Funded by the Tensor Foundation, the Tensor Women & Mathematics Grants support projects designed to encourage college and university women and pre-college girls to study and persist in mathematics.

Each year, we invite proposals from college/university mathematical sciences, and from secondary mathematics faculty who are partnering with college/university faculty. Interested high school teachers are strongly encouraged to seek out college and university mathematical sciences faculty in the formulation of proposals to benefit high school students.

Guidelines for Project Design

• The project should focus on participants who are college and university women and pre-college girls.
• Project activities should provide enrichment that emphasizes active engagement.
• The project should encourage and prepare students for continued studies in mathematics and offer relevant career information whenever possible.
• 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 Women 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 $6,000.
• Applications will be accepted from college and university mathematical sciences faculty at accredited U.S. (including U.S. Territory), or Canadian AUCC-member institutions.
• Faculty must be working with high school mathematics faculty if the project targets those students, but the college/university must be the fiscal agent.
• In-kind institutional support is expected as an indication of commitment to the project. 
• No indirect costs or fringe benefits are supported.

Restrictions

• A project may only be funded three times by the MAA Tensor programs. Grant recipients must reapply each year, should they wish to continue their projects.
• Funding for the Tensor programs is limited, and the MAA will make every attempt to support a broad range of projects from various geographic locations. If any department is interested in submitting more than one proposal, the proposals must support different programs and must have different personnel.
• A proposal submitted to multiple programs in the same year will only be considered for one. The Program Directors will decide which program it is best suited for, and reject it from the other programs.

Timeline

The MAA Tensor Women program is a yearly award cycle and follows the approximate timeline below.

• November 2024: Application portal opens.
• February 2025: Applications are due.
• April 2025: Notification of award.
• May 2025-May 2026: Projects may be conducted during summer, during the school year, on weekends, or after school during this timeframe.

Project activities should conclude by May 31, 2026 if awarded in 2025. A final report narrative on activities and a final financial report must be submitted by June 30, 2026.

If you are a current Tensor Women grant seeking a renewal, you may apply in the 2025 cycle by submitting a new application and include a summary of progress to date. Unexpended funds from a previous Tensor grant may be carried forward but require significant justification before approval.

Contact Us

For general questions about MAA Tensor Women, 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.