At the Ginsberg Center, we help student groups further organizational goals and member development while meeting community-defined needs and priorities. Whether we're connecting groups to new community partners, providing consultation to group leaders, or preparing member for their experiences, our team is here to support student learning and leadership.
If you have any questions about how the Ginsberg can provide support for your group please email [email protected].
Advising, Workshops, and Trainings: Whether you’re just starting out or your organization has been working with communities for years, we provide consultation and training to support your community engagement initiatives.
- Our advisors offer support for one-time, ongoing, or short-term service experiences for your student organization. Depending on the collective interests of your group, advising topics may include engaging in domestic or international service, finding service opportunities, developing relationships with community partners, reflecting on community service activities, and more!
- To schedule an appointment to meet with a Ginsberg Center advisor, please complete this service advising form.
- An Alternative Break is an experience where a group of college students (usually 10-14 per group) engage in an immersive service experience. University of Michigan students have been traveling locally, nationally and internationally for community engagement experiences that contribute to student learning and positive social change since 1989.
- Alternative Break support from the Ginsberg Center includes potential funding through our Alternative Break Grant, training for group leaders, and advising and consultation on best practices, safety, and reflection.
- To meet with one of our team members or learn more, please complete this form.
The Ginsberg Center offers multiple different workshops to student groups in any of the following categories below. If you would like more information on any of these workshops please complete a request form here and a Ginsberg Staff member will reach out to you. For more information about workshop topics head here.
- Foundations of Community Engagement - Explores how to thoughtfully and intentionally work with communities.
- Pathways of Community Engagement - Defines six methods of community engagement work and helps you explore which Pathways of engagement might be best suited to your skills and talents.
- Exiting Communities - Applies foundational community engagement principles and practices to explore how to effectively complete an engagement project and exit the community smoothly.
If you are a student group that is looking to establish a partnership around a specific project or collaboration with a community partner, consider our matchmaking process. To learn more about Ginsberg Matchmaking, click here.
Funding for Community-Engaged Projects & Initiatives: The Ginsberg Center has three grant programs for student organizations working with communities locally, nationally, and globally.
Alternative Break Grants provide up to $1,000 for student organizations planning an Alternative Break or immersive service experience. Grant recipients receive advising and training to plan strong, meaningful alternative breaks for their members. Find out more information here and contact [email protected] with any questions.
Community Engagement Grants provide up to $1,000 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 address a community-identified need. This may include events, projects, and collaborative initiatives. Find out more information here and contact [email protected] with any questions.
Davis Projects for Peace - Funded by the Davis Foundation, the Davis Projects for Peace provides $10,000 for summer projects designed and implemented by undergraduate students working to build peace in their communities and around the globe. This is a competitive process; one proposal is selected from the University of Michigan and advanced to the Davis Foundation for consideration. The Ginsberg Center will begin soliciting proposals in early November, and a decision about which proposals to nominate will be made by early January. Finalized proposals are then submitted to Davis Projects for Peace, which announces its selections in April. Projects are completed during the summer. Learn more here and contact [email protected] for additional questions.
Transportation: If your student group needs transportation to get to your community work, we have a few options suggested below. NOTE: The Ginsberg Center will not offer transportation resources in AY24-25 for student groups unaffiliated with Ginsberg.
The Ginsberg Center is not currently able to provide vehicle rental for student organizations beyond our Ginsberg SSOs. We will revisit this policy for Fall '25.
- For Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti-based service sites:
- For Detroit-based service sites:
- Detroit Connector: University bus service to and from Detroit sponsored by the UM Detroit Center
Short-term Group Service Opportunities: Want to find a service or volunteer opportunity for your student group or organization? This resource will connect you to community-identified needs in our area:
Connect2Community is an online portal that connects students to engagement opportunities with non-profits, schools and other community agencies. Student groups can use the “Accepting Teams” filter to find opportunities appropriate for groups. Then, you can filter the available opportunities further by interest, date, distance, and more. Use our Guide to Group Volunteering to help plan your experience.