Request for Proposals

Student groups involved in service activities may apply for mini-grants from the Discovering and Claiming Our Callings initiative. Grants of $500 to $1500 are available.

These funds are provided to support experiential learning. Service activities that do not foster critical thinking as a primary goal are NOT eligible for funding. There is no application form, but a written proposal (no more than 4 pages) is required.

For service trips and other service organizations/events, the proposal should include:

• A description of the event or trip, a list of participants, and the names of student and faculty/staff leaders.
  
• The specific learning goals for the event/trip and what learning activities the students will complete before, during and/or after the service trip. This will serve as a “learning contract.”
  
• A description of the “products” students will prepare demonstrating their accomplishment of the learning goals. Products might include journals, annotated bibliographies, websites, power point presentations, etc. Products should offer analysis and critical reflection on the service experience. Journals or other items that are only emotive (i.e., describing “how lucky and blessed I am”) are unacceptable.
  
• A budget for the trip or event indicating both expenses and expected sources of revenue (assuming a grant is not received). Grant funds may ONLY be used to off-set fundraising.

Requests for funds should be submitted no later than January 15, for funding in Winter/May. Academic courses generally receive priority funding, but all proposals will be evaluated based on their learning goals, activities and products.

For service events and trips, grant funds will not be distributed until after products are submitted and evaluated by the Project Director and/or the Community Partnerships Coordinator. If products do not demonstrate fulfillment of the learning goals, the grant may be reduced or revoked.

More Information:
Dan Kittle, Ph.D., 352-8697
Center for Community Engagement