Seed Grant Funding

Previously Funded Projects

Funded Projects 2025

Funded Projects 2024

The Seed Grant Funding program is now accepting applications for Summer 2026.

Call for Proposal 2026

Funding Awards: Up to $2,000
Application deadline: Noon, Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Information Session: Wednesday, March 11, Noon-1 PM (on Zoom)
(Meeting ID: 951 7023 9499, no password needed, MSU sign-in required

Interested in learning more about this funding program? Have questions about the application process or whether your project is a good fit? Join our Information Session on March 11.

Program Description

DH@MSU invites proposals for 2026 Seed Grants to support digital humanities projects in research, teaching, and public engagement across any humanistic or related discipline at MSU. Seed grants are designed to help launch innovative projects that explore digital methods, develop tools, or apply computational approaches to humanistic questions in creative ways. For inspiration, see reports from past funded projects.

We prioritize applications for:

Prototypes that can grow into larger projects
Initiatives that foster collaboration across units
Projects that leverage existing infrastructure and resources

Strong proposals will clearly articulate their potential impact and contribution to the broader DH community at MSU.

Eligibility

Applicants may include faculty, specialists, staff, and/or graduate students. If the applicant(s) are faculty/specialists/staff, at least one member of the project team must be Core or Affiliated faculty with DH@MSU. Graduate student applications are encouraged from students in the DH Certificate, but formal affiliation with the program is not required.

Application Package

Project Narrative (maximum 1,000 words)
- Provide a clear description of your project’s guiding premises and overall purpose. Outline the structure of the project, including its components, personnel, and tasks. Describe what you plan to accomplish by the end of Summer 2026 and explain how digital humanities methods are central to achieving these goals.
Budget
- Include a breakdown of anticipated expenses with explanations for each item. Justify why these costs are necessary and how they contribute to the success of the project. Funding may be used for the following:
  - Costs associated with conducting or disseminating research
  - Purchasing technology (limited to a maximum of 30% of total budget)
  - Hiring specialized technical consultants (e.g., programming)
  - Hiring student workers as project members (recommended pay: $15/hour for undergraduate students; $20/hour for graduate students)
  - Compensation for non-student MSU employees for project work (limited to a maximum of 50% of the total budget)
Timetable
- Present a realistic schedule for the summer period that outlines key stages of work and a completion date. This helps reviewers assess whether the proposed work is achievable within the timeframe.
Roster of Project Team Members
- List all team members, their titles, and their roles in the project. For any positions that will be filled later, describe the responsibilities and note that the individual will be hired. Make sure the team composition supports the proposed work effectively.

Evaluation Criteria

Project Narrative – Goals and Structure
- Does the narrative describe the guiding premises of the project clearly, provide a clear overview of the project’s structure, and describe in concrete terms what it hopes to accomplish by the end of the summer?
Project Narrative – Digital Humanities Methods
- Does the narrative address how the project uses digital humanities methods to further its research aims?
Detailed Budget
- Is a detailed budget provided, with clear explanations for each item and justification about their importance to the project?
Timetable
- Does the timetable outline the expected stages of the work and a date of completion? Is the proposed work reasonable for the time allotted?
Team Members (Roster)
- Are the team members listed and described? Does this particular team make sense for the work proposed?

Applications should be submitted to Titi Kou-Herrema (koutiany@msu.edu) by Noon on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Summer Support & Reporting

DH@MSU will host three touch-base meetings for Seed Grant recipients during the summer:

Kickoff Meeting: Mid-May
Check-In Meeting: June/July
Wrap-Up Meeting: August

These meetings provide opportunities for recipients to share expertise, receive support, and build connections across projects.

All funded applicants must submit a 1,500-word report by Friday, October 2, 2026. The report should describe project outcomes in detail and will be posted on the DH@MSU website. Members of the project team will present their work as part of the DH@MSU Research Showcase in the Fall 2026 semester.

Past Projects