Student Mini-Grants

About

A Student Mini-Grant (SMG) is a monetary grant of up to $1000 to support student-led arts initiatives. Any undergraduate U-M student can apply for a grant for their own project, or as part of an undergraduate student organization. Check out the FAQs and SMG Guidelines for more detail about the program.

Students can also apply now for a Student Mini-Grant to fund activities in the Fall 2023 semester that connect to the Fall 2023 Theme Semester, "Arts and Resistance." Projects seeking this funding should explore how the visual, performing, and literary arts play a central role in shaping cultural and political narratives. Proposals associated with Arts and Resistance have the potential of being funded for up to $1500 through Student Mini-Grants.

How can my project get a Mini-Grant?

To qualify for a SMG, complete an application describing how your independent project or student org's project fulfills the SMG Criteria. Applicants must also provide a detailed budget for the project. Please note that Student Mini-Grants are limited to undergraduate students and student organizations, check out Other Funding Sources for organizations that provide funds to graduate students, staff and faculty.

Funding Process

If you have applied as a student organization, you must have an SOAS account to be awarded funding, as funds are transferred directly from Arts at Michigan to your SOAS account. If your project is not part of a student organization, you will be asked to speak to your department's financial administrator, who can use departmental chartfields to have funds transferred through your academic department to your student account. If you are awarded funding, we will send a record of the transfer to SOAS or your departmental administrator, through whom you will be able to access your funds.

Applying

Understanding the guidelines and criteria is the first step to applying for a grant. We also suggest that all applicants read our FAQ before they begin applying.

Already Received Funding?

Your feedback is very important to us. It helps us see how well our funded programs are received on campus and the effects they have on the university population. If you were an applicant to or in the program, please fill out a feedback form.

Deadlines

SMG Applications will be reviewed five times annually. When applying, please make sure that your event takes place well after the notification date. We do not provide funding for events that have already occurred so we encourage you to apply early! To be eligible during a cycle, your application must be received before the Application date of that cycle, and your proposed event/activity must be scheduled for a date after the Notification date. We are not able to fund retroactively.

Cycle Application Deadline Notification Date
A&R Cycle B Monday, August 7, 2023*** Friday, August 18, 2023
23-24 Cycle 1 Friday, September 15, 2023 Friday, September 22, 2023
23-24 Cycle 2 Friday, October 13, 2023 Friday, October 27, 2023
23-24 Cycle 3 Friday, December 1, 2023 Friday, December 15, 2023
23-24 Cycle 4 Friday, January 19, 2024 Friday, February 2, 2024
23-24 Cycle 5 Friday, February 23, 2024 Friday, March 8, 2024

***Additional review deadlines have been added during Spring and Summer 2023 for students to apply for a Student Mini-Grant to fund projects in the Fall 2023 semester that connect to the Fall 2023 Theme Semester, "Arts and Resistance." Only Arts & Resistance applications will be reviewed for these deadlines.