Timeline

January 20, 2026:
RFP Released

January 23, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

January 30, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

February 20, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

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
View 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
View Video

March 6, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

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. (First half of the session will be open time with OUR leadership, second half will be open time for the Center for Community Engagement leadership)

View Video

March 20, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

March 27, 2026:
Virtual Office Hour

April 2, 2026
Proposals Due
InfoReady Proposal Submission Links:

GC 2.0 — Institutional Awards (FY 2026) 
GC 2.0 — Team Awards (FY 2026) 

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).