Grand Challenges Grants Timeline

Please note the following timelines and key dates for the Grand Challenges Grants Program:

Timeline and Key Dates:

January 20, 2026:
RFP Released

January 23, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

January 30, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

February 20, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

February 26 and March 3, 2026:
Innovation Workshop (Same Workshop Offered Twice):
This 60-minute virtual workshop will assist with grand challenge problem scoping, stakeholder mapping, creative approaches and solutions, and other tools to help teams develop proposals.
Thursday, Feb 26, 1:00-2:00pm; Tuesday, Mar 3, 12:30-1:30pm
Presentation Slides

March 4, 2026:
Ask-A-Grantee Webinar
Curious what it's like to be a Grand Challenges grantee? Join us for a webinar to ask your questions and hear about the experiences of three current grantees. This info session will provide great insight into the process of applying for and managing a Grand Challenges multi-disciplinary grant.
March 4, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Register at: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/0DJJa3zYQwmIHLMUITKIYA

March 6, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

March 11, 2026:
GC 2.0 RFP Office of Undergraduate Research/Center for Community Engagement Webinar
Grand Challenges 2.0 has exciting partnership requirements for projects that may seem novel to some faculty. All projects must:

Provide innovative and new opportunities for students’ experiential learning and classroom experiences, and incorporate an Office of Undergraduate Research initiative (including both ForagerOne and VIP). Engagement with the Graduate School and Discovery House is also encouraged.
Describe internal and external partnerships that will enable, scale, and expand the impact and visibility of the effort. Projects that include external partnerships and community engagement efforts will coordinate with the Center for Community Engagement.

Join us for a Webinar to learn more about and ask questions of the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Center for Community Engagement.

March 11, 2026, 2:00-3:00 pm
(2:00-2:30 will be open time for the OUR leadership, 2:30-3:00 will be open time for the Center for Community Engagement leadership)

Register at: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/zgo9SRY9TBOrJW952R6FQQ

March 20, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

March 27, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour
Virtual Business Hours for questions about the RFP will be held on select Fridays at 12:00-1:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://umd.zoom.us/j/7299615631?pwd=xFjNhzJn4EX4l14KZlfSAyNfKAhnnf.1&omn=95084712740
Meeting ID: 729 961 5631
Passcode: 090801

April 2, 2026
Proposals Due
InfoReady Proposal Submission Links:

May 2026
Institutional Award Presentations to University Leadership

June 1, 2026:
Announcement of Awards

July 1, 2026:
Program Start Date

Additional Information, Questions: Please direct questions to Katie Yaeger, Program Manager, Grand Challenges Grants Program (kyaeger@umd.edu).