Funding

ICEO Ad Hoc Grants

Awards of up to $500 may be available upon request for your project or event. The ICEO Ad Hoc Grant application is now open, apply here. The ICEO Ad Hoc Grants process follows the guidelines and application details outlined below in ICEO Grants section.

All projects must be completed by June 30, 2025.

ICEO Grants

Twice a year, the ICEO provides funding for events and programs that support the community in exploring new ideas, promoting a sense of belonging, and enabling achievement.

• Awards of up to $2,500 are available to any MIT community member.
• Application opens February 18 at 9 am , and closes March 3 at 9 am.
• View a PDF copy of the ICEO Grant application here.
• The ICEO Grants application is now closed.

Application details:

• All applicants must attend a virtual info session.
  • If you cannot attend any of the offered times, please contact iceoadhocgrant@mit.edu to schedule an individual information session. The ICEO cannot accommodate individual information sessions after February 26.
• Projects and events must abide by all MIT event guidelines, including the Institute’s nondiscrimination policy, and MIT VPF policies regarding the use of funds.
• Grants may be used to supplement other funding for a large-scale event or project.
• We kindly ask that individuals or student organizations submit only one application per academic year. Additionally, if you’re applying to the ICEO Grants, please note that the same initiative cannot be funded through the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund or ICEO Ad-Hoc Grant.
• Projects, individuals, or groups who have received one form of funding (ICEO Grant, ICEO Ad-Hoc, or Innovation Fund) are not eligible to receive funding from either funding sources until their current project is completed and we have received the final report.
• Funds requested for the following do not fit the ICEO Grant themes will not be approved:
  • Activities that are not aligned with achievement and belonging
  • Individual travel or immersive group trips
  • Events and projects cannot be retroactively covered 
  • Capital goods (in this context, capital goods are capital goods are tangible assets or equipment whose service life extends beyond the completion of the grant. If you require clarity about whether your budget contains capital goods, please contact iceoadhocgrant@mit.edu).
  • Exclusively for food and/or meals.
  • Personal gifts or gift cards. 
  • Paying yourself back for an event or project.
  • Supplemental items for already existing or scheduled events.
  • Honorariums 
  • Academic related activities (thesis, research projects, professional development, and courses).
  • Activities that are primarily social in nature without strong alignment with achievement and belonging.
  • The ICEO reserves the right to decline funding for the reasons outlined above, as well as for any additional reasons deemed appropriate but not explicitly listed
• If your grant is approved during the Spring 2025 cycle, it will need to be completed by the date listed on your application.
• Approved applications will need to complete a post-event report that the ICEO Grant committee will provide.
• Proposed activities must take place on MIT’s campus or MIT-affiliated locations.
• If additional details are requested of the applicant by ICEO, any clarifications must be received within a week of the ICEO’s query in order to be considered. Requests or clarifications received past this one week period will be denied and the applicant will need to restart the application process. 

Examples of approved activities and uses of funds

• Invited guest speakers who support inclusion and belonging
• Cultural celebrations
• Panel discussions or community conversations that are in keeping with our values and raise awareness about inclusion and belonging
• Speaker fees, AV services, food, and other program-related costs

Application Process

• Cycle 1: Application opened October 15 at 12:00 am, and closes November 1 at 11:59 pm.
• Cycle 2: Application opens February 18 at 9:00 am, and closes March 3 at 9:00 am.
• The ICEO Grant application is currently closed.

If you have questions please reach out to the team at iceoadhocgrant@mit.edu.

Other grants around campus