2026 SEA Grant Application

The NCSEA Grant Program was developed to assist Member Organizations (SEAs) in growing their Associations and promoting the structural engineering field through innovative initiatives. The Grant Program is just one of many efforts supported by the NCSEA Foundation, which funds initiatives that focus on:

• Innovation: Investing in technology, services, and resources that advance the profession. 
• Advocacy: Growing awareness of the profession and its contributions to society while supporting SEAs in enhancing their local communities.
• People: Ensuring the future profession is supportive and inclusive of all.

Eligibility 

Any Structural Engineers Association (SEA) or individual member(s) of an SEA may apply for a grant. All applications must be reviewed and approved by the applicant's local SEA leadership before submission.

Proposed initiatives must directly benefit and support the applicant's SEA and align with its mission and objectives. Projects that primarily support external organizations or initiatives unrelated to the SEA are not eligible for funding.

Once SEA approval has been obtained, applications must be submitted through Submittable for consideration by the NCSEA Foundation.

Criteria 

A grant request may be submitted for any program that is consistent with the NCSEA Foundation Mission and Vision. Please note: The NCSEA Foundation will not consider requests for: 

• Political contributions or lobbying expenses 
• Operational support for SEAs (e.g., new computers, staffing costs, bill payments, insurance coverage) 

Evaluation Process 

A subcommittee of the NCSEA Foundation Board will serve as the evaluation committee for the grant applications. Once the winning grants are selected by the subcommittee, they must be reviewed and approved by the NCSEA Foundation Board of Directors. In addition to the above information, several key factors will be evaluated with every grant application: 

• Does the program support one or more of the Foundation’s pillars: People, Advocacy, or Innovation?
• How will the grant request advance the practice of structural engineering or strengthen your SEA?
• What is the potential impact of the program on the structural engineering profession or public awareness?

Grant recipients will be contacted directly by a member of the subcommittee. 

Finally, please read and agree to the "terms of use" statement, found at the end of this application, regarding the "Knowledge Transfer" requirements, when a grant is awarded.