The School of Education and the Office of Research & Scholarship are excited to announce two new internal funding opportunities designed to advance innovative research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. These programs reflect our commitment to the Wisconsin Idea and our strategic priorities—empowering faculty and staff to pursue bold ideas that improve education, enhance well-being, and build community.
One School Innovation Fund
Generously supported by Dean Haddix, the One School Education Innovation Fund is designed to catalyze interdisciplinary, community-engaged research and scholarship that addresses complex social and cultural challenges. This program supports projects aligned with the School of Education’s strategic plan and offers two funding tracks:
- Seed Grants: Up to $25,000 for early-stage work such as team formation, stakeholder engagement, and proof-of-concept development.
- Engage Grants: Up to $80,000 for pilot projects, demonstrations, productions, or presentations.
Key Deadlines:
- Letter of Intent (encouraged): Jan. 9, 2026
- Full Proposals: Feb. 25, 2026
- Funding begins July 1, 2026
Eligible applicants include faculty and academic staff with home departments in the School of Education. Proposals that involve graduate students, explore new research directions, and align with the Wisconsin Idea are strongly encouraged.
Learn more about the One School Innovation Fund.
School of Education Incubator Grants
The Incubator Grants program provides flexible funding to help faculty and staff develop early-stage ideas into competitive proposals for external funding. These grants are ideal for projects that require preliminary data collection, partnership development, or proof-of-concept work, such as the recently announced I3 initiative led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR).
How to Apply:
Submit a brief (no more than three pages) application to Associate Dean for Research Dorothy Edwards via research@education.wisc.edu using the application template by Jan. 30, 2026 (recently extended).
The application should include the proposed topic/issue to be addressed, potential team members, and how the project will address the I3 or other grant priorities. You do not need to have all team members identified at the time of application.
If you plan to use these funds to prepare to apply for the I3 initiative, we strongly encourage you to collaborate with a colleague in the arts to help you prepare for the multimedia pitch requirement. ORS can also help with networking and outreach to potential partners.
Learn more about Incubator Grants.
Ready to bring your ideas to life? Explore these opportunities and apply today to help advance innovation across the School of Education.