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Marist SPARK Grant Funding

Marist SPARK program invites faculty and staff to envision and shape the University's future through innovative initiatives that advance the ambitious goals outlined in Marist 100.  

This competitive grant program will invest a total of $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 to provide seed funding to create, scalable projects that demonstrate novel approaches to addressing institutional priorities while fostering an environment of entrepreneurial thinking and strategic problem-solving. As a venue for experimentation, Marist SPARK seeks proposals that push boundaries, challenge conventional thinking, and create new opportunities for growth and distinction. 

Successful proposals will present clear proof-of-concept ideas that can be tested, evaluated, and potentially scaled for broader implementation. Projects must be completed within the funding year and demonstrate measurable impact to campus through concrete outcomes. 

 

  • Four to six awards ranging from $10,000- $20,000 are anticipated 
  • Faculty and staff are eligible to apply as primary applicants, either as individuals or teams.
  • Requests will not be considered if alternative sources of funding, such as operating budgets, professional development funds, capital project funds, etc. are available and/or more appropriate. 
  • While research may be included as part of a proposal, proposals purely focused on advancing research without a direct benefit to Marist will not be considered. 
  • Priority consideration will be given to proposals that meaningfully integrate students into the project design and implementation and advance institutional priorities including: 
    • retention 
    • artificial intelligence 
    • environmental sustainability 
    • post-graduation readiness 
  • Materials and equipment to develop, test, communicate, or assess the proposed project 
  • Project-related travel 
  • Specialized training or professional services directly related to the project 
  • Software or technology tools (prior engagement with Chief Information Officer by emailing MaristSPARK@marist.edu is strongly encouraged).
  • Additional pay at a maximum amount of $2,500 per person 
  • Student employment (hourly limitations apply) 
  • Creation of new FT/PT permanent employee positions 
  • Payment for salary of existing employees or student workers 
  • Requests for course releases 
  • Building/space renovations 
  • Operating supplies, equipment, or furniture covered under department budgets 
  • Routine software licenses or subscriptions 
  • Maintenance costs or requirement of ongoing maintenance 
  • Travel to conferences routinely attended 
View Application
 

 

Executive summary

Strategic Alignment and Innovation 

  • Statement of need/opportunity  
  • Description of innovative approach  
  • Selection of primary Marist 100 goals and initiatives  
  • Descriptive alignment with Marist 100 priorities  

Implementation Plan, Outcomes, and Deliverables  

  • Detailed project description and methodology  
  • Timeline of activities and evidence of implementation within project year  
  • Summary of deliverables, including anticipated outcomes  
  • Plans for assessment and evaluation  
  • Potential for scalability/sustainability 

Budget and Resources 

  • Detailed budget with itemized expenses  - Budget Form (MS Excel Document)
  • Budget narrative/justification  

Supporting Documentation 

  • Letters of support from relevant stakeholders 
  • Dean/VP endorsement  - Sample Letter (MS Word Document)
Submit Your Completed Application
 

 

Timeline

 

Date

Event

October 15, 2025
RFP Released
November 2025
Education Sessions
November 8, 2025
Deadline to submit questions
November 15, 2025
Answers published
December 8, 2025
Deadline to submit proposals
December - January
Application review period
January 31, 2026
Funding decisions announced
December 31, 2026
Implementation period ends

 

Successful projects will be required to:

  • Meet with operational staff to support project implementation (e.g. Business Office, IT)
  • Submit a mid-year report on June 30, 2026
  • Conclude project no later than December 31, 2026
  • Submit a final project report on March 1, 2027
  • Participate in a panel presentation showcasing outcomes in Spring 2027

How will grants be evaluated? 

Grants will be evaluated by a working group comprised of 10 individuals representing students, faculty, and staff. Each submission will be evaluated using a scoring matrix that prioritizes the following. Each category is valued between 10-15%. 

  • Strategic alignment to Marist 100 & annual priorities 
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Statement of need 
  • Scalability 
  • Project design and methodology 
  • Timeline and outcomes 
  • Budget  

 

Are employees eligible to receive additional pay through a Marist SPARK grant?  

Yes. Full-time employees may receive additional pay through a Marist SPARK grant, provided that: 

  • Project work does not replace their primary job responsibilities. 
  • Compensation does not duplicate pay for their regular duties. 

 

In the budget, it only allows for two primary applicants; my project is contemplating three, is that allowed? 

Yes. Projects should email MaristSPARK@marist.edu to request a modification to the budget form for this purpose. 

 

Where can I find the travel policy referenced in the budget? 

The Travel and Business Expense Form policy can be found on the following site: https://my.marist.edu/employment-forms in the “Finance Forms” section. 

Other policies that may be relevant to your project planning can be found on the General Counsel page of the Marist website. 

 

My department pays students above minimum wages for specialized work. Is that allowed?  

Requests for student wages in excess of New York State minimum wage must follow the process outlined in the Student Pay Increase Request Form.   

 

Can my project partner with an outside organization? 

Yes; however, projects must clearly document how outcomes advance Marist 100 goals. 

 

Can my project take place at our branch campus or other Marist locations? 

Full-time employees at any Marist location are eligible to apply for SPARK funding.  

Projects based in internationally will require additional budget planning and should reach out to dianna.polchinski@marist.edu prior to submission to ensure funds can be utilized in accordance with international laws (e.g. employment, technology, data, etc.). 

 

My project would like to utilize a software program, who from IT needs to approve? 

Any technology that will connect to the Marist network, use Marist data, or be used on campus must be reviewed by IT. Please email a brief summary of your proposed technology to MaristSPARK@marist.edu by December 1, and we will coordinate approval with the Chief Information Officer. 

 

Can my project timeline be extended if it is not finished by December 31, 2026? 

Projects should be designed for implementation and completion between January 31, 2026- December 31, 2026. All expenses should occur within this project period.  

 

Do I need a letter of support from stakeholders on campus beyond Information Technology? 

SPARK grants must include a letter of support from the VP/Dean of the primary applicant and the CIO if the application envisions use of new technology.  

Letters of support are not required for other areas but are welcomed if the applicant feels that they strengthen the proposal.  

 

How does the review process balance the need to demonstrate outcomes within the given year and long-term sustainability? 

The project application asks the author to detail what outcomes are anticipated within the funding year to better understand the impact of the funding award 

The scalability/multi-year sustainability section asks applicants to explain how the project could be expanded or sustained beyond the initial funding period. This helps us understand how the project could scale in the future. 

 

Can I employ an RA as part of my project application? 

During the academic year, Resident Assistants (RAs) meet the maximum amount of hours through their work in the residence halls and cannot engage in other campus employment. 

If an RA is not serving in this capacity over the summer, they can be employed to support your project until such time that their RA assignment begins.  

 

What data sources are available through Marist to support my proposal? 

A collection of internal data sets can be found on Marist’s Factbook (here). Additionally, public data sets are made available by NCES through the Digest of Education Statistics (here) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (here). 

 

Can I submit more than one project application?  

There is no prohibition against submitting more than one application; however, a single applicant can only be funded for one project.  

 

What members of the community are participating in the Marist SPARK review process for the 2025-2026 cycle?

  • Jennifer Finn
  • Matthew Fox '26
  • Alyssa Gates
  • Patrick Gosselin
  • Diane Hart
  • Jeff Obrizok
  • Dianna Polchinski 
  • Juris Pupcenoks
  • Ariela Rosa
  • Emily Saland