Institute of Youth, Family, and Community

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is a civilian sub-agency within USDA that administers competitive grants and formula funding for agricultural research, education, and extension programs across academic and non-profit institutions. NIFA channels federal support to land-grant universities, 1890 historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and research centers nationwide to advance agricultural productivity, food security, natural resource management, and rural development.

NIFA has obligated $4 billion in federal grant dollars across 5,832 awards since 2003, with recent activity declining sharply. The agency awarded 636 grants in 2022, 784 in 2023, 619 in 2024, 256 in 2025, and 173 year-to-date in 2026, reflecting a significant pullback from prior-year volume. The combined federal and non-federal share of obligated dollars totals $5.27 billion across 768 distinct recipients, indicating substantial institutional participation.

Recipient concentration is highly fragmented. Over the last five years, the top five recipients account for only 9 percent of recent awards by count and 10 percent of recent federal dollars obligated. North Carolina Agricultural And Technical State University leads by federal dollars with 43 awards totaling $93.3 million, followed by Tennessee State University with 46 awards totaling $86.6 million and Prairie View A&M University with 36 awards totaling $83.8 million. The Pennsylvania State University ranks first by award count with 53 awards ($15.1 million federal), though its per-award federal dollars are substantially lower than the land-grant and 1890-institution leaders.

Project Grants dominate the assistance-type mix at 85 percent of awards (4,985 awards), with Formula Grants representing 13 percent (745 awards) and Cooperative Agreements a minimal 2 percent (102 awards). Project Grants support competitive research and capacity-building proposals evaluated through peer or merit review, while Formula Grants flow to eligible land-grant and 1890 institutions through statutory allocations.

The most recent grant award closed on 15 September 2026. No current grant opportunities are recorded in the source data.