2025-2026 COGS GSO Event Funding
In an effort to increase awareness and diversity of the graduate community at MSU, COGS provides funding to graduate student organizations for the hosting of events. Two streams of event funding are available – single host event funding and collaboration event funding. Please read the Event Funding Guidelines document which pertains to both streams of funding before applying. **Applications are online only and must be filled out completely to be considered eligible.**
Must be a Registered Student Organization with a University Account (assigned to YOUR organization) to receive funds. We are not able to process funds to a departmental account number for GSOs that are not registered. If you are wondering how to register, or how to start a university account, please visit: Registered Student Organizations
Single Host Event – A registered GSO can apply for a maximum of $1,500 over the course of an academic year. This money can be divided across any number events over the course of the year (even those held during summer), but a unique application must be submitted for each additional event (unless event is a series such as a monthly lunch and learn, etc). These funds are awarded based on a first-come first-served basis during the COGS legislative session for fall and spring semesters. Once funds allocated for funding requests are depleted, no more requests will be granted and applications will be closed.
NOTE: Funds for summer events through June 30th should be applied for no later than March 30th of that same year. Funds for summer events from July 1- August can be applied for too, but only after the new FY applications are posted, and will not be reviewed until the fall. Funding is only approved while full council is in session (Sept/Oct – April).
Collaboration Event Funding – A GSO can apply for funding for an event hosted in collaboration with 2 or more additional GSOs. All GSOs listed on the application must be Registered Student Organizations (via Involve@State through the MSU Office of Spartan Experiences) in order to receive the funds. The maximum funding that can be provided for a collaboration event is $500 per collaborator (e.g. 3 collaborators can apply together for up to $1,500). Only one application should be filled out for the event, with information about each graduate student organization contributing. A GSO may apply for collaboration funding with the same or different collaborators a maximum of 3 times across an academic year. These funds are based on a first-come first-served basis every semester. Once funds allocated for funding requests are depleted, no more requests will be granted.
GSO Support Funding – This fund is for the purpose of supporting the efforts of a registered Graduate Student Organization (GSO) with initiatives that either: Contribute to the organization’s establishment or long-term stability, or, promote a sense of graduate and/or professional student belonging within their given department or community. Maximum Award Amount: $150 per Fiscal Year. For more information or to apply, please go here. Again, groups must be registered as a student organization on Involve@State and have their own University Account. *Funds can be used to establish that account. Please refer to GSO Support Funding information page and funding guidelines.
MISC. RESOURCES FOR STUDENT ORGS
COGS LENDING LIBRARY – COGS is making some of our own special events equipment available to graduate & professional student organizations to borrow for their special events. If your organization would like to borrow some of our large (lawn type) games or misc. items for use at your event, please fill out the form and we will contact you with availability. You will need a University Account Number to reserve the items. As long as the items are returned on time and undamaged, there will be no charges due.* (*A late fee of $1.50 per item, per day will be assessed for each day past the due date not returned. If damaged, your org may be subject to replacement charges.)
- Take a look at the inventory list here: INVENTORY
- COGS Lending Library Guidelines here: COGS LENDING GUIDELINES
- FILL OUT AN INQUIRY FORM
MSU UNION – Meeting Space for Grad Student Orgs: The MSU Union is making certain rooms available for student groups to reserve for FREE. To check availability and to reserve, contact: Amy Williams, will1760@msu.edu or call 517-432-2446.
OISS STUDENT GROUP FUNDING: The Office of International Students & Scholars encourages international student organizations to share their culture as a way to contribute to the internationalization of MSU and the community of Greater Lansing. To support international student programming on campus, international student groups can apply for funding to support culture sharing events. Learn more about OISS Funding Here.
2025-2026 DEADLINES: (Due by 5 pm est on the stated due dates):
Notifications of funding approval/status will go out AFTER the full council meeting date (immediately) following the deadline for which you applied. Please allow up to 5 business days from that full council date for that notification to be received.
*Fall semester has one less award cycle due to the nature of the committee schedule, but has an added grace period built in to the due dates. Retroactive funding is approved for summer events that take place before the legislative term. Otherwise, please note that funding guidelines stipulate that you may not apply for an event that occurred in the past.
| Your Event Date: | Application Due by 5pm: | COGS Full Council Date for Event Review: |
| 7/1/25 or later | September 15, 2025 |
October 1, 2025 |
| 9/15/25 or later | October 13, 2025 |
October 29, 2025 |
| 10/13/25 – or later | November 3, 2025 |
November 19, 2025 |
| SPRING | SPRING | SPRING |
| 1/1/26 or later | January 5, 2026 | January 21, 2026 |
| 1/21/26 or later | February 2, 2026 | February 18, 2026 |
| 2/18/26 or later | March 2, 2026 | March 18, 2026 |
| 3/18/26 – 6/30/2025 | March 30, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
Note: Applications for SPRING SEMESTER events will NOT be considered once application is closed or after March 30th, whichever comes first. * Please apply for FS26 events after July 1, 2026 when the new application will be posted.
