Kent State University has an Emergency Grant Fund available for university students with financial challenges. The Emergency Grant Fund is a combination of federal funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under the CARES Act and Kent State’s own fundraising efforts.

Kent State received more than $19 million from the COVID-19 CARES Act, with at least half of the funding targeted for emergency financial aid grants for students. The financial awards are based on students’ individual needs and circumstances. So far, the emergency funds have reached thousands of students as follows:

  • Total amount of emergency funding awarded to students: nearly $6 million.
  • Total number of students awarded emergency funding: 4,600 students.
  • Total number of applications for emergency funding: more than 6,000.

Private fundraising for the Kent State Emergency Grant Fund has also assisted students during the pandemic. The fundraising totals for nine weeks (starting March 28) are as follows:

  • Raised $293,361 (as of May 28).
  • More than 1,200 donors (as of May 28).
  • 458 (37%) first-time donors (as of May 28).
  • 412 (33%) of donors are faculty and staff (as of May 28).

There have been a few significant gifts that have been made as matching gifts to encourage other donors during this time of need:

  • $3,000 Pete Holway.
  • $25,000 Kenneth and Ginny Grunley Family Charitable Fund.
  • $10,000 anonymous.
  • $5,000 anonymous to match other former student-athletes.
  • $100,000 anonymous currently being used to triple the gifts of other donors.

To be considered for Kent State Emergency Grant Fund, Kent State students must: