North Central SARE Graduate Student Grant

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Graduate Student Grant Program supports projects by graduate students that address sustainable agriculture issues and are part of the student’s degree program. NCR-SARE instituted the Graduate Student Grant Program in 2002 for officially registered graduate students (Masters and Ph.D.) enrolled at accredited colleges or universities. Projects must benefit agriculture in the North Central Region.

NCR-SARE’s Graduate Student Grant Program is a competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues. A candidate may only receive one NCR-SARE Graduate Student award during her or his graduate student career.

The student must be officially registered as a graduate student or resident (according to their institution’s requirements) at the time the project begins. 

A student is allowed to receive only one NCR-SARE Graduate Student grant during their student career. 

NCR-SARE funds MAY be used for the following purposes:

• Supplies, including software.

• Labor (this includes wages or salary and benefits, other than tuition, for the student or other individuals working on the project).

• Special reference books not readily available.

• Farm equipment rental or operating charges.

• Travel and per diem necessary for the project (use your university rules for travel expenses).

• Payments for project participants (especially farmers and ranchers) who aren’t drawing salaries or wages from an employer while they’re working on your project.

• SARE limits indirect costs to 10 percent of the total federal funds (11.11% total direct costs) provided under each award. When preparing budgets, you should limit your request of the recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of your institution’s official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 10 percent of total federal funds awarded.

NCR-SARE and/or USDA have determined that NCR-SARE funds MAY NOT be used for the following purposes:

• Payment of tuition.

• Purchase of books used in the student’s courses.

• Printing or copying of a thesis or final project paper.

• Permanent capital improvements (e.g., land, buildings, etc.).

• Purchase of motorized vehicles.

• Equipment (see note in budget section)

• Guide to Completing Proposal

• Sample Call for Proposals