OSP Seed Grant
What do you fund?
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) Seed Grant may fund any initiative to help move institutions toward building or enhancing a research infrastructure. Below are a few ideas, but this is not a finite list. You may have other ideas, and we’d like to hear about them. It is important to note that this funding mechanism cannot be used for faculty research.
- IMPROVE – Initiate and improve processes to ensure compliance with NIH guidelines
- UPGRADE – Invest in technology to improve OSP operations, such as S2S, budget management software, or others
- TRAIN – Professional development and engagement for research administrators (NCURA, NORDP, SRAI, etc.)
- MANAGE – Improve financial services around budget development and post-grant management
- HIRE – Bring in a professional to get a program started or augment existing staff to address shortages
Budget information: Up to $25,000 direct costs plus applicable institutionally indirect costs.
Duration of funding: March 1 – August 31, 2026
Application materials: Maximum 2-pages expressing the need and expected outcomes, Budget, Budget Justification, Quote (if applicable), and AOR approval letter.
Application deadline: March 1, 2026
*Click here to download the funding opportunity announcement.