ASCEND Grants
The Affiliate Synergistic and Collaborative Engagements across ND (ASCEND) program is available to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and education professionals at NDSGC Affiliate Institutions. The purpose of ASCEND is to support opportunities for students, educators, faculty, and staff across the state to engage in STEM-centric experiences that are NASA-relevant and promote workforce development initiatives. Two program levels are available: Catalyst and Impact.
Catalyst Award
The Catalyst Award is designed to support new ideas, pilot projects, and exploratory activities. These awards provide seed funding for affiliate staff and faculty to initiate NASA-relevant projects, test innovative concepts, or collect and analyze preliminary data that may lead to larger external funding opportunities.
Examples include pilot research, outreach programs, college and K-12 student engagement activities, prototype development with student researchers, preliminary data collection, etc. This award is ideal for new investigators, early-career affiliates, small teams, and first-time applicants.
Impact Award
The Impact Award is designed to support interdisciplinary ideas that include multiple affiliate representatives. These awards provide seed funding for affiliate faculty and staff to build partnerships across institutions, disciplines, or organizations to advance NASA-related research, education, or workforce development initiatives. Projects should demonstrate meaningful collaboration and shared expertise.
Examples include statewide STEM research collaborations, STEM industry partnerships for student experiences, professional development workshops, K-12 and higher education partnerships, multi-institutional projects, etc. This award is ideal for interdisciplinary teams, cross-campus collaborations, new or experienced investigators, and early-career affiliates.
Funding
For the Fall 2026 RFP, the ASCEND program will award up to two awards to meritorious proposals:
- One $10,000 Catalyst Award
- One $30,000 Impact Award
Deadline
Applications open one month prior to the November 1st deadline.
How to Apply
See the NDSGC Request for Proposals for information on eligibility, the application process, and the full RFP.