Community Engagement Grants

General and Specific Community Engagement Funds have been depleted for the 2023-24 Academic Year and applications are now closed. Our 2023-24 Student Grants Showcase will take place on April 4, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Michigan Union's Pendleton Room. All are welcome!

Overview:

The Ginsberg Center provides multiple forms of financial resources for student groups and organizations to engage in positive change through social justice education, leadership development, and meaningful service experiences with the community. The Community Engagement Grant program allows us to deepen our partnerships with student organizations and support community-based initiatives. Community Engagement Grants are offered on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.

Funding is intended to support partnerships between UM student organizations and external community organizations or agencies (i.e. non-profit, government office, etc), who are working together to collectively address a community-identified need. We invite proposals from organizations that already have an existing community partnership or those seeking to establish a local, sustainable partnership. 

Funds may be used for costs such as materials, supplies, local transportation, etc. Funding is NOT to be used for t-shirts, airfare, UM-associated speaker honorarium, or on-campus events that are not in direct partnership with the community.  

Priority for funding will be given to:

  • Organizational initiatives that take place in communities external to the University of Michigan with a community partner toward a community-defined need or priority. 

  • Projects towards the establishment or cultivation of a sustainable, ongoing partnership

  • Projects in line with Ginsberg Center Guiding Principles

  • Projects that represent various community-engaged pathways

  • Specific funding that meets the above guidelines is also available for fraternities, sororities, or organizations that have fraternity or sorority members as part of their leadership and membership.

Amounts:

The Community Engagement Grant has two ranges of funding:

For small-scale initiatives: Funding up to $300

For large-scale initiatives: Funding up to $800

*Note: there is a $1000 maximum for funding per organization per academic year.

Process Requirements:

The process for grant funding with the Ginsberg Center is an interactive process, in which group members work with members of the Ginsberg Center team to increase the potential for positive, sustainable community impact. While the grant process is similar for both small- and large-scale initiatives, receipt of funding for a large-scale initiative may require more rigorous requirements. Requirements for all grant-funded groups include:

  • Attendance at a “Foundations of Community Engagement” workshop. 

  • Two advising meetings with Ginsberg Center staff; once before the initiative and once after.

  • Create an Impact Report that highlights both the community impact and student learning from the project, along with a final budget report.

  • Attend the Ginsberg Grants Showcase, which takes place in April. 

*All workshops and advising meetings have virtual/in-person options with Ginsberg Center staff.

 

Deadlines: (FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED FOR THE 2022-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR)

Community Engagement Grants (general and specific) are offered on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. The monthly, rolling deadlines are as follows:

September:  Friday, September 22nd, 2023

October:  Friday, October 13th, 2023

November: Friday, November 10th, 2023

December: Friday, December 8th, 2023

January: Friday, January 12th, 2024

February: Friday, February 9th, 2024

*Decisions will be released in the weeks following the application deadline.

 

Applications:

Applications can be found through MaizePages. Student organizations must use their updated MaizePages account to access and submit their application. Applications will be available starting August 30, 2023.

 

Other Considerations:

Please contact [email protected] to talk about possible funding opportunities if:

  • You are a part of a group that is not a Registered Student Organization, but is planning an initiative that meets the above criteria.

  • You are part of a group or organization that is seeking funding for an event that occurred before the application deadline.