Weekly Funding Digest

OPENING SUMMARY — WEEK OF AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Chemicals and Industrial Feedstocks: DOE ASPECT (DE-FOA-0003647), $58,000,000 across roughly 10 awards, $2,000,000–$20,000,000, cost share required. Four subtopics spanning bench-scale R&D through design, construction, and operation of integrated pre-pilot facilities producing chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks.

Required concept paper due October 9, 2026; full application December 1. No concept paper, no full application.

Space Technology / Photovoltaics: DOE Integrated Energy Systems Office FY2026 Space Photovoltaic R&D Program, administered through TechWerx, up to $12,000,000 across 7–11 awards — up to $1.5M each in Topic 1 (PARSECS) and up to $2M each in Topic 2 (Manufacturing R&D). Universities, nonprofits, and for-profits are all eligible as lead applicants. Due October 8, 2026.

NASA: SSERVI CAN-5 (NNH26ZDA016C) Step-1 proposals are due September 29, 2026 — up to $9M in total funding for the first year; up to $1.8M/year; 5 awards anticipated; Step-2 December 4, 2026.

Museums and Libraries: IMLS released its entire FY2027 slate on September 1 — seven programs totaling roughly $59.5 million across approximately 260 awards, all due November 13, 2026. Museums for America is the largest at $21,699,000 across roughly 122 awards; National Leadership Grants for Libraries follows at $11,500,000. Eligibility varies per grant but is generally libraries and museums.

Agriculture / Citrus: USDA NIFA Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension pre-applications (USDA-NIFA-SCRI-012018), $46,237,828 across roughly 21 awards, $500,000–$15,000,000; 1:1 non-federal match, waivable in defined circumstances. Pre-applications due November 2, 2026; full proposals by invitation only.

Natural Resources / Coastal: NOAA DARRP Restoration Implementation Grants (NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2026-33781), $2,500,000–$100,000,000 per award, no match. Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and for-profits only; federal, state, and tribal governments are excluded because of their trustee role. Due November 18, 2026.

California State Opportunities: CEC GFO-26-301 Characterizing Non-Driving Electric Vehicle Energy Efficiency — EPIC 4 applied research and development. $1.5M in total funding; $1M-$1.5M per award. Due October 28, 2026; questions due September 23; pre-application workshop September 16.

State Parks Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) Round 5, Proposition 4 — $188,500,000, $200,000–$8,500,000 per award, no match required, due December 17, 2026. Cities, counties, districts, JPAs, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

California Employment Development Department — Farmworkers Advancement Program (FAP) Grant, Program Year 2026–27, $10M in total funding; up to $1M per award. NOI due Sept. 25, 2026; applications due Oct. 12, 2026.

CEC GFO-26-401, Equitable Building Decarbonization Tribal Direct Install Program — Application for Tribes. Residential buildings in California built before January 1, 2020 that are owned or managed by California Native American tribes or tribal organizations, or owned by enrolled tribal members. Buildings are not required to be on tribal lands, which materially widens the qualifying pool. Upgrades are installed at no cost to participating households.

Due February 19, 2027; questions deadline October 21, 2026; pre-application workshop October 7, 2026. $30M in total funding; $75K-$575K per award, with $75K in base funding.

Energy / Subsurface: DOE Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Request for Information (DE-FOA-0003671), gauging investor and financial-sector interest in developing and commercializing subsurface energy technologies across coal, oil and gas, and geothermal. Responses due October 5, 2026.

This is an RFI, not a NOFO — no funding is attached and DOE is not accepting applications. Value here is positioning and relationship-building, not a submission.

Watch List / Upcoming: CDFA OARS Proposition 4 Regional Farm Equipment Sharing Pilot Program — public listening sessions September 2–8, 2026; draft guidelines for comment Winter 2026; solicitation anticipated Spring 2027.

California Avocado Commission Fall 2026 Research Program — pre-proposals due September 30, 2026.