The Jenison Fund is a strategic endowment designed to provide targeted, time-limited assistance to graduate students nearing degree completion and to faculty experiencing disruptions in research funding. 

In its first round in August 2025, the Jenison fund awarded support to over 35 projects. These projects can be grouped into five broad themes, representing many areas of research excellence at MSU: environmental and agricultural innovation; health and biomedical research; education and social equity; technology and digital innovation; and digital humanities and cultural preservation. 

The Jenison Fund is a three-year initiative, and the second round of funding applications is due on November 17, 2025. Researchers can take advantage of transitional funding through the Jenison Fund to continue, conclude, or pivot their research amid changes in the federal funding landscape. To learn more about funding categories and how to apply, visit the Jenison Fund Career and Research Continuity Support webpage.