Seed Grant Funding Program

FY26 Joint Minnesota State University, Mankato and Mayo Clinic Health System Seed Grant Funding Program is Now Open

MN State Mankato and MCHS are pleased to launch the FY26 Joint Seed Grant Program, designed to promote innovation and strengthen collaboration across both institutions. The program provides early-stage funding to projects that improve education, research, and community health and well-being.

Priority Areas

As longtime allies, MN State Mankato and MCHS are committed to fostering strategic collaborations that will advance their mutual missions through innovation, facilitate comprehensive engagement across both institutions, and improve the health and well-being of our communities. Seed grant funding will support projects aligned with shared institutional and programmatic priorities across both institutions, with emphasis in educational experiences, health and well-being, and community engagement. Potential areas for collaboration include:

Artificial Intelligence
Behavioral Health
Cancer Care
Diversity & Inclusion
Excellence & Professionalism
Education, Interprofessional Education, Simulation, & Research
Food Insecurity
Health Informatics & Data Science
Innovation & Technology Integration
Population Health
Rural Health

Funding Available

Total Funding: $100,000 (FY26)
Award Amount: Up to $20,000 per project
Required Team Structure: Each application must designate two Principal Investigators—one from each organization (MN State Mankato & MCHS)

Key Dates

Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline is February 24, 2026 at 5:00 pm
- LOI Form: Letter of Intent Application
Full application invitations are sent out on March 10, 2026 by 5:00 pm
- Application Form: Full Grant Application Available by Invitation ONLY following submission of your Letter of Intent Application.
- Full applications are due April 14, 2026 by 5:00 pm
Award announcement is made on May 8, 2026 by 5:00 pm

Project Dates

Start: June 1, 2026 (no later than August 1, 2026)
End: June 1, 2027 (no later than August 1, 2027)

Applicant Resources

Copy of the full application for viewing purposes only. In order to be considered for a grant, individuals must complete the application process through Qualtrics.
A FAQ (pdf) document is available to guide applicants through requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures.
Need further help? Join us for Q&A Sessions via Microsoft Teams.
- February 10, 2026 from 1:30 - 2:00 pm
For more information, please visit the MCHS-MSU Collaboration contact us via the Q&A Form.