10 - 10:20 a.m.

Joint Welcome & Program Overview
This session sets the stage for two days of shared learning across disciplines and career stages, connecting those who mentor and conduct research with those who steward and manage grant resources. Together, CUR and NGMA are creating a space for collaboration and professional growth that supports both undergraduate research and broader institutional success.

10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Funding the Landscape:
An Overview of Opportunities for Faculty and Undergraduate Research
A high-level overview of the current funding landscape for faculty-led and undergraduate research. Participants will learn how to think strategically about funding alignment, identify where different types of projects fit (student engagement, faculty research, programmatic initiatives, and institutional priorities), and understand broad trends shaping funding opportunities in 2025–2026. The session will also preview major federal agencies and private funders that will be featured in the subsequent panels.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Funding Agency & Funder Spotlights: Panel Discussions
Participants will hear directly from funders about current and emerging opportunities, how to identify a strong fit, and common proposal considerations.
 
Panel 1: STEM Funding Agency & Funder Spotlights
Representatives from federal agencies and other funders supporting STEM research and education will highlight priorities, upcoming opportunities, and application considerations relevant to undergraduate research and faculty-led projects.
 
Panel 2: Non-STEM Funding Agency & Funder Spotlights
Representatives from funders supporting non-STEM disciplines will highlight priorities, upcoming opportunities, and application considerations relevant to undergraduate research and faculty-led projects.

12:30 - 1:15 p.m.

Lunch Break & Optional Networking Hour
Lunch break with optional informal networking, including a coffee chat with a panelist from the morning sessions.

1:15 - 2 p.m.

Crafting Competitive Proposals that Highlight Student
and Institutional Impact
Learn how to frame your project as a driver of student success, programmatic impact, and institutional advancement. This session will provide guidance on presenting evidence of impact from past initiatives—whether they involve undergraduate research, faculty development, or other institutional projects—in ways that resonate with reviewers and communicate your institution’s capacity to support programs across disciplines.

2:15 - 3 p.m.

Budgeting for Research and Student-Engaged Projects
Learn how to justify indirect costs and administrative support for UR coordination. We will explore funding models that support scaling up undergraduate research (e.g., course-based, summer programs, year-round engagement) and discuss building contingency plans for potential changes in funding priorities.

3:15 - 4 p.m.

Building Institutional and Community Support for Your Proposal
Discover how to align your proposal with institutional strategic plans, equity goals, and student or programmatic success metrics. This session will highlight the importance of internal partnerships (e.g., student affairs, advancement, career services) and leveraging community or industry collaborations to strengthen your funding case and expand opportunities—whether your project involves undergraduate research, faculty development, or other institutional initiatives.

4 - 5 p.m.

Expanded Dialogues
Optional topical networking hour - Niche topics

10 - 10:15 a.m.

Welcome and Discussion of Day 1 Outcomes

10:15 - 11:00 a.m.

Compliance and Ethical Considerations in Grant-Funded Projects
Discuss compliance and ethical considerations in grant-funded projects, including expectations for inclusive participation and mentoring, emerging guidelines around authorship, data access, and research ethics. While examples may include undergraduate research, the principles apply broadly to faculty-led research, programmatic initiatives, and institutional projects. We will also discuss strategies for demonstrating accountability in reporting outcomes tied to student learning, program impact, and equity.

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The Pre- and Post-Award Partnership: Ensuring Grant Execution
Explore how to build connections between pre and post award teams to ensure necessary compliance is in place for grant execution. This session will cover the importance of communication between pre- and post-award groups and various perspectives such as consultant vs. internal grant writers, large vs. small institutions, discipline differences and programmatic vs. research grants.

12 - 12:45 p.m.

Lunch Break & Optional Networking Hour

12:45 - 1:30 p.m.

Sustaining Projects & Demonstrating Impact
Learn strategies for demonstrating sustainability for grant-funded programs after initial funding ends and how to use campus-wide systems (e.g., tracking software, digital badging, research showcases) to show impact to funders. While examples may include undergraduate research programs, the session is relevant for faculty-led projects, programmatic initiatives, and other institutional efforts. Guidance will also be provided on scaling back without losing forward momentum.

1:45 - 3 p.m.

Training, Tools and Capacity Building for Grant Success
This session will highlight effective grant-writing training and tools for faculty and staff supporting projects that may involve undergraduate research, faculty development, or other programmatic initiatives. Participants will also explore strategies for engaging students in project design, research activities, or other aspects of grant-supported work, and discuss approaches for building long-term grant-seeking capacity among faculty mentors, program staff, and institutional teams.

3:15 - 4 p.m.

Panel Discussion:
Perspectives on Private Funding & Supporting Sustainable Projects
This panel will feature representatives from private foundations who will share insights on how applicants can design fundable projects, frame their initiatives to align with foundation priorities, and demonstrate measurable impact. Panelists will also discuss common challenges applicants face, including balancing expectations and managing limited resources, and provide strategies to navigate these challenges effectively.