Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 011521 001
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.200A, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education designed to strengthen graduate education in fields considered important to the nation. Rather than awarding money directly to individual students, GAANN funds are awarded to institutions of higher education (IHEs), specifically to their academic departments and graduate programs. Those departments then use the grant to provide graduate fellowships to students who have strong academic records, demonstrate financial need, and intend to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at that institution (typically a doctoral degree where offered).
The central purpose of the program is to build capacity in “areas of national need” by supporting promising graduate students financially so they can persist through advanced study and complete terminal degrees. In practice, GAANN helps departments recruit and retain high-achieving graduate students who might otherwise be unable to afford full-time graduate study. The emphasis on both academic excellence and financial need is core to the program’s design, and departments receiving awards are expected to administer fellowships in line with federal requirements described in the official application notice.
This particular opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 011521 001, categorized as a discretionary grant under the Department of Education’s education funding activity. The synopsis notes an expected 72 awards. The listing shows an “Award Ceiling” of 0, which typically indicates that a specific maximum award amount is not provided in the summary record and that applicants should rely on the Federal Register notice for funding ranges, budget rules, and any limits that may apply.
Key dates included in the synopsis are: applications became available on January 15, 2021; the deadline for transmittal of applications was March 1, 2021; and the deadline for intergovernmental review was April 30, 2021. The announcement also directs applicants to the Department’s “Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs” (published February 13, 2019 at 84 FR 3768) for standard requirements on how to obtain and submit an application, as well as general federal submission and formatting expectations.
Eligibility in the summary is labeled broadly as “Others,” with a note to consult the official notice for clarification. However, the program description itself makes clear that the intended applicants are academic departments and programs within institutions of higher education, since those entities are the ones that would establish and manage the graduate fellowship support. Because this public synopsis is explicitly incomplete, applicants are instructed to review the official Federal Register application notice for the authoritative details on eligibility, required components of the application package, program priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, and contact and submission information.
For questions, the opportunity lists program contacts at the U.S. Department of Education: Rebecca Ell (202-453-6348, OPEGAANNProgram@ed.gov) and ReShone Moore (202-453-7624, reshone.moore@ed.gov), both located at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B-214, Washington, DC 20202 (with an additional ZIP extension provided for one contact). The synopsis also points readers to official sources for the Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations, noting that the Federal Register publication is the controlling document for all application and program requirements.Apply for ED GRANTS 011521 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.200A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.200.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 15, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2021 Applications Available January 15, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications March 1, 2021. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review April 30, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Rebecca Ell, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B-214, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 453-6348. Email OPEGAANNProgram@ed.gov or ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B-214, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7624. Email reshone.moore@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 72 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) Program FAQs
What is the GAANN Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.200A)?
The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). Its purpose is to strengthen graduate education in fields considered important to the nation by building capacity in designated "areas of national need."
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to support promising graduate students so they can persist in advanced study and complete the terminal (highest) degree available in their program. By providing financial support through fellowships, GAANN is intended to help departments recruit and retain high-achieving students who might otherwise be unable to afford full-time graduate study.
Is GAANN funding awarded directly to students?
No. GAANN funds are awarded to institutions of higher education (IHEs), specifically to their academic departments and graduate programs. Those departments then use the grant to provide graduate fellowships to eligible students.
Who applies for the grant?
Based on the program description provided, the intended applicants are academic departments and graduate programs within institutions of higher education, because those entities would establish and manage the graduate fellowship support. The eligibility field in the summary is labeled broadly as "Others," and applicants are directed to the official Federal Register notice for authoritative eligibility details.
Who can receive GAANN fellowships from a funded department?
Departments use GAANN grant funds to provide fellowships to graduate students who (1) have strong academic records, (2) demonstrate financial need, and (3) intend to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at that institution (typically a doctoral degree where offered).
What does "areas of national need" mean in this context?
The synopsis states that GAANN is intended to strengthen graduate education in fields considered important to the nation, referred to as "areas of national need." The specific areas and any formal definitions or priorities are not detailed in the synopsis and are expected to be described in the official Federal Register application notice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is ED GRANTS 011521 001.
What type of grant is this?
This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under the U.S. Department of Education's education funding activity.
How many awards are expected?
The synopsis notes an expected 72 awards.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The summary record shows an "Award Ceiling" of 0. This typically indicates that a specific maximum award amount is not provided in the synopsis and that applicants should rely on the Federal Register notice for funding ranges, budget rules, and any limits that may apply.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The synopsis lists the following dates: applications became available on January 15, 2021; the deadline for transmittal of applications was March 1, 2021; and the deadline for intergovernmental review was April 30, 2021.
Where do applicants find the official requirements and application details?
The synopsis emphasizes that it is incomplete and instructs applicants to review the official Federal Register application notice for authoritative information. That notice is described as the controlling document for program and application requirements, including eligibility, required application components, program priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, and submission information.
What are the "Common Instructions" referenced in the synopsis?
Applicants are directed to the Department of Education's "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (published February 13, 2019 at 84 FR 3768). These instructions provide standard requirements on how to obtain and submit an application, along with general federal submission and formatting expectations.
Why does the synopsis say "Eligibility: Others"?
The synopsis labels eligibility broadly as "Others" and explicitly notes that applicants should consult the official notice for clarification. The program description itself indicates the grant is intended for academic departments and programs within institutions of higher education, but the Federal Register notice is identified as the authoritative source for eligibility.
What degree level is GAANN primarily intended to support?
The program description states that fellows are expected to intend to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at that institution, typically a doctoral degree where offered.
What are departments expected to do with GAANN funds?
Departments and graduate programs that receive GAANN awards are expected to administer graduate fellowships in line with federal requirements described in the official application notice, using the funds to support students who meet the academic excellence and financial need emphasis of the program.
Who are the listed program contacts for questions?
The opportunity lists two U.S. Department of Education contacts: Rebecca Ell (202-453-6348, OPEGAANNProgram@ed.gov) and ReShone Moore (202-453-7624, reshone.moore@ed.gov).
What is the mailing address for the listed contacts?
The contacts are listed at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 2B-214, Washington, DC 20202 (with an additional ZIP extension provided for one contact in the synopsis).
Which document controls if there is a conflict between sources?
The synopsis notes that the Federal Register publication is the controlling document for all application and program requirements, and it points to official sources for the Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations.
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| OSERS-OSEP: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program: Captioned and Described Educational Media Center Assistance Listing Number 84.327N Apply for ED GRANTS 022621 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 022621 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| OSERS-OSEP: National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Assistance Listing Number 84.326D Apply for ED GRANTS 022621 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 022621 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
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