SVSU Foundation Community Engagement Grants

The SVSU Foundation is pleased to provide this grant opportunity which is to encourage students, faculty, and staff to form partnerships with community organizations and develop projects that will directly benefit the people of our region.

Proposal which will be considered include Projects will directly support the sixth strategic priority of the SVSU Strategic Plan: Community Partnership and Engagement, in one or more of the following areas: 6.1 Strengthen Educational and Economic Development Partnerships, 6.2 Promote Community Well-Being, Service Learning, and Civic Engagement, 6.3 Embrace an Environment of Hospitality, 6.4 Expand and Promote University Outreach

• Grants will be primarily for the initiation of new community engagement projects. Expansion or enhancement of existing projects may be considered based on the impact of the project and the availability of funds.
• The project must focus on an activity that brings SVSU students in direct contact with members of the regional community or community organizations. Please clearly indicate the number of students and community members impacted by the project (approximations are acceptable if exact figures cannot be predicted/determined).
• Proposals must demonstrate a collaboration with a community organization, preferably including resources committed to the project by that organization. The most successful proposals will be those that demonstrate financial support from additional sources (i.e., other grants, community partner investment, SVSU departmental support, student fundraising, etc.).
• Project must be able to be successfully implemented with a funding decision a minimum of 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
• Applicants may apply for one-year of additional funding based on letters of support from community partners and/or demonstration of the community need the program is addressing.

Eligibility: All Faculty and Staff; student project are welcome but must be supervised by a staff advisor/mentor that signs and submits the application and serves as the project advisor and contact person. 

Historic award amount of $5,000.

To apply, learn more and view grant guidelines, visit InfoReady, SVSU’s online internal grant application tool. The grant guidelines and applications only appear when being accepted, typically 90 days prior to the due date.

Applications are due by 4:30pm March 15 and 4:30pm October 15 of each calendar year, or the next business day if the due date falls on the weekend. 

 The Foundation staff is available to answer questions or discuss proposals prior to their official submission.  Contact:  Emmie Busch, Program Manager for the Resource Grant Program, Saginaw Valley State University Foundation, (989) 964-7025, busch@svsu.edu

Current application guidelines supersede any information on this website and may be revised at any time by the appropriate SVSU committee(s) or authorized personnel. Applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and contact sponsoredprograms@svsu.edu if any discrepancies are identified so that website information can be updated. Thank you for your understanding.