Grants to Fuel Student Service Projects
09/05/2018
Students who have an idea for a service project and need the funds to put it into action can apply for a SLU grant to make their vision a reality.
As the University celebrates its bicentennial year and with service as one of its hallmarks, SLU will award 18 grants of up to $1,800 for student-led projects designed to make the world better through its new 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program.
鈥淥ur new grant program empowers students to say, 鈥榃e鈥檙e passionate about a certain issue and we鈥檇 like to work with a specific community organization to address it. We have a proposal that spells out exactly what we want to do and all we need is some funds to make it happen,鈥� 鈥漵aid Bobby Wassel, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Service and Community Engagement.
鈥淪LU is awarding the seed funding.鈥�
Projects also must involve at least one community partner organization as a co-applicant and be completed by May 15, 2019.
Grants can be awarded for initiatives that dramatically improve an existing project or for a brand new project. Faculty and staff also can apply if their project involves SLU students. Grant recipients will present about their project in April. Those projects that demonstrate a high degree of impact are eligible for funding during the 2019-2020 cycle to build upon their first year if a new grant application is received.
Projects can run the gamut from being:
- A one-time initiative, such as building a playground at a particular community center
- An on-going commitment, such as tutoring at the site of a community partner organization
- Part of a larger project, such as providing supplies for a mobile health clinic that does medical checks for those who are homeless
A committee of SLU students, faculty and staff will determine which projects are funded. Grants may be submitted online starting Sept. 17 until Oct. 10. Winners will be announced Oct. 24.