Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 022117 002
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) within the U.S. Department of Education announced a discretionary grant competition under the Federal TRIO Programs for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program, listed under CFDA 84.217A (searchable on Grants.gov as 84.217 without the letter suffix). The McNair Program is one of eight TRIO programs aimed at expanding postsecondary opportunity, specifically by supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In this competition, the Department provides funding to institutions of higher education to run McNair projects that help eligible undergraduates prepare effectively for doctoral (PhD) study, strengthening the pipeline into advanced graduate education for students who might otherwise face systemic barriers to entering and completing doctoral programs.
The opportunity is structured as a grant, categorized under the Education funding activity area, and the overall program is administered by the Department of Education. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, with an additional eligibility category labeled "Others" that requires applicants to consult the official Federal Register notice for precise clarification. Because this synopsis is only a high-level summary, the Federal Register application notice is the controlling source for details such as eligibility nuances, required project components, priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, reporting expectations, and any pre-application steps.
For this specific competition cycle, applications became available on February 21, 2017, and the deadline for transmittal of applications was April 7, 2017. The agency anticipated making about 164 awards, and the listed award ceiling was $226,600. Applicants were required to submit applications electronically through Grants.gov using the governmentwide "Apply" function. The process described involves downloading the application package, completing it offline, and then uploading and submitting it through Grants.gov; submissions by email were explicitly not permitted. Applicants were instructed to locate the correct application package by searching the CFDA number without the alpha suffix, meaning "84.217" rather than "84.217A," which is a common Grants.gov search requirement for CFDA-based listings.
At its core, the McNair Program funding supports institution-led projects that provide structured, research-focused, and academically intensive preparation for doctoral study. While this summary does not list the specific services or required activities, the program is widely understood to center on building the skills, experiences, and mentoring relationships that make doctoral admission and persistence more attainable for participants, often through research engagement, faculty mentorship, graduate school planning, and exposure to the expectations of doctoral-level work. For exact requirements and competitive priorities that applied to this solicitation, applicants were directed to the official Federal Register notice, which is the authoritative document and is accessible online through the Government Publishing Office (GPO) Federal Register resources.Apply for ED GRANTS 022117 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Federal TRIO Programs: Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program CFDA Number 84.217A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 21, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 07, 2017 Applications Available February 21, 2017. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 7, 2017.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $226,600.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 164 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant competition administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), under the Federal TRIO Programs. It funds projects under the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program.
Which program is being funded?
The competition funds the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program, one of eight TRIO programs focused on expanding postsecondary opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 84.217A (McNair). On Grants.gov, it is searchable as 84.217 (without the letter suffix).
How do I find the correct opportunity on Grants.gov?
Search using the CFDA number without the alpha suffix. In other words, use "84.217" rather than "84.217A" to locate the correct application package on Grants.gov.
What type of funding is this?
This is a grant (a discretionary grant competition) in the Education funding activity area, administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Who administers this grant competition?
The competition is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, specifically the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. There is also an "Others" eligibility category; applicants are directed to consult the official Federal Register notice for the precise definition and any conditions.
Are individual students eligible to apply directly?
Based on the summary provided, funding is awarded to institutions of higher education to operate McNair projects. The summary does not describe direct application by individual students.
What is the purpose of McNair project funding?
The purpose is to fund institution-led McNair projects that help eligible undergraduates prepare effectively for doctoral (PhD) study, strengthening the pipeline into advanced graduate education for students who may face systemic barriers to entering and completing doctoral programs.
What kinds of activities or services does the McNair Program support?
This synopsis does not list the specific required services or activities. It describes the program as supporting structured, research-focused, and academically intensive preparation for doctoral study, and notes that the program is widely understood to emphasize research engagement, faculty mentorship, graduate school planning, and exposure to doctoral-level expectations. For the exact required components for this solicitation, applicants are directed to the official Federal Register notice.
Where can applicants find the authoritative requirements and rules for this competition?
The controlling source is the official Federal Register application notice. It contains detailed information such as eligibility nuances, required project components, priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, reporting expectations, and any pre-application steps. It is accessible online through Government Publishing Office (GPO) Federal Register resources.
What were the application availability and deadline dates for this cycle?
For this competition cycle, applications became available on February 21, 2017, and the deadline for transmittal of applications was April 7, 2017.
How many awards did the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipated making about 164 awards.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling was $226,600.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the governmentwide "Apply" function.
Can applications be submitted by email?
No. Submissions by email were explicitly not permitted.
What is the basic Grants.gov submission process described in the summary?
The process described involves downloading the application package, completing it offline, and then uploading and submitting it through Grants.gov.
Does this summary include the selection criteria or competitive priorities?
No. The summary states that details such as priorities and selection criteria are contained in the official Federal Register notice, which is the authoritative document.
Does this summary include reporting requirements or performance measures?
No. The summary notes that performance measures and reporting expectations are among the details provided in the official Federal Register notice.
Is the Federal Register notice more important than this synopsis?
Yes. The synopsis is described as a high-level summary, and the Federal Register application notice is identified as the controlling source for program and competition details.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: BLM-(WO), Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Support
Previous opportunity: Hospital Preparedness Program - Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for ED GRANTS 022117 002
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ED GRANTS 022117 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Employ Diverse SCA Youth Community Commuter Crew at Valley Forge NHP Apply for P17AS00092 Funding Number: P17AS00092 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $44,000 |
| Enhance Wildlife Resource Education Programs at ASIS 2017 Apply for P17AS00093 Funding Number: P17AS00093 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $61,266 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program CFDA Number 84.031S Apply for ED GRANTS 022317 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 022317 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| University Research and Entrepreneurial Skills Program Apply for DOS GEO 17 GR 002 GEO 022817 Funding Number: DOS GEO 17 GR 002 GEO 022817 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia Category: Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Promoting Peace and Dialogue with Technology: TechCamp Thailand 2017 Apply for 17 BKK NOFO 2 Funding Number: 17 BKK NOFO 2 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Thailand Category: Education Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Strengthening Institutions Program CFDA Number 84.031A Apply for ED GRANTS 030117 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 030117 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Strengthening Institutions Program CFDA Number 84.031F Apply for ED GRANTS 030117 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 030117 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Natural and Cultural Resources (NCR) Division Interns Apply for P17AS00102 Funding Number: P17AS00102 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $32,590 |
| Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP): Grants to Charter Management Organization for the Replication and expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools CFDA Number 84.282M Apply for ED GRANTS 030117 003 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 030117 003 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| R1 Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Apply for F17AS00141 Funding Number: F17AS00141 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $239,760 |
| GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK HERMIT TRAIL REHABILITATION 2017 Apply for NOIP17AC00229 Funding Number: NOIP17AC00229 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National History Day Apply for P17AS00117 Funding Number: P17AS00117 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Partnership Grants) CFDA Number 84.334A Apply for ED GRANTS 031017 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 031017 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $7,000,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (State Grants) CFDA Number 84.334B Apply for ED GRANTS 031317 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 031317 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Reading for Ethiopia's Achievement Developed (READ) II Activity Apply for RFA 663 17 000001 Funding Number: RFA 663 17 000001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa Category: Education Funding Amount: $99,000,000 |
| Support Education and Interpretive Programs at Olmsted NHS Apply for P17AS00122 Funding Number: P17AS00122 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $41,522 |
| Traditional Trades Youth Initiative FY17 Apply for P17AS00123 Funding Number: P17AS00123 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $125,680 |
| Cultural Landscapes, Historic Structures and Interpretation Interns Apply for P17AS00126 Funding Number: P17AS00126 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $9,840 |
| USAID Enrichining Youth for Tomorrow Apply for RFA 176 17 000002 Funding Number: RFA 176 17 000002 Agency: Agency for International Development, Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Category: Education Funding Amount: $3,175,000 |
| Grants to Local Educational Agencies for Military-Connected Academic and Support Programs Apply for HE1254 17 R 9999 Funding Number: HE1254 17 R 9999 Agency: Department of Defense Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ED GRANTS 022117 002", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.