“The K-Culture Effect”
May 18, 2026Location
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Day 1 : The Graduate Ann Arbor
Day 2 : Michigan Union, University of Michigan
Amplifying Access: Funding Solutions for Scholarship that Matters
SAVE THE DATE
September 21–22, 2026
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Day 1 Networking Reception: The Graduate Ann Arbor
Day 2 Main Conference: Michigan Union, University of Michigan
A free, in-person conference designed to help graduate students, faculty, and staff navigate today’s funding landscape, strengthen grant-writing skills, and connect with resources that support inclusive, people-centered scholarship and research that reduces inequities, disparities, and inequalities.
Schedule at a Glance
Day 1 — Monday, September 21, 2026
Location: The Graduate Ann Arbor
Time: 4:00–9:00 PM
Focus: Networking, connection, and community-building
Day 1 will include arrival and registration, informal networking, grant speed-networking, themed conversation stations, and a relaxed evening reception.
Day 2 — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Location: Michigan Union
Time: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Focus: Grant-writing workshops, panels, resource fair, consultation zones, and proposal development
Day 2 will include breakfast and registration, a keynote address, hands-on workshops, moderated panels, a resource fair, proposal-writing time, consultation zones, and a closing networking reception.
What to Expect
Participants can expect a practical, interactive conference experience designed to help scholars move from funding ideas to actionable proposal strategies. The main conference day will include:
- A keynote on funding success in a shifting landscape
- Hands-on grant-writing workshops organized by experience level:
- Grant Newcomers
- Early Awardees / Up to $50K Club
- Next-Level Grant Leaders / $50K & Up
- Sessions focused on identifying funding opportunities, assessing funder fit, building competitive proposals, and revising for clarity and impact
- A featured post-lunch panel, potentially focused on foundations, private funding, strategy, and sustainable impact
- A networking lunch and resource fair featuring U-M offices, tools, and services that support proposal development
- Signature consultation zones where participants can receive targeted feedback on grant ideas, proposal drafts, budgets, funder fit, community partnerships, and resubmission strategies
- Dedicated hands-on proposal development time
- A closing reflection and action-planning session to help participants identify concrete next steps
- Networking opportunities with peers, presenters, campus partners, grant professionals, and potential collaborators
An optional welcome reception will be held the evening before the main conference for participants traveling to Ann Arbor or those who would like a relaxed opportunity to connect in advance.