AI Innovation Fund

AI Innovation Fund is sponsored by The City University of New York (CUNY) / New York State. This systemwide grant program, funded by Governor Hochul's initiative, supports campus-led initiatives leveraging AI to advance teaching, research, and student success across CUNY campuses.

CUNY AI Innovation Fund – The City University of New York Administered through the Office of Academic Innovation, the CUNY AI Innovation Fund is a systemwide initiative designed to support innovative projects that advance teaching and learning, student success, academic support, AI literacy, responsible AI adoption, and AI-enabled research and operations across CUNY.

Projects are intended to generate lessons, scalable practices, and resources that can benefit the broader university community. 113 campus-led AI initiatives received funding from the CUNY AI Innovation fund in 2025/26. This year’s innovation fund will award up to $2 million.

Call for Proposals Apply Now Have questions about the AI Innovation Fund application process? Join one of our Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions to learn more. Register for one of our upcoming sessions: Wednesday, September 2, 10am-11am Wednesday, September 23, 11am-12pm The CUNY AI Innovation Fund was recently named to the 2026 AI 50 list from the Center for Public Sector AI.

The award honors leading organizations across the country driving innovation and adoption of artificial intelligence in the public sector. What types of projects does the Fund support? Prioritization will be given to projects that promote student success outcomes such as retention, completion, and graduation.

Successful projects generally align with one or more of the following priority areas: AI-Enabled Student & Academic Support Addressing Ethical & Social Implications of AI Projects may serve students, faculty, staff, researchers, or academic operations. Faculty, staff, and campus teams may apply. Projects are typically campus-sponsored and require institutional support.

Campus leadership participation is incorporated during proposal review and implementation. How much funding can a project request? The initial fund established a maximum award of $25,000 per project.

What expenses are allowable? This is tax levy funding. Allowable expenses generally include: Software and technology tools Consultants and specialized services Project implementation costs Conference or dissemination activities when justified What expenses are generally not allowable?

Equipment purchases such as laptops and similar hardware are generally discouraged or considered non-allowable during review. Do I need to include fringe costs? Fringe will be calculated automatically when your proposal is submitted.

It will not affect your overall award amount. What makes a strong proposal? Strong proposals typically demonstrate: Benefits to students, faculty, or the institution Collaboration across departments or campuses Potential for replication or scaling Reviewers are specifically encouraged to value practical, transferable ideas rather than merely ambitious concepts.

Is collaboration important? Yes. Collaboration is one of the formal review criteria.

Cross-campus, interdisciplinary, or cross-department efforts are viewed favorably because they increase institutional impact and scalability. Can projects involve external partners? Yes.

Funded projects may involve external organizations, industry experts, community partners, or other institutions. Proposals should clearly define partner roles and expected outcomes. How are proposals evaluated?

Projects are scored using a published rubric across five major areas, with the combined scores totaling 100 points as follows: Project Design – 28 points Strategic Alignment – 18 points Collaboration – 18 points What does “Strategic Alignment” mean? Reviewers are looking for projects that: Promote student success and equity Advance academic innovation Demonstrate responsible AI adoption What does “Feasibility” mean?

Reviewers assess whether: Deliverables can be completed within the grant period When must projects be completed? Funded projects are expected to be complete, and all funding spent within the designated funding period, in this case by June 30, 2027. What happens after a project is funded?

Award recipients typically receive: Communications about project showcases and dissemination opportunities Can funds roll over into the next fiscal year? No, funds cannot be rolled over. Are funded teams required to report outcomes?

Yes. Awardees are expected to complete project reporting that documents: Why is reporting important? Inform future investments Highlight successful projects Showcase innovation across campuses Will project results be shared publicly?

Many projects may be highlighted through: Project teams are routinely asked whether their work can be publicly showcased. Common Applicant Questions Can my project continue after the grant ends? Yes.

Many previously funded teams report plans to continue, scale, publish or institutionalize their work beyond the funded period. Can projects be replicated at other campuses? Replication and transferability are strongly encouraged.

Reviewers are explicitly asked to consider whether solutions can be implemented elsewhere at CUNY. Can I publish articles or make public for my project? Yes, we encourage you to develop work that is far reaching.

Lessons from the first cycle of recipients? Several recurring themes appeared in awardee reports: Strong partnerships matter. AI literacy requires sustained engagement.

Buying AI tools can take a long time, so please plan accordingly. Clear assessment plans improve outcomes. Scalable and transferable projects generate the most systemwide value.

Please direct inquiries to: Francene. Gordon-Norales@cuny. edu