National Science Foundation (NSF)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future. This type of support:

• Is a primary driver of the U.S. economy.

• Enhances the nation’s security.

• Advances knowledge to sustain global leadership.

With an annual budget of $8.5 billion (FY 2021), we are the funding source for approximately 25 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

As described in our strategic plan, NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences. We are tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in areas from astronomy to geology to zoology. So, in addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports “high-risk, high pay-off” ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but which the public will take for granted tomorrow. And in every case, we ensure that research is fully integrated with education so that today’s revolutionary work will also be training tomorrow’s top scientists and engineers.

The NSF Nation Resources Hub for STEM Education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (1832338) was funded on September 1, 2018 to help HSIs develop the strategies and processes to obtain the resources needed to improve the quality and outcomes of undergraduate STEM education at HSIs.