Application deadlines are 5 pm on: December 4, 2009, February 5, 2010, April 16, 2010.
You may download the application here.
The Gephardt Institute’s Civic Engagement Fund provides support for civic engagement and community service projects throughout the year. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible to apply. Funding amounts are variable based on the budget, duration, and scope of the project. Most grants do not exceed $1,000.
• Group Service: local, domestic or international.
• Individual Student Service (that is not part of a group service application and is not a fulfillment of a curriculum requirement): local, domestic or international.
• Other: proposals related to civic engagement that do not fit in “service” category (please note what is not eligible below).
• Late applications will not be considered.
• Applicants may only submit to one category per funding cycle.
• Applicants are welcome to apply for as many funding cycles as they wish, however, preference will be given to applicants that have not received prior funding.
• Applicants may be invited to incorporate committee recommendations and resubmit the application to be considered again at the next deadline.
• Decisions are announced within three weeks of each deadline.
• Funding is provided in the form of reimbursement after the proposal has been implemented.
Proposals will be judged on thoughtful articulation of:
• Project’s connection to civic engagement or community service.
• Purpose and goals.
• Sound logistical arrangements (including guidance from faculty and/or staff).
• How the activity advances participant learning and/or commitment to civic engagement.
• How the activity enriches the Washington University community.
• How the activity is likely to have positive impact on communities.
• Internships.
• Research projects (unless the research is directly tied to program development and implementation, e.g., a needs assessment or research of effective practices that has Human Research Protection Office approval and will then be applied to improve the program).
• An individual within the group cannot apply through the individual category if their group is applying through the group category.
• Projects or events that have already occurred.
• Items purchased through the Civic Engagement Fund must be used for program implementation, not for fundraising or philanthropy (e.g., you can buy books and prizes that will be used during a volunteer tutoring program, but not books and prizes that you will send directly somewhere else as a donation).
• Proposals that have received support through other Gephardt Institute programs, such as the Community-Based Teaching and Learning Faculty Grants Program, Social Change Grants program, WeCar Fund, or Goldman Fellows Program.
• Activities funded by the Civic Engagement Fund should match the duration and timing as articulated in proposal; the Institute should be notified of any substantial changes.
• Funded service trips are required to actively participate in the Service Trip Coordinating Council of the Community Service Office.
• Students should represent Washington University responsibly during all aspects of the funded activity.
• Meetings with Gephardt Institute staff may be requested by either students or the Institute to clarify and assist with planning, implementation, and debriefing.
• Recipients must write a one to two page reflection of the activity and send to the Institute at gephardtinstitute@wustl.edu within 3 weeks its conclusion. Failure to submit this report will negatively affect future requests from the applicant or group.
• Recipients should submit electronic photos from their service to the Gephardt Institute. Quotes and photos may be used in Gephardt Institute print and online materials with permission.
• Students may be requested to present to potential donors or the University community.