Funding

K-12 Educator Funding

New for 2026-2027, the NDSGC is transitioning from individual educator mini-grant funding to an annual STEM Kit Program. The NDSGC will equip up to three selected educators with high-quality, classroom-ready STEM kits designed to support hands-on learning and student engagement. Each academic year will feature a different STEM kit focused on a specific STEM discipline or NASA-related theme, providing educators and students with new opportunities to explore emerging technologies, scientific concepts, and real-world challenges. The inaugural STEM Kit for 2026-2027 features Robotics, Coding, and Planetary Exploration through a Classroom Set of Ozobots and accompanying educational resources.

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a North Dakota educator who is employed at a public North Dakota K-12 school
• K-12 students must be directly involved in the use of, and directly benefit from, STEM Kits
• Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen
• Applicant may be awarded up to every two years (e.g. if an educator received funding in 2026, they would be eligible to reapply in the fall of 2028)
• Applicants must demonstrate how they will specifically use the STEM Kit in their classroom or educational program, with key aspects of hands-on learning
• Applicant must demonstrate how use of the STEM kit will include NASA-relevance
• Applications should describe:
  
  • Intended use of the kit
  • Impact on student learning
  • Alignment with classroom goals
  • Alignment with NDSGC program goals
  • Alignment with NASA priorities

Deadlines

• Application will open September 1, 2026
• Deadline for the 2026-2027 Academic School year: October 1, 2026

Up to 3 Educators will be awarded this academic school year.

Pre-College Competition Teams

The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium proudly provides funding to student teams participating in NASA and STEM relevant competitions at local, regional, national, and international levels. Mentors may apply for funding to cover materials and travel related to competitions.

Funding

• First-year NDSGC-funded teams: up to $4,000
• Returning NDSGC-funded teams that have met all deliverables: up to $12,000

Eligibility

The mentor/educator:

• must teach or work at a public North Dakota K-12 school, museum, non-profit, or club
• must be a U.S. Citizen if receiving direct funding (contact the NDSGC team with questions)

See NDSGC homepage for general eligibility and funding details.

Deadline

Applications open one month prior to deadline:

• November 1^st

How to Apply

Review Forms & Spending to learn more about spending down funds and award expectations. Please reference the application guidance and informational video for more details. Contact the NDSGC team with questions.

Apply Now!

Past Funding Recipients

Plant the Moon

The Plant the Moon Challenge is a global science experiment for elementary, middle, and high school students to examine how vegetable crops grow in lunar or Martian soil. This challenge supports NASA's new lunar exploration program, Artemis, and gives students the chance to help astronauts learn to grow their own food on the moon!

Funding

• NDSGC pays the Institute of Competition Sciences to send requested kits

Eligibility

The mentor/educator:

• must teach or work at a public North Dakota K-12 school, museum, non-profit, or club
• must be a U.S. Citizen if receiving direct funding (contact the NDSGC team with questions)

See NDSGC homepage for general eligibility and funding details.

Deadlines

• Fall and spring deadlines vary

How to Apply

Review the Institute of Competition Science's Plant the Moon website and complete the application. Contact the NDSGC team with questions.

Apply Now!

Past Funding Recipients

The NDSGC has sponsored over 100 Plant the Moon teams in North Dakota since 2022.