The application period for the 2023 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program closed on December 22, 2022. The next application period will open in mid-October 2023.
In order to have a competitive application for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, it is recommended that you review the following bullets to assess whether or not you should apply for this scholarship.
Each year a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is published in the Federal Register announcing the federal funding opportunity for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. Please be advised that the NOFO is the official document for the scholarship opportunity and it is highly recommended that you download it as your guide for applying for the scholarship.
We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the application process at least several days before the application deadline. All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov can be extremely heavy resulting in further delays.
You will receive an official notice from Grants.gov if you have uploaded your application correctly. It is not the responsibility of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to verify receipt of any application.
Paper applications are only allowable for the following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter. Otherwise, all applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Paper applications and other information in hard copy may be requested from:
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Attn: Seaberry Nachbar
99 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Each application package must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Failure to submit any items as described in the NOFO will disqualify the application from consideration. All detailed information is included in the NOFO, yet a summary of what is required to be considered a complete application package is briefly listed below. The NOFO contains the official instructions for applying to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program.
The application period for the 2023 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program has opened. Complete applications are due December 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is administered through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and subject to appropriations. It is funded annually with 1% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
October 24, 2022 - FY2023 Application Period Opens
December 22, 2022 - FY2023 Application Period Closes
May 22, 2023 - Scholarships Announced
June 1, 2023 Scholarship Funds Available
June 2023 (exact dates TBD) - Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars Orientation Retreat
October 2023 - FY2024 Application Period Opens
December 2023 - FY2024 Application Period Closes
Paper applications are only allowable for the following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter. Otherwise, all applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. If you meet one of exceptions, paper applications can be sent by the deadline listed above to the address below:
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Attn: Seaberry Nachbar
99 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940
This checklist is provided to assist applicants in completing the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program application. Download the checklist.
___ Standard Form 424 (SF-424).
NOTE: Item number 21 on the SF-424 cannot be used as a replacement for the declaration statement required in Item 10 below. The SF-424 must be uploaded to Grants.gov separately than the items outlined below.
___Table of Contents on a single page, please list the items and page numbers of the required information
___General Information Sheet that does not exceed two typewritten pages
___Statement of Intent that does not exceed one typewritten page
To strengthen this section of your application, please provide one letter of support from a community organization or group with which you would partner or collaborate to communicate your research.
___I have provided Transcripts showing all complete years of academic training, including training in progress. These transcripts reflect a current GPA of 3.30 or higher.
___ I have provided an Enrollment Verification from my current university. If I have not enrolled in graduate school, I've included a list of graduate universities that I've applied to or a letter of acceptance to a U.S. accredited graduate program.
___ Research Proposal that does not exceed three typewritten pages with the understanding that my research area should be in support of NOAA's mission, particularly the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the science needs of one or more national marine sanctuaries.
___ I have included two Letters of Recommendation with written signatures on the actual letter, one being from someone in my current academic career, or if not currently enrolled, from a professor who has knowledge of my academic career. It is recommended that each letter of reference is no more than two pages long.
___ Statement of Financial Need describing my financial need and the impact this scholarship award will have on my education plans that does not exceed one typewritten page.
___ Student Aid Report (SAR) that contains the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and my name or last four digits of my social security number.
___ I have provided documentation of Estimated Yearly Tuition for each school I am applying to.
___ I have responded to all Financial Need Information Questions that does not exceed one typewritten page.
___ I have signed and submitted the Declaration Statement.
___ I have provided accurate Contact Information, such as a telephone number, email address and permanent mailing address at which I may be reached during the summer.
___ All documents have been submitted to Grants.gov in a single Adobe PDF file in the specific order outlined in the official FFO, excluding the SF-424, which can be uploaded as a separate attachment.
