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Student Mini-Grant Request

The McCall Center for Civic Engagement (MCCE) invites students to submit proposals for mini-grant funding for civic engagement projects. In order to ensure that the limited MCCE budget is well spent on high-quality civic engagement projects, please complete the following proposal.

Civic Engagement Mini Grant Information

Although we would love to fund every project idea that comes to our attention, the funding that we have for service projects is limited. Therefore, although it is likely that a project will receive funding if the grant application is well-written, it is not a given.

Due to limited available funding, smaller requests (up to $25-$50) are more likely to be granted than large requests. Students are encouraged to seek other sources of funding as well, such as via the Undergraduate Student Senate or specific student clubs. In some cases, non-monetary assistance from the MCCE may be suggested (For example: the MCCE can make copies rather than reimbursing for copies made, the MCCE can be billed for motor pool rather than reimbursing for gas, etc.).

In order to increase the likelihood that you will receive funding for your project, follow these guidelines:

1. Budget clarity
When writing out an explanation of the amount you are requesting, be sure to clearly explain exactly what the money is going toward.

Bad Example:
$10.00 for craft supplies

Good Example:
$3.00 for 3 rolls of wrapping paper + $2.00 for glue sticks + $5.00 for colored construction paper = $10.00 Total

2. Clear project description
Write a detailed purpose of the project. It is important for us to be able to clearly understand what the money is being requested for. Give the full, "who, what, when, where, why and how."

Bad Example: 
We will teach sports skills to youth and fundraise to get necessary equipment for them.

Good Example:
“Athletic Happening’s intent is to bring extra opportunities for Oregon youth who don’t have the means or the resources to participate in athletic events. Two  group members would visit a middle or elementary school one week and teach the kids fundamentals in baseball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc. while having fun and engaging the students. The second part of the project is to raise money for sports programs that don’t have the necessary means to provide sports equipment to young athletes of Oregon.”

3. Permissions 
Prior to beginning this process, be sure that you have checked with appropriate channels (legal, student activities, Bon Appetit, etc.) that your project has permission to proceed. The MCCE can assist with this step if you are unsure where to start.

4. Apply sooner rather than later
Funds are allocated on a first-come, first served basis each semester.

Process for Approval & Reimbursement

Submission & Approval
When you submit a mini-grant request form, it is brought to the student staff of the MCCE at the following staff meeting (weekly on Tuesdays). At that meeting, the team will review your request and make the decision to: contact you for additional information, approve the request, or make recommendations for a better alternative for your funding. You should hear back from a Civic Action Team Specialist shortly after this meeting, as we aim for applicants to be notified of their application's acceptance or decline within a week of application submission. At any point, you are welcome to contact the MCCE to check on the status of your request by emailing mcce@pacificu.edu.

Reimbursement
Funds are typically disbursed through a reimbursement process (students pay up front and must have a receipt in order to be reimbursed). Please note:

  • Applicants accept all legal responsibility for the monetary transactions
  • For travel reimbursement please calculate mileage estimates using Google Maps or similar program to find the distance from campus. We reimbursement at the current IRS Standard Mileage Rates for Business.
  • Reimbursement paperwork must be submitted to the Director of Applied and Experiential Learning no later than Reading Day.
  • It is your responsibility to remember the deadline. If you do not appear for reimbursement on or before this date, we will assume you no longer require reimbursement and the allotted budget will be distributed in support of other projects. 

Thank you for applying for a Civic Engagement Mini-Grant. We can't wait to hear about the project you have planned!