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Anchor University Grants Anchor University

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Community Engagement Grants

Details

Dates:

Applications for the 2025-2026 grants will open early-March 2025 and will be available for a month. Grant awardees will be announced in mid-May.

The award cycle is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026.

Funding:

The maximum award for this award is $5,000.

Application Info:

Applicant(s) can only submit one application and may only apply for one of the grants, not for both.

Applications must be submitted online via InfoReady.

Note: Submitting the same proposal for which you have previously received an Anchor University grant is discouraged. We highly encourage growth in project and program development. We would like to see how your grant proposal builds upon and expands previous work.

Description

The Community Engagement grant seeks to fund new or existing projects and programs that focus on community-engaged partnerships, research, scholarship, and learning that will improve the long-term welfare of the Sacramento community and address at least one of the six priority issues of Anchor University. All projects must also advance student success and the University’s anti-racism and inclusion efforts. Additionally, applicants must engage with at least one (1) community partner to encourage deep connections within the community (community organization, government agency, non-profit, school, etc.).

Those eligible to apply are Sac State faculty members (tenured, tenure track, part-time), staff members, students, and student organizations.

All awardees will be required to document how funds were used and advanced the University’s dedicated community involvement imperative, and submit a final impact report after the grant cycle.

Required

  1. All applicants must have at least one (1) new or existing community organization partner that is already engaged on the priority issue or project to encourage deep connections within the community (community organization, government agency, non-profit, school, etc.).

The community partner organization must provide a letter of support that describes the depth of the potential or existing mutually beneficial partnership.

  1. The proposed activities must connect directly to Sac State student success, link to learning outcomes, or encourage student engagement and retention.
  2. The proposed activities will have faculty/staff and student roles.
  3. The proposed activities must advance equity, antiracism, and/or social justice in our community and/or on campus.
  4. Projects must align with at least one of the following six Anchor priority issue areas:
    • Pre K-12 Education
    • Health and Well-Being
    • Environment, Mobility, and Sustainability
    • Inclusive Economic Opportunity & Workforce Development
    • Arts & Culture
    • Homelessness & Housing

Preferred

  1. The proposed activities will involve a partnership with another department, program, or center within the University.
  2. The proposed activities will help community partners in their research, evaluation, and/or capacity building.
  3. The proposed activities will expand opportunities for scholarly research or creative activities by faculty, staff, or students.
  4. The proposed activities will enhance Sacramento State students’ sense of community by participating in community engagement projects.
  5. The proposed activities will ensure the sustainability of the project or partnership.

Permissible and Non-Permissible Expenses

Permissible:

  • Supplies
  • Materials
  • Equipment
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Food, drinks, and refreshments
  • Payment to a non-profit organization or K-12 school
  • Payment to non-CSU employed individuals to perform services
  • Payment to a business to perform services
  • Payment to a guest speaker
  • Payment to an individual providing training services
  • Student employment** (the Student Assistant job classification shall be used for all payments to students)

**Due to federal law, students without work authorization cannot be paid with General Fund dollars. Campus units looking to hire such students should contact the Student Employment office for questions.

Non-Permissible:

  • Gift cards
  • Tuition assistance or scholarships for enrolled students
  • Student stipend**
  • Paid student internships**
  • Staff stipend or bonus
  • Faculty assigned time/release time

**For more funding information about payments to students, please click here to visit the Account Services' webpage.

Contact Information

For more information and questions, please contact Anchor University staff at anchor@csus.edu or call (916) 278-6710.