The Contribution Project
Applications open Feb. 2 - Feb. 22, 2026
Buffalo State is participating in the Contribution Project, a program under the direction of faculty at Cornell Human Ecology. The Contribution Project offer $400 awards to Buffalo State undergraduate students to “make a contribution” or to “turn their ideas to life” over a 6 week time span in the Spring 2026 semester. Students can use the funds for almost any contribution they can imagine—whether it’s helping a friend, supporting a cause, or creating something meaningful for their community (more examples). There are minimal limitations on the use of the funds. Projects cannot:
- reasonably be imagined to cause harm to others
- involve weapons, drugs, alcohol, or violence of any kind
- be used to support or promote political activities
- support research and scholarly projects for which funding is typically available through undergraduate research grant programs at Buffalo State
- be spent outside the U.S.
That's it.
Application Information
Eligibility and Application
You are eligible for an award if the following are true:
- You are currently an undergraduate student at Buffalo State University
- You currently live in the US or US Territory
- You have not participated in the Contribution Project before
- You can be paid in the U.S. (Social Security number, work authorization, or other official documents)
The application, timeline, inspiration for project, and answers to simple questions can be found on the application webpage:
The Contribution Project ApplicationQuestions you will need to answer
The application for the Contribution Projects asks four main questions.
- What’s your idea? Explain the contribution you want to make.
- Why is this important to you? Explain why this contribution matters and why you care about making it happen.
- What’s your role in making it happen? What part will you play in bringing this contribution to life? Will other people be helping you? If yes, who are they and what will they do?
- What’s your plan for the next six weeks? How much progress do you think you’ll make in that time? Share your plan, including what steps you’ll take, when you’ll do them, your budget for spending the $400, and any goals you have in mind.
Help with the application
Buffalo State contacts:
- Dr. Drew Kahn, Director of the Anne Frank Project (theannefrankproject@buffalostate.edu)
- Dr. Denise Harris, Director of CAPE (careers@buffalostate.edu)
Virtual help sessions:
- Virtual information session: Thursday, January 29, 3:30-5:00
- Every Wednesday: 2/4, 2/11, and 2/18, 3:30-4:30 PM
Contribution Project Timeline
Key Dates and Required Deadlines
