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Civic & Community Engagement

Community Engagement Grants

Apply for up to $2,000 for project and living expenses for community projects over Winter and Summer Break as well as $1,000 to support work in the local community during the academic year. Grant-funded experiences develop students as active citizens and support communities in achieving their own goals.

Apply for a Community Engagement Grant

Description of summer, winter, and year-round grants
Summer and Winter Grants of up to $2,000

Identify or design a community-engaged project with a partner community organization such as a nonprofit, government agency, or other civic group.

Grants allow you to engage in meaningful direct service or community-engaged internships by defraying living expenses and other costs including:

  • Expenses for service projects (supplies, transportation, etc.)
  • Living expenses
  • Compensation for unpaid service work up to $15/hr
  • Program fees for service programs

General Guidelines:

  • All full-time undergraduate or graduates students who will return to William and Mary for at least one semester after receiving a CEG.
  • Preference is given to applications that indicate that grant funds will go directly to the community or to students' reasonable living expenses.
  • Funded projects may occur in the United States or abroad, but special consideration is given to domestic proposals. Funded experiences abroad must meet additional W&M requirements.
  • The review committee will take into account other funding the applicant has received.

Review the full criteria

For summer funding, we also encourage students to review The Career Center's Funding for Unpaid Summer Experiences (FUSE).
Year-Round Local Grants of up to $1,000

During the academic semester, you can apply for a community engagement grant ranging from $100-$1,000. These grants can be used for expenses related to student-led local community engagement programming on campus or in the local community such as: 

  • Direct sustained service
  • Partnering with a community agency to host a speaker or film screening which educates the community on an important social issue
  • Executing an alumni service program
  • Creating a program or event which connects your academic experience to a community-identified need
  • Creating and publishing education or outreach material for a local nonprofit

As with Winter and Summer CEGs, the projects must focus on community impact as well as positive impact on the your development as an active citizen.  

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed monthly.  Please review the CEG criteria page for more details.
Volunteer smiling at camera with Restore donations

"I worked with three communities in the City of Alexandria this semester: the Latinx, Afghan, and low-income communities. In addition to delivering gifts, I delivered food to many families in need of groceries for Christmas and new year's. Working with families during the holidays is the most rewarding feeling because I was able to talk to many different individuals who simply need someone to talk to while they are in the process of figuring out their financial situations. This experience was one of the best ones of my college career. I am thankful to the OCE for helping me make this time worry-free for me as well and for supporting me through this volunteer experience." - Community Engagement Grant past recipient

 

Community Engagement Grants are made possible through the generosity of The William & Mary Parents Fund, The Pulley Family Public Service Fellowship Endowment, and The Monteverde-Jackson Endowment. Grants are managed by Elizabeth Miller.