One K-State funding opportunities empower faculty and staff to bring innovative ideas to life, address institutional challenges and advance K-State’s strategic priorities — helping shape the university’s future and drive meaningful impact across our campus and community.
Application deadlines
To provide consistency and clarity, One K-State Fund proposals are accepted on two deadlines each year:March 1andOctober 1. Beginning in fall 2025,open call proposalswill also be available.
Current funding opportunities
Proposals due: October 1, 2025
Topic non-specific
The One K-State Fund is excited to announce a new opportunity to shape K-State's future. This fund is intentionally topic non-specific, empowering faculty and staff to propose innovative solutions across various areas that advance our Next-Gen K-State mission.
What we're looking for:
Creative solutions to institutional challenges.
Strategic investments that drive broader success across our Next-Gen K-State initiatives.
Promising practices from other institutions adaptable by K-State.
Budget parameters
Tens of thousands to low hundreds of thousands.
Evaluation criteria
Alignment with Next-Gen K-State priorities
Feasibility and projected impact
Cost considerations
Additional requirements:
All proposals must include a written endorsement from the appropriate dean or vice president. Finalists will be notified by the late fall semester and invited to submit a comprehensive proposal.
Position K-State at the forefront of technological innovation with AI-related programs, initiatives and projects that ensure our institution remains competitive in an increasingly technology-driven academic environment.
Funding focus:
Proven AI solutions already being utilized effectively by community members
Innovative new opportunities that advance our institutional mission
Projects with clear connections to AI innovation and direct support of K-State's Opportunity Agenda
Budget parameters
Tens of thousands to mid-hundreds of thousands.
Evaluation criteria
Alignment with Next-Gen K-State priorities
Feasibility and project impact
Cost-effectiveness
Additional requirements:
All proposals must include a written endorsement from the appropriate dean or vice president. Finalists will be notified by the late fall semester and invited to submit a comprehensive final proposal.
The Academic Innovation Fund, through the Office of the Provost, awards up to $300,000 annually to support the development of microcredentials that expand opportunities for learners and strengthen the university's role as Kansas' first-choice education and business partner.
Launched in fall 2023, the first round of awards was announced in spring 2024 to spur creative and collaborative curricular proposals universitywide. For 2025, eligible proposals must be credit or non-credit microcredentials.
Priority consideration will be given to proposals that:
Meet regional, national or international learner or workplace needs of the future.
Drive curricular innovation and academic excellence at K-State, using new and/or flexible methods to present up-to-date and rigorous disciplinary learning experiences.
Align with the K-State Opportunity Agenda and the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.
Support the long-term financial viability of the university.
Have a partnership with a business, industry or other community partner.
The Office of the Vice President for Research provides opportunities to enhance the use and operations of core facilities in alignment with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan. Core facility directors may request support to upgrade the physical infrastructure and large equipment related to their operations.
Budget parameters
Requests can range up to $200,000 for total project costs of up to $400,000.
Total funds available are $500,000.
1:1 matching requirement from the submitting research facility.
Design, Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (DASH)
Annual award supporting faculty research and scholarly or creative activities for faculty members in DASH fields.
Eligible activities:
Emperical and theoretical research
Applied design and development
Scholarship of teaching and learning
Writing of books
Production of: art, poetry, music, theatre and other creative works
Award details
One-time, one-year grant of $10,000
Budgetsmayinclude up to one month of summer faculty salary.
Application process
Faculty interested in applying should follow the University Small Research Grants program guidelines.
University Outstanding Scholars Awards
Recognizing mid-career tenured faculty members on an accelerated path for continued academic distinction. Eligible faculty include tenured associate professors from all schools and colleges.
Award details
Each year:
Ten faculty will be awarded at the end of the spring semester.
Appointments will begin the following July.
Each awardee also receives a $10,000 base salary increase.
Address sustainability challenges facing our broader community or develop internal initiatives focused on campus sustainability efforts through our sustainability focus in the K-State Opportunity Agenda.
TheNext-Gen Opportunity Agendarepresents four transformative, cross-cutting challenges where K-State seeks to lead in Kansas, the United States and globally — driving our Next-Gen K-State imperatives and our success asthenext-generation land-grant university.
Focus areas:
Water and resource management practices
Regenerative agriculture
Natural/environmental factors that impact resouces usage and human health
Conservation and restoration of biodiversity
Economic policies and cultural practices that influence human ecology
Budget parameters
Tens of thousands to $500,000.
Evaluation criteria
Alignment with Next-Gen K-State and K-State Opportunity Agenda
Feasibility
Projected impact
Cost considerations
Additional requirements:
All proposal submissions must also include a written endorsement from the appropriate Dean or Vice President.