Community Engagement Mini-Grants
Get support for your group's upcoming event!
For the Spring 2025 semester, the Undergraduate Community Initiative will award grants to student organizations planning events open to all members of the community that align with the initiative’s priorities — facilitating engagement among students and with faculty, and cultivating the values of belonging, respect and/or service.
- The grants range from $500 to $1,500 and will be awarded in support of events that are free to students and welcoming to all.
- Where timing permits, and in collaboration with student groups, promotional assistance will be provided for events that have been awarded grants (via the UCI website, weekly student newsletters and social media).
- See below for additional guidelines and application requirements. A limited number of events can be funded, so early applications are encouraged!
We look forward to supporting students’ vision for a variety of events and experiences, and to creating more opportunities for participation in the Undergraduate Community Initiative.
Read these guidelines carefully before submitting your application.
- Organizations must be an undergraduate student group that is recognized by Columbia and advised by Undergraduate Student Life (USL).
- Events must be on campus, inclusive and welcoming to all students, and contribute to a sense of campus community.
- Events facilitating engagement between students and faculty outside the classroom setting are encouraged.
- Events must reflect and/or create opportunities to deepen participants’ commitment to the initiative’s fundamental values: belonging, respect and service. Groups will be asked on the application to briefly explain how they meet this requirement.
- Events must use either USL-preferred vendors or internal services.
- Organizations can receive only one grant for the semester.
- Events must be planned to take place on or before May 5 and follow all University and school policies.
- Any funding that is awarded must be used toward the event described on the application, and be used during the same semester that the grant is received. The funds will be credited directly to your group chartstring as revenue.
- Applications will be accepted weekly. Applications submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday will receive a decision by the close of business that Friday. The last day for applications for the semester is Wednesday, April 23.