Community Service Project Grant (CSP)
Are you part of a community organization and inspired to make a change? Need help getting started? You’ve come to the right place!
Each quarter, the Student Volunteer Center offers grants ranging from $100-$1000 for students seeking to implement a community service project in Santa Cruz.
Applications for Winter 2020 are now open!
Important Dates for Winter 2020 Applicants:
Info Session 1: Week 5, Wednesday, 2/5 6:00 PM in Muwekma Ohlone Bay Tree Conference Room
Final Info Session: Week 6, Thursday, 2/13 4:00pm in McHenry *Room TBD*
CSP Draft Proposals Due: Week 6, Friday 2/14
Application Deadline: Week 7, by 11:59pm Wednesday, 2/19
Notification of Awards: Week 8
Fulfillment of Items: Weeks 9-10
About the CSP Grant
▪ Applications are due one-quarter before implementation of the service projects
▪ Applicants must attend an informational meeting to meet with the Director and discuss their grant proposal before the application deadline
▪ If you receive an award, the SVC Director will send you an award letter
Project Approval: What kinds or projects receive CSP Grants?
A CSP Grant may fund a wide variety of projects. Some examples of past projects that have been CSP Grants monies include tutoring programs, homeless garden projects, and after-school music programs. Typically, grants are awarded to projects which address real community needs and that will offer long-term benefits for the community and any collaborating organizations. Each applicant is required to provide evidence of the said community need and to demonstrate that they have initiated and planned their proposed project.
Eligibility: Who can apply?
Community Service Project Grants are available to individual UCSC students and student groups who are interested in designing and implementing quality, direct-service projects that address community needs or problems within Santa Cruz County.
▪ Grants will be awarded for community service projects that are student initiated and need seed money to get started
▪ Grants may be awarded to students seeking to implement a new long or short-term program
▪ Projects that continue on a yearly basis and have already received CSP Grant monies may be considered if sufficient evidence is given of a continually evolving program
▪ The student who submits the proposal must show evidence that they will be directly involved in the utilization of project funds
▪ Equipment and supplies will be funded if they are determined to be critical for the completion of the project organized and facilitated by the student applicant
How do I apply?
You must complete the pre-meeting worksheet which can be found by clicking here and bring it to an informational meeting during week 4 or 5. At this meeting, you will learn more about what makes a successful grant and receive help workshopping your proposal. This meeting is mandatory to be considered for a grant. Please email the SVC Student Development Director Karen Lara at voluntee@ucsc.edu to schedule a meeting.
Meetings are typically 30 minutes long. If you cannot make a meeting due to classes or other commitments, please email Karen at voluntee@ucsc.edu and we will try to accommodate you.
After you attend an informational meeting you will be asked to submit a draft of your proposal to Karen during Week 6 so she can provide feedback and suggest improvements. This can be done physically or electronically. Draft proposals should be submitted no later than Friday, 2/14.
Awards: How much money can be awarded through a CSP Grant and how will it be dispersed?
▪ Students may submit a proposal for a CSP Grant ranging from $100-$1,000.
▪ Grants may be approved in full or partial amount, depending on the decision made by the CSP Grant Committee.
▪ Grant monies are awarded either in the form of a purchase order to be spent at vendors listed in your proposal or through the Student Volunteer Center directly purchasing items outlined in your proposal.
Restrictions: What are the limitations for CSP Grant monies?
▪ CSP Grants are typically awarded for off-campus projects within the Santa Cruz County
▪ Awards for salaries will not be funded
▪ Personal living expenses will not be funded
▪ Rent will not be funded
Funds will not be awarded retroactively (Note: funds cannot be awarded to a project that has already been completed.)
