Across the country, Structural Engineers Associations (SEAs) are brimming with creative ideas to strengthen our profession—mentorship programs, student outreach, seismic education, and more. But too often, those ideas stall without the resources to bring them to life.
That’s where the NCSEA Foundation’s SEA grant fund comes in. By pooling support from donors nationwide, the Foundation provides SEAs with the boost they need to launch programs that grow and sustain our profession from the ground up.
Your donations have already powered efforts like:
- Texas Student Chapters – Establishing new SEA student chapters at Texas Tech and the University of Texas at Arlington—introducing thousands of students to structural engineering and creating a pipeline for future leaders.
- Wisconsin Young Member Group – Expanding a new YMG from casual socials into statewide training, site tours, and symposiums that keep young engineers engaged and thriving.
- San Diego Seismic Outreach – Reviving a program that teaches earthquake science to 1,800+ middle school students, complete with shake table demonstrations—sparking early interest in engineering and reaching underserved communities.
SEA Grant Recipients
Evaluation Process
A subcommittee of the NCSEA Foundation Board of Directors (Treasurer, Directors, and the Executive Director) 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:
- How will the grant request advance the practice of structural engineering or strengthen your SEA?
- Are there matching funds from the local SEA, or is the grant request serving as the primary funding source for a project?
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)
Grant Details
| Eligibility | Assessment Criteria |
|---|---|
| Eligibility: Any SEA or member of SEA are eligible to submit a grant application. Any SEA or member(s) of an SEA are eligible to submit a grant application. Applications must be submitted to the local SEA leadership, reviewed and approved, and then submitted through NCSEA Foundation online application for consideration. Please note: All applications submitted for the SEA Grant Program the initiatives must be managed and distributed by the SEA. We will not award a 3rd party entity or initiative. Applications need partial funding from the SEA. | A grant request may be submitted for any program that is consistent with the NCSEA Foundation’s mission. Please note: Requests will not be accepted for political contributions or for the reimbursement of lobbying expenses. |