United Engineering Foundation Grants

Overview

Vision: To advance the engineering arts and sciences for the welfare of humanity.  

Mission: To support engineering and education by, among other means, making grants.  

Priorities for Giving: UEF provides funding to proposals and programs whose chief purpose is to advance engineering for the welfare of humanity. Proposals must be consistent with the mission of UEF and priorities for giving, which include programs that focus on the following areas: 

• Diversity  
• Emerging Technologies 
• Engineering Ethics, Safety, Security and Leadership 
• Kindergarten – 12th Grade Education 

Preference is given to: 

• Proposals for programs that are innovative and aim to integrate multiple fields and subspecialties of engineering. 
• Proposals for programs that include outreach to engage the community. 
• Collaborative proposals submitted on behalf of a group. 
• Proposals which specify that grant funds will not be used to offset existing staff salaries. 

Examples:

• Collaborative and interdisciplinary engineering conferences that focus on broadening access to STEM resources for underrepresented middle and high school students interested in engineering with the goal of promoting diversity in the field. 
• In-depth examination and implementation of how to educate engineering professionals and the broader engineering community on current ethical and leadership best- practices. 
• Competitions that allow students to explore topics in chemical, civil, electrical,  mechanical, mining, metallurgical, petroleum and other engineering disciplines through hands-on challenges or the creation of media publications. 
• Workshops that focus on finding interdisciplinary engineering-based solutions to relevant world issues such as sustainability, city infrastructure, or social injustice. 
• Initiatives that support diversification of the profession. 
• Conduct an assessment of the efforts of engineering associations, government agencies, industries, and engineering schools on content development for K-12 students and educators with emphasis on creating a collaborative environment and supporting the expanded application and reuse of existing material and activities.

Exclusions:

• UEF does not fund research proposals. 
• UEF does not make multi-year commitments; funds given in a calendar year must be spent in that calendar year.  
  Organizations are welcome to submit proposals to fund one year of a multi-year project, however, organizations would have to reapply each year for continued funding and there is no guarantee that funding would be renewed. 
• UEF will not pay for offsetting administrative costs, tuition, or indirect cost rates. 

While all proposals meeting the requirements will be considered, certain UEF preferences should be understood by proposers:

• Broad-based, interdisciplinary proposals that further the engineering profession as a whole are preferred.
• Multiple-year proposals are welcome, but funding is awarded for a single year only. Proposals for subsequent years follow procedures identical to that of single-year proposals. No commitment for funding of subsequent years of a multiple-year project should be inferred from funding of a prior year.
• Projects must be performed ONLY between January and December of the specific “Grant Year.”
• Projects that are outside “business as usual” of the proposing organization are preferred.
• Technical research proposals and proposals by individuals are seldom accepted.

Please note, submissions of multiple concept papers for UEF Grants from any 501 (c) 3/6 organization must be prioritized by the submitting organization with the initial consideration for the top two concept papers in any grant cycle.

The UEF gives between 5 – 10 grants per year totaling nearly $800,000.

Multiple-year proposals are welcome, but funding is awarded for a single year only. Proposals for subsequent years follow procedures identical to that of single-year proposals. No commitment for funding of subsequent years of a multiple-year project should be inferred from funding of a prior year.

Projects must be performed ONLY between January and December of the specific “Grant Year.”

Proposals are accepted from not-for-profit organizations, individuals, and groups of such entities, once per year. UEF’s 2025 grant process (for 2026 grants) consists of two stages:

• Submission of a short 2-page concept paper, by 6:00 p.m. EDT May 1, 2025. Please make sure to complete the attached Concept Paper form with all information when sending your submission. Instructions are included at the top of the form.
• For those concept papers selected for an invitation, submission of a detailed proposal, by 6:00 p.m. EDT August 1, 2025.