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How to Apply for NEFE Grant Funding

Note: NEFE accepts grant applications each spring.

After you have refined your research concept and reviewed our eligibility requirements and guidelines, we invite you to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). Your LOI is the official term for your initial proposal. You must submit your LOI through our online grant portal.

Steps to Apply

  1. Go to our online grant portal.
  2. Create a new account, or sign in using an existing account.
  3. Follow instructions to complete an LOI. You can save your LOI in draft form within the online system and return to it any time before the submission deadline.
  4. Submit your final LOI before the active grant cycle submission deadline passes.
Grant LOI Template

Our LOI template has recently changed. Versions of the template that existed prior to 2026 may not align with the submission fields within the grant portal.

If you need assistance, contact us at [email protected].
What's next? Learn about how we will contact you and what to expect if we choose your LOI.

Grant Process Overview
Eligibility and Guidelines

Grant Application FAQs

Apply for research funding from NEFE by submitting a letter of inquiry (LOI) through the online grant portal. Applicants will need to create an account, complete the LOI template within the portal and submit it before the grant cycle deadline. The LOI serves as the initial proposal outlining your research concept and alignment with NEFE funding priorities.

NEFE accepts grant applications once per year in the spring. Researchers begin the process by submitting a letter of inquiry during the open submission window for that cycle. Submissions then move through multiple review phases that may include an evaluation, interviews and an invitation to submit a full proposal.

NEFE funds rigorous and innovative research focused on improving financial well-being and the access, quality and impact of financial education. Eligible projects typically involve empirical or theoretical analysis, an examination of financial education implementation and/or outcomes, and contribute insights to the existing body of research and field as defined by the Personal Finance Ecosystem.

NEFE does not mandate a set funding limit. However, most grants range between $25,000 and $250,000. We encourage applicants to propose a budget that accurately reflects the scope and requirements of their specific research project.

Yes, the character limit includes spaces. The LOI is designed to help reviewers identify projects efficiently and with the strongest strategic alignment before having applicants commit to the more labor-intensive, full proposal stage. We recommend focusing on high-level systemic impact and using direct language to stay within the limit. There will be ample space to provide technical details if invited to submit a full proposal.

No. While many research projects fall within this preferred timeframe, your project timeline should be appropriately scoped to the research questions and methodology proposed.

NEFE prioritizes research that achieves both scholarly rigor and practical utility. We favor open-access academic publications that contribute to the broader research community, paired with actionable practitioner and policy materials. These include one-pagers, research briefs, executive summaries and webinars designed to translate complex findings into accessible formats for decision makers and educators. Our goal is to support projects that produce high-quality evidence while providing the tools necessary to drive systemic change in the financial education field.

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