MSC Grant

About the Grant

The MSC Grant provides funding for MSC Dual-Affiliated Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for programs on the UW-Madison campus.

The MSC Grant Council began in 1973, 15 years before the Multicultural Student Center was founded in 1988, to improve the cultural climate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison by increasing the number of events that celebrate and represent the cultures of students of color. The grant is funded by the Chancellor’s Office and the Multicultural Student Center (MSC).

Our Mission

The grant seeks to enhance campus climate for students by supporting on-campus events that:

Foster inclusion
Provide significant leadership & decision-making experiences
Student Organization seeks to foster multiculturalism
Encourage relationship building within/or across racial/ethnic campus communities
Support events that seek to spread cultural awareness

Event Criteria

Mission Alignment

All funding requests must align with the mission of the Multicultural Student Center, which is to provide support, advocacy, and co-curricular experiences that center, affirm, and celebrate the varied and intersectional experiences of all UW students. Spaces, programs and services are designed to cultivate a sense of belonging and community while strengthening all students’ capacity to learn, lead and thrive. In addition, funding requests must meet two or more of the following three requirements:

Educational in Scope: Intercultural Education, Identity Exploration and/or Academic Advancement.
Fosters Leadership Development: Event Planning, Critical Thinking, and/or Problem Solving (for participants) And Professional Networking, Employment Seeking Skills, Exposure to career options, etc.
Fosters Community Development: Relationship Building [within & across communities], Heritage, History, & Awareness Observations, Cultural & Faith-Based Celebrations.

Eligibility

To meet eligibility requirements for the MSC Grant, MSC dual-affiliated RSO’s must be in good standing with SOLI, and meet one or more of the following criteria:

The RSO has already received an ASM Event Grant for that semester
The RSO has already applied for an ASM Event Grant for the semester and is on the waitlist for an ASM hearing.
The RSO has applied for ASM funding within the semester
ASM is out of funds for the academic year
The RSO is applying for funding for items ASM can not provide, such as food and beverages

*Note: Your event must be free and open to UW students and campus community*

Funds can be used for:

Space Rental (on campus)
Equipment Rental
Lodging (at the state rate)
Food and Beverage
Honorarium

More detailed information about requirements and deadline policies for the MCC Grant can be found on the 2025-2026 MSC Grant Policy Manual

When to Apply

MSC Event Grant – Fall 2025

For food, space rental, and equipment rental requests:

For Events Between	Application Deadline
September 5-19	August 24
September 20 – October 3	August 31
October 4 – October 17	September 14
October 18 – October 31	September 28
November 1 – November 14	October 12
November 15 – November 28	October 26
November 29 – December 12	November 9

For honoraria and lodging requests:

For Events Between	Application Deadline
September 20 – October 3	August 24
October 4 – October 17	August 31
October 18 – October 31	September 14
November 1 – November 14	September 28
November 15 – November 28	October 12
November 29 – December 12	October 26

Deadlines are Sundays at 11:59pm

*If you are requesting to fund multiple items for one event with different deadlines, then you must apply by the earlier deadline. For example, if a student org is applying for honoraria and food for an event, then they must apply by the honoraria deadline.

Apply for the Grant

MSC Grant Board

Funding decisions are made by the MSC Grant Board, which is composed of student representatives from registered student organizations affiliated with the MSC. The Board is advised by the Organizational Development Specialist.

Responsibilities of the MSC Grant Board include:

Distribution of funds for programs which embody the mission of the Multicultural Student Center
Advocate for the needs of all multicultural communities
Serve at minimum a semester term

photo of 6 individuals standing in front of a white board that says MCC Grant Council.

Apply to be on the council!

Frequently asked questions

Please refer to our FAQ sheet for the grant, and if you still have questions, please contact: Grant Specialist at mcc@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.

After you submit your grant

After your grant has been submitted your application will appear in your My Submissions section of your WIN page, which you should be automatically directed to.