an LOI, contact the appropriate program officer for guidance.

May I submit the same application to more than one of the IES grant programs? No.

May I submit multiple applications to the same program? An institution may submit multiple applications to a single IES grant program, or to a single topic within a grant program, only if the applications are substantively different from one another.

May I submit applications to more than one research grant program or to a training program and a research grant program? Yes. An institution may submit separate applications to more than one program. Submitting an application to any grant program has no bearing on applying to the other grant programs.

May I apply if I intend to copyright products (for example, curriculum) developed using grant funds? Yes. Products derived from IES-funded grants may be copyrighted and used by the grantee for proprietary purposes, but the U.S. Department of Education reserves a royalty-free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such products for Federal purposes and to authorize others to do so [2 C.F.R. § 200.315(b)(2014); https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=2:1.1.2.2.1.4.30.16&rgn=div8].

May I apply if I am not located in the United States? It depends. You may apply to any IES grant program if your institution is located outside of the territorial United States with the exception of our training grant programs. IES awards training grants only to institutions within the territorial United States.