Washington, DC – The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and the National Grants Management Association (NGMA) share a deep commitment to advancing research excellence, integrity, and impact. Together, they are bringing their complementary communities—those who develop and mentor research and those who steward the resources that make it possible—into one space through Grant Dialogues.
In recent years, CUR’s weeklong virtual Grant Dialogues program has evolved into a tiered professional development experience designed to help participants navigate the complex landscape of funding and grants in undergraduate research. This year, through a new partnership with the National Grants Management Association (NGMA) and an increased focus on the shifting landscape of federal funding, the program is taking an exciting new direction—introducing a refreshed structure and redefined objectives to better equip attendees for today’s grant environment.
“As the landscape of federal funding and grant management continues to evolve, it’s essential that CUR’s programs evolve with it,” said Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research. “Our partnership with NGMA brings new expertise and perspective to Grant Dialogues, ensuring that participants are better equipped to navigate the complexities of research funding. This collaboration allows us to provide timely, relevant, and forward-thinking professional development that supports both the faculty and institutions driving undergraduate research.”
The renovated Grant Dialogues will unite CUR’s expertise in cultivating undergraduate research with NGMA’s leadership in grants management education, compliance, and professional connections. The program will help strengthen institutional capacity to support faculty, students, and administrators in building sustainable, collaborative, and compliant research enterprises. Program participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversations that bridge the entire grant lifecycle—from proposal development to post-award management and reporting—gaining practical guidance, community support, and strategies for collaboration.
Together, CUR and NGMA are modeling how strong partnerships between programmatic and administrative professionals foster transparency, efficiency, and impact in research funding—ultimately benefiting students, institutions, and the broader research community.
“Combining CUR’s successful Grant Dialogues program with NGMA’s grants management resources is a natural fit,” said NGMA Executive Director Tip Tucker Kendall, CAE. “We look forward to adding new resources and perspectives to help make this program more robust, expand its reach and increase its value, not only to CUR and NGMA members, but to the grants community as a whole.”
Grant Dialogues will take place virtually on February 10-11, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET. Find out more information and how to register at CUR.org/Dialogues.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.
Since 1978, the National Grants Management Association (NGMA) has provided national and international leadership, helping its members achieve success in the grants management community through the advocacy of best practices and the promotion of professional excellence. NGMA supports a community of more than 7,000 professionals working across grants management in various roles, including supervisory, support, accounting and compliance.
The National Grants Management Association (NGMA) provides education, professional development and a collaborative environment for grants professionals to support and maintain high levels of grants management competency and to establish standards of excellence for the profession. For more information, visit https://www.ngma.org/.
