Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Grants: What You Need to Know

As federal grant applicants, you may be interested to know that there is an executive order that mandates Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce. This includes work that is funded by federal grants. The order was signed by the President on his first day in office and establishes that the Federal Government must be a model for DEIA, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.

Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce | The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 1104, 3301, and 3302 of title 5, United States Code, and in order to strengthen the Federal workforce by promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1.

The order establishes that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are priorities for the Administration and benefit the entire Federal Government and the Nation. It establishes additional procedures to advance these priorities across the Federal workforce.

This means that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) is a key component of any U.S. federal grant. We have seen evidence of this already in specific funding opportunities (e.g., EDA’s Build To Scale, Stem Talent Challenge, Tech Hubs, Recompete grants, NSF’s Engines NOFOs, and others). Additionally, if you receive federal grant funding, you and your employees, consortium partners, 1099 consultants, and sub-awardees should embody DEIA principles as outlined in the executive order.


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We assist our clients in locating, applying for, and evaluating the outcomes of non-dilutive grant funding. We believe non-dilutive funding is a crucial tool for mitigating investment risks, and we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the entire process—from identifying the most suitable opportunities to submitting and managing grant applications.