Kuali Launches GrantRisk™: AI-Powered Risk Analysis Tool to Help Institutions Safeguard Their Research Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lehi, Utah - March 10, 2025 – Kuali, a trusted and pioneer leader in higher education software solutions, announces the launch of Kuali GrantRisk™, an AI-powered tool designed to evaluate the risk profile of existing and potential research funding sources. Developed in response to the increased scrutiny, shifting priorities, and evolving compliance requirements affecting federally funded research programs, this tool enables research institutions to proactively assess the risks associated with their funding portfolios and make more informed strategic decisions.

Kuali GrantRisk™ provides institutions with data-driven insights into program and award risks, helping administrators, research offices, and principal investigators (PIs) prepare for audits, assess compliance risks, and make informed funding decisions. The tool compares programs and awards listed in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) against a predefined set of keywords associated with heightened federal scrutiny, generating a funding risk score and rating (Low, Medium, or High).

Institutions can use Kuali GrantRisk™ to:

• Assess risk within their existing grant portfolio and prepare for potential compliance reviews or funding restrictions.
• Review awards flagged for scrutiny by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Upload and analyze their own award portfolios to receive an AI-generated funding risk score and rating.
• Evaluate risk before renewing or expanding funding commitments to determine whether to reapply, modify proposals, or seek alternative sources.
• Analyze new grant opportunities with a clear understanding of potential risk factors before pursuing funding.

Beyond federal grant program searches, Kuali GrantRisk allows institutions to upload their own award data via CSV files, enabling them to assess both current and planned research funding for potential risk. The tool assigns a Risk Score and rating based on keyword alignment, giving institutions a clearer picture of how their funding might be perceived under new federal priorities. This bulk analysis feature allows universities to evaluate risk across multiple awards at once, ensuring they are prepared for scrutiny, audits, or future funding decisions.

"While no tool can eliminate uncertainty, having access to clear risk insights allows institutions to be proactive rather than reactive," said Joel Dehlin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Kuali. "We built GrantRisk to provide universities with greater transparency into their funding risks, enabling them to safeguard research initiatives and make informed decisions about future funding."

"Joel reached out to explore how Kuali could assist research organizations in assessing the impact of recent federal executive orders," said Stephen Dowdy, Research Systems and Integration Director at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Some organizations were receiving stop-work orders or de-scoping letters from federal agencies adjusting to new policies. Kuali and I brainstormed solutions, leading to the creation of GrantRisk, an AI tool that analyzes SAM.gov data to identify programs associated with these policy shifts, such as DEI initiatives and climate research. We refined the model by adding keywords like ‘Agency for International Development,’ given the efforts to eliminate it."

As federal funding policies continue to evolve, institutions that leverage data-driven risk assessments will be better positioned to adapt, advocate for their programs, and ensure long-term funding stability. Kuali is committed to supporting the research community by making Kuai GrantRisk available at no cost. Institutions can start using the tool immediately to protect their funding portfolios and plan for the future.

For more information, visit kuali.co/products/grantrisk.

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About Kuali 

Kuali builds software for the future of higher education. Recognized as a leader in higher ed solutions for over 20 years, Kuali has been driving digital transformation with cloud-native, purpose-built solutions, including Kuali Research, Kuali Academic Ops, Kuali Financials, Kuali Ready, and Kuali Build. Trusted by over 230 institutions, these solutions have been used to increase efficiency, ensure compliance, and accelerate innovation in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape. More information can be found at Kuali.co.

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