Institutional D&I Programs - Strategic Guide

Large-scale programmatic grants awarded to universities, not individuals

This is a strategic resource for identifying universities and departments with funded commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

⚠️ Important: How to Use This Section

You cannot apply directly to these programs.

These are institutional grants where:

  1. A university or college receives the award
  2. The institution uses funds to create internal support programs
  3. Researchers benefit through institutional fellowships, mentorship, and resources

Your Strategy: Use this list to identify universities that have demonstrated, funded commitments to supporting researchers from your background.

🎯 Why This Matters

A university with one of these grants has:

  • ✅ Dedicated funding for D&I support
  • ✅ Internal fellowships you can apply for as a student/faculty
  • ✅ Mentorship programs specifically for underrepresented researchers
  • ✅ Institutional infrastructure supporting your success
  • ✅ Proven commitment (not just a diversity statement)

🏛️ Major Institutional Grant Programs

U.S. Federal Agencies

Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program for Women in STEM

Sponsor: Henry Luce Foundation Award to Institution: Up to $750,000 Target: Women in science, mathematics, and engineering

What Universities Do With Funds:

  • Undergraduate scholarships
  • Graduate fellowships
  • Early-career professorships

How to Benefit: Search for “Clare Boothe Luce Fellow” positions at universities. When applying to grad programs, check if the department has CBL funding.

Participating Institutions: 140+ universities since 1989

NASA MUREP (Minority University Research & Education Project)

Sponsor: NASA Award to Institution: Multiyear cooperative agreements Target: Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)

What Institutions Do:

  • Enhance research capabilities
  • Provide student stipends and research positions
  • Build partnerships with NASA centers

How to Benefit: Apply to graduate programs at MSIs/HBCUs/HSIs with active MUREP grants. Look for advertised research positions on MUREP-funded projects.

NASA MOSAICS

Sponsor: NASA Former Name: SMD Bridge Program Award to Institution: Collaborative project funding Target: Universities partnering with NASA centers (JPL, etc.)

What Institutions Do:

  • Create collaborative research projects
  • Provide direct mentorship from NASA scientists
  • Offer career development opportunities
  • Bridge students to NASA pathways

How to Benefit: Look for “MOSAICS Scholar” or “NASA Bridge Program” positions at participating universities.

NSF Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE)

Sponsor: National Science Foundation Award Types: Planning Grants, Centers for Equity in Engineering (CEE), Inclusive Mentoring Hubs (IMHubs) Target: Engineering departments and institutions

What Institutions Do:

  • Create inclusive mentoring programs
  • Build research capacity
  • Test new D&I models
  • Establish centers of excellence

How to Benefit:

  • Identify “NSF BPE Inclusive Mentoring Hub” programs
  • Look for “NSF Center for Equity in Engineering” affiliations
  • Search faculty CVs for “NSF BRIGE” awards (identifies D&I-focused mentors)

NSF Racial Equity in STEM Education

Sponsor: National Science Foundation Award to Institution: Research and capacity-building grants Target: Universities conducting research on racial equity

What Institutions Do:

  • Fund research on systemic inequities
  • Build institutional capacity
  • Develop evidence-based interventions

How to Benefit: Institutions with these grants are actively researching and addressing racial equity—signals a serious institutional commitment.

NSF Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES)

Sponsor: National Science Foundation Programs: INCLUDES Initiative, multiple programs Target: Workforce development, institutional capacity, student support

What Institutions Do:

  • Test innovative inclusion models
  • Build collaborative networks
  • Support student success pathways

USDA Women and Minorities in STEM (WAMS)

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture Award to Institution: Research, education, and extension project grants Target: Increasing participation of women and minorities from rural areas in food and agricultural sciences

What Institutions Do:

  • Support research projects
  • Educational programs
  • Extension activities in agricultural sciences

How to Benefit: Look for WAMS-funded programs at land-grant universities and agricultural schools.

DOE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Requirement

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy - Office of Science Mechanism: Integrated into all funding solicitations Target: All funded PIs

What This Means:

  • Every DOE-funded PI must submit a D&I plan
  • Enhanced recruitment strategies required
  • Inclusive research environments mandated

How to Benefit: DOE-funded labs and faculty are required to have concrete D&I plans. Ask prospective advisors about their DOE D&I commitments.

Major Foundations

William T. Grant Foundation Institutional Challenge Grant

Sponsor: William T. Grant Foundation Award to Institution: $600,000 Target: University-based research institutes Focus: Reducing inequality in youth outcomes

What Institutions Do:

  • Build partnerships with public agencies/non-profits
  • Change internal policies to value community-engaged research
  • Support diverse faculty leadership

How to Benefit: Institutions with these grants value community-engaged research and explicitly support diverse researchers studying inequality.

📊 Federal Agency Comparison

Agency Program Typical Award Primary Focus
Henry Luce Foundation Clare Boothe Luce $750,000 Women in STEM (scholarships, fellowships, professorships)
NASA MUREP Multiyear MSIs, HBCUs, HSIs (research capacity)
NASA MOSAICS Varies University-NASA partnerships (mentorship)
NSF BPE Varies Engineering equity (mentoring hubs, centers)
NSF Racial Equity Varies Research on systemic inequities
USDA WAMS Varies Women & minorities in agricultural sciences
DOE D&I Requirement N/A Mandatory D&I plans for all grants
W.T. Grant Institutional Challenge $600,000 Youth inequality research partnerships

💡 How to Identify Funded Institutions

1. Search University Websites

Look for:

  • “Clare Boothe Luce Fellows”
  • “McNair Scholars Program”
  • “NASA MUREP” or “MOSAICS”
  • “NSF INCLUDES” or “NSF BPE”

2. Check Faculty CVs

Search for:

  • “NSF BRIGE” (identifies D&I-focused mentors)
  • “NIH Diversity Supplement” (PIs who have supported diverse trainees)
  • Institutional grant acknowledgments

3. Graduate Program Websites

Look for:

  • Internal diversity fellowships
  • Bridge programs
  • Explicit mentions of CBL, McNair, or NASA funding

4. Diversity Office Listings

Most universities list their major D&I grants and programs on diversity office websites.

🎓 Key Programs for Students

McNair Scholars Program

Level: Undergraduate → Graduate transition Status: Federal TRIO program at 200+ institutions Benefit: Eligibility for institutional graduate fellowships

Your Action: Participate as an undergrad, then seek “McNair Graduate Fellow” positions when applying to PhD programs.

CBL Fellows

Level: Undergraduate, Graduate, Junior Faculty Field: Women in STEM only Benefit: Direct financial support + cohort community

Your Action: Check if your target department has CBL funding. Ask during recruitment visits.

NASA Scholars (MUREP/MOSAICS)

Level: Undergraduate, Graduate Field: STEM at MSIs/HBCUs/HSIs Benefit: Direct NASA mentorship + research projects

Your Action: Prioritize MSIs with active NASA partnerships.

🔬 For Postdocs & Faculty

Look For:

  • CBL Professorships (women in STEM, junior faculty)
  • NSF BPE-funded positions (embedded in equity-focused centers)
  • DOE-funded labs (with mandatory D&I plans)
  • W.T. Grant-funded institutes (community-engaged research)

Questions to Ask During Interviews:

  1. “Does the department have any Clare Boothe Luce funding?”
  2. “Are there NSF BPE or INCLUDES initiatives I could participate in?”
  3. “What institutional diversity fellowships are available?”
  4. “Has the PI received NIH diversity supplements before?”

🌟 Success Story: The CBL Model

Since 1989, the Clare Boothe Luce Program has:

  • Supported 140+ institutions
  • Funded 3,000+ women in STEM
  • Created a national network of CBL Fellows
  • Provided $200+ million in support

Why It Matters: Being a “CBL Fellow” is a recognized credential. The program has proven infrastructure and a track record of career success.

🔗 Related Resources

For Direct Fellowships:

For Faculty:

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