Established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (also known as Space Grant) contributes to the nation's science enterprise by funding research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia. These consortia administer programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The consortia's 820 affiliates include 531 academic institutions and 80 businesses. Other partners include state and local government agencies, other federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, Space Grant has awarded over 12,000 U.S. citizens with tuition assistance in science, engineering, and related fields of study.

The National Council of Space Grant Directors was formed by the Directors of each of the state based programs with the following objectives:

1. To aid in the development and the evolution of the Space Grant Program
2. To increase the communication among the Directors of Space Grant programs (in support of the stated NASA goal of creating a network of universities involved in space- and aeronautics-related teaching, and research and development)
3. To provide a forum for mutual support of the directors in the performance of their respective responsibilities for leadership to their individual Space Grant programs
4. To identify areas of common interests in which cooperation and collaboration among programs may prove beneficial
5. To develop mechanisms to accomplish such cooperation
6. To serve as a liaison between Space Grant Consortia and external national and international organisations

• Council Charter
• Council Executive Committee
• Space Grant Contacts
• National, Regional, and Topical Space Grant Meetings
• Program Web Sites
• National and State Based Programs