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.
“Our new grant program empowers students to say, ‘We’re passionate about a certain issue and we’d 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,’” said Bobby Wassel, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Service and Community Engagement.
“SLU is awarding the seed funding.”
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.