Funding Opportunities

Steps to Applying for IES Grants

    Identify a current funding opportunity

    Find an opportunity that matches your research interests and the deadlines for that opportunity
    Learn more
    Sign up for IES newsflashes
    Sign up

    Learn more about the application process by attending virtual office hours

    Ask questions about the application process and choosing an appropriate funding opportunity.
    Virtual office hour help
    View a video on the application review process.
    Watch now

    Download the Application Submission Guide below, find your Request for Applications and application package (search for ALN 84.305 or ALN 84.324).

    Download the IES Application Submission Guide
    IES Application Submission Guide
    Search for Request for Applications
    Learn more
    Download the application package (Search for ALN 84.305 or ALN 84.324).
    Learn more

    Upload important documents

    Submit your Letter of Intent (optional but strongly encouraged).
    Upload now

    Register or update your organization on Grants.gov and SAM.gov

    Grants.gov
    Learn more
    SAM.gov
    Learn more
    Read the Department's Fact Sheet for information about the Federal government's transition from DUNS Number to Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
    Download Read More

    Submit documents before your deadline

    Submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline.
    Upload now
    Application deadline
    Learn more

Learn About the Funding Process at IES

The Office of Science is responsible for the scientific peer review process for the grant applications.

Office of Science
Read More Learn more
Peer Review Process
Read More Learn more
Lists of peer reviewers
Read More Lists of peer reviewers
Two boxes checked with green pencil

Online Resources for Applicants

Need more information about potential funding opportunities? Explore frequently asked questions, attend virtual office hour sessions, or browse available resources. 

Get funding help
Resources text surrounded by scientific icons

FY 2025 Requests for applications

Education Research and Development Center Program - 84.305C

Education Research and Development Center Program - 84.305C
View more

Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences - 84.305B

Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences - 84.305B
View more

Special Education Dissertation Research Fellowship Program — 84.324G

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) provides scientific evidence to improve education practice and policy and shares that evidenc...
View more

Building Evidence of Effectiveness of Strategies to Increase Postsecondary Student Su...

First, the program seeks to build the capacity of state higher education agency (or equivalent), college, and university employees to r...
View more

Statistical and Research Methodology in Education — 84.305D

In this Request for Applications (RFA), NCER invites applications for projects that will contribute to its Statistical and Research Met...
View more

Future RFAs will be listed here as they are available.

Image
Three people working on a laptop

Submission guide

The IES Application Submission Guide provides information on how to prepare and submit applications through Grants.gov to the research and research training grant programs in IES's National Centers for Education Research (NCER), Special Education Research (NCSER), and Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE). Use this guide to learn about IES-specific guidance and recommendations to help you ensure your application is complete and submitted on time. See the Request for Applications for your competition for important information about substantive requirements and submission deadlines.

FY2025 Application Submission Guide

Unsolicited Grant Opportunities

Image
Students in Library

IES is not currently considering unsolicited prospectus submissions. Should this change in the future, we will post an update. We appreciate your interest in contributing to high-quality, useful education research.

FEATURED VIDEO
IES Peer Review Panel Discussions

IES Peer Review Panel Discussions

Watch video
FEATURED VIDEO
After Submitting an IES Application

The Office of Science, which oversees the peer review of grant applications, invites you to watch a short video about what happens to your IES grant application after you submit it to Grants.gov.

Watch video

Learn More about IES Grants 

Please navigate to the following links to learn more about research and training programs supported by IES. You can also learn more about grants funded by IES by using our project search tool. 

Need Help? For general inquires, contact IES. For questions about specific funding opportunities, contact the National Center for Education Research (84.305 RFAs) or the National Center for Special Education Research (84.324 RFAs).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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.

No.

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.

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.

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].

It depends. You may apply to any IES grant program if your institution is located outside of the territorial United States except for our training grant programs. IES awards training grants only to institutions within the territorial United States.