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Simpler Grants

No. 19-570 · U.S. National Science Foundation

Open

High-Risk Research in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology

grants.gov listing Full announcement (NOFO)
Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated Reimbursement-only: not stated
Award range
Up to $35,000
Expected awards
~5
Application deadline
No deadline listed
Posted
Mar 23, 2019
Last verified
8 days ago

At a glance

AI summary

This program funds high-risk, exploratory research in biological anthropology and archaeology that could produce significant new knowledge, including work such as searching for fossils, artifacts, features, and sites. Applicants must contact the NSF program director before submitting, and proposals are reviewed by three experts rather than a panel. Individual awards are limited to $35,000 in total costs for one year. Eligible proposers are those allowed under NSF rules, but unaffiliated individuals may not apply; there are no other limits on PI status or proposal counts.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
  • Research & Discovery
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Arts, Culture, Humanities & Historic Preservation
Official description from grants.gov

Anthropological research may be conducted under unusual circumstances, often in distant locations. As a result the ability to conduct potentially important research may hinge on factors that are impossible to assess from a distance and some projects with potentially great payoffs may face difficulties in securing funding. This program gives small awards that provide investigators with the opportunity to assess the feasibility of an anthropological research project. It is required that the proposed activity be clearly high risk in nature. The information gathered may then be used as the basis for preparing a more fully developed research program. Investigators must contact the cognizant NSF Program Director before submitting an HRRBAA proposal. This will facilitate determining whether the proposed work is appropriate for HRRBAA support.

Who can apply

  • Unrestricted
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide

Program history

USASpending.gov

Assistance listing 47.075 · Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences

Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.075), not just this notice.

Fiscal year Awards Median award Middle half
FY 2026 (so far) 89 $574,558 $210,470 – $772,299
FY 2025 559 $208,544 $38,032 – $400,000
FY 2024 838 $193,570 $86,318 – $399,791
FY 2023 869 — —
FY 2022 895 — —
FY 2021 958 — —

For comparison, this notice advertises Up to $35,000.

Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,208 — award counts are complete.

Who wins it Higher education (3,813), Business (195), Individuals (130) of 4,208 awards — categories can overlap.
Top states CA (104) · NY (88) · MA (74) · TX (73) · IL (32)
Largest recent awards
  1. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN $10,999,998 · FY 2024
  2. NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER $7,998,747 · FY 2025
  3. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE $5,599,998 · FY 2024
  4. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA $5,200,000 · FY 2024
  5. NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH INC $3,065,935 · FY 2024

Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 5, 2026

Change history

Since we first indexed it
  1. Jul 25, 2026 Grant announcement document replaced