Currently on hold until further notice.
The Gephardt Institute offers two types of grants that support students, staff, and faculty in the development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives executed in the St. Louis region and with local partners: Community Planning Grants (up to $1,000) and Community Partnership Grants (up to $5,000).
Grants can support the development of new initiatives or the expansion of existing ones. The St. Louis Projects grants are intended to support partnerships between St. Louis organizations and Washington University, and should be co-applied for alongside one’s community partner. Read more about each option below.
Community Planning Grants
Community Planning Grants support the development of new initiatives or the further expansion of smaller projects. Successful applicants propose a substantive project in partnership with community members or organizations in St. Louis and receive financial support, as well as advising for implementing community-based initiatives.
We welcome proposals ranging from $500-$1,000. Due to the intensive nature of this grant, applicants are encouraged to formulate a budget that will adequately meet their needs for capacity building.
Washington University undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff are eligible to apply. Community partners and local alumni may apply in collaboration with an individual, group, or department at WashU.
Student awardees must complete their projects prior to graduation.
Additionally, projects should represent the Gephardt Institute’s mission and be undertaken in partnership with members or organizations in the St. Louis community.
Examples of eligible proposals:
- Activities in preparation for developing a program/project
- Focus groups
- Needs assessments
- Development of curricula
- Initial engagement of community members (community meetings, open forums, and town halls) for information gathering
- Letter of support from community partner(s)
- Project budget using the template provided
- A site visit to the project, should it be funded
Community Partnership Grants
Community Partnership Grants support the development of new initiatives or the further expansion of smaller projects. Successful applicants propose a substantive project in partnership with community members or organizations in St. Louis and receive financial support, as well as advising for implementing community-based initiatives. The scope of support from the Gephardt Institute in implementing this project can include:
- Program or project development
- Program or project expansion
- Community partnership facilitation
We welcome proposals ranging from $500-5,000. Due to the intensive nature of this grant, applicants are encouraged to formulate a budget that will adequately meet their needs for capacity building.
Washington University undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff are eligible to apply. Community partners and local alumni may apply in collaboration with an individual, group, or department at WashU.
Student awardees must complete their projects prior to graduation.
Additionally, projects should represent the Gephardt Institute’s mission and be undertaken in partnership with members or organizations in the St. Louis community.
Examples of eligible proposals:
- Activities that facilitate partnership between WashU and the St. Louis region
- Delivery of a program in a local community
- Partnership with a local organization to support their mission
- Community-based research
- Development of curricula
- Engaging community members in a project or process
- Expansion of an existing program to a new community
- Letter of support from community partner(s)
- Project budget using the template provided
- A site visit to the project, should it be funded
Application process:
- Complete an online Letter of Intent form.
- Schedule a proposal review meeting. Following the submission of the Letter of Intent, our Civic Engagement Fund Assistant, civicengagementfund@wustl.edu, will reach out and arrange this meeting between the applicant, the grant chair, and the relevant community partners.
- Download and complete the Project Proposal Template, then convert it to a pdf. In your Project Proposal, please include the following:
- Prepare a budget document using the Budget Template, then convert to a pdf.
- Secure letter(s) of support from community partner(s).
- Submit basic demographic information and upload your Project Proposal, budget, and letter(s) of support from community partner(s)
If you have any questions, please contact our Civic Engagement Fund Assistant: civicengagementfund@wustl.edu