Funded by the Tensor Foundation, the MAA Tensor Grant Program supports projects that provide mathematics enrichment for students designed to achieve one or both of the following:

• Encourage college or university women and pre-college girls to study and persist in mathematics
• Support pursuit and enjoyment of mathematics by students who are members of groups historically underrepresented in the mathematical sciences. These include students who are Black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Hispanic or Latino; or, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. If your project is designed to support a group not listed here, please consult with us before submitting your proposal. 

Participation in funded project activities can be available to any student group, as long as projects have a clear plan for meeting the MAA Tensor Grant Program goals stated above.

We welcome proposals from college and university mathematical sciences faculty, often in partnership with middle and high school math teachers, educators from K-12 schools or districts, and nonprofit organizations. Proposed projects should be designed to offer enriching mathematical experiences beyond the standard curriculum. 

Guidelines for Project Design

• Project activities should provide enrichment and foster a heightened interest in and appreciation of mathematics.
• The project should encourage and prepare students for continued studies in mathematics and offer relevant career information whenever possible.
• Project design should incorporate strategies that incorporate the experiences of participating students and address specific challenges faced by the student groups the project is designed to support.
• The inclusion of a mentoring component is encouraged and considered highly desirable.
• Projects may be conducted during the summer, the school year, on weekends, or after school. They should run for a sufficient duration to engage participants in learning and applying new, intriguing mathematics not typically encountered in their regular classes.
• Projects may replicate existing successful initiatives, adapt components from them, or introduce innovative approaches.
• Tensor Grants are not intended to provide remedial assistance to students who need help to succeed in their current mathematics coursework.

Funding Details

• Each project grant is capped at $8,000
• Applications will be accepted from college and university mathematical sciences faculty at accredited U.S. (including U.S. Territory) institutions, accredited schools or school districts, and nonprofit organizations. Faculty are strongly encouraged to work in partnership with middle or high school mathematics teachers if the project targets students at these levels.
• No indirect costs are supported.

Restrictions

• The MAA Tensor Grant Program will continue to support programs that were previously eligible for funding through the MAA Tensor Women and Mathematics and the Tensor SUMMA (Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement) grant programs. A project may only be funded three times by the MAA Tensor Grant Program. This includes projects supported by MAA’s previous Tensor programs. Grant recipients who wish to continue their programs must reapply each year. 
• Beginning with all awards made in 2026, an active MAA membership is required to apply for renewal of funding (beginning in the 2027 award cycle). Any project applying for renewal during the 2026 cycle will not be subject to this requirement.
• Applications focused exclusively on a one-off or single-day event will not be considered for funding. Such programs will only be eligible if they include additional opportunities for student experiences and/or mentoring that support continued program impact over a sustained period of time. 
• Funding for the MAA Tensor Grant Program is limited, and the MAA will make every attempt to support a broad range of projects. If more than one proposal is submitted from an institution, they must support different programs with different personnel.
• A proposal submitted to multiple MAA grant programs in the same year will only be considered for review in one program. The Program Directors will decide which program is the best fit and reject it from the other programs.

Timeline

The 2026 MAA Tensor Grant Program award cycle will follow the timeline below.

November 21, 2025: Applications cycle opens

February 10, 2026: Applications due by 11:59 EST

March 31, 2025: Notification of awards

May 2026-June 2027: Grant period for funded activities

If you currently have an active grant with a previous Tensor grant program and would like to seek additional funding to continue your work, you may apply in the 2026 cycle by submitting a new application that includes a summary of progress to date. Unexpended funds may be carried forward but require significant justification and written approval.

Contact Us

For general questions about the MAA Tensor Grant Program, please email programs@maa.org.

For consultation on your ideas for projects, potential applicants are encouraged to contact the MAA Tensor Proposal Advisor, Alicia Prieto Langarica at aprietolangarica@ysu.edu.