2026-2027 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 with smaller segments taking place over a period of time. (Please note that events presented as a “series” count as a single event encompassing the whole of the series, with regard to the caps on food and honoraria.) 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 April 9th 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 Division of Student Affairs) 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.
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.
STATE after DARK: This is an award program granted by University Health and Wellbeing’s Health Promotion, Engagement, Accessibility and Accommodations (HPEAA) and collaborative partners that provides up to $1,000 of funding per event to interested registered student organizations, campus departments, colleges or affiliated groups. To be considered eligible for funding events must be community wide and available for the MSU public to attend. Applications requesting funding for club meetings, department outings, or other events not geared towards the wider Spartan community will not be considered for funding. Go to website for semester application deadlines and more information. Fall and Spring.
2026-2027 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. You may apply early for your Spring semester event, but the committee reserves the right to hold it until the first Spring Semester (January) committee meeting to review, depending on the volume of fall events. Fall and spring have separate budget portions, so early spring applicants WILL have funding available.
*NOTE: Retroactive funding is approved for summer events that take place before the legislative term as long as the application is submitted by the first September deadline. 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 EST: | COGS Full Council Date for Event Review: |
| 7/1/26 or later | September 11, 2026 |
September 30, 2026 |
| 9/11/26 or later | October 9, 2026 |
October 21, 2026 |
| 10/9/26 – or later | November 6, 2026 |
November 18, 2026 |
| 11/6/26 – or later | November 30, 2026
*Final deadline for FALL 2026 events |
December 2, 2026 |
| 1/1/27 or later | January 20, 2027 | January 27, 2027 |
| 1/8/27 or later | February 5, 2027 | February 17, 2027 |
| 2/5/27 or later | March 5, 2027 | March 24, 2027 |
| 3/5/27 – 6/30/2027 | April 9, 2027 | April 21, 2027 |
Note: Applications for SPRING SEMESTER events will NOT be considered once application is closed or after April 9th, whichever comes first. * Please apply for FS27 events after Aug. 1, 2027 when the new application are posted.
