Community Engagement Funding FY24
The Office of Community Engagement (OCE), part of the External Relations, creates more purposeful and organized engagement between Stanford and the external communities with which the university interacts. OCE leverages the expertise and resources of Stanford’s Community Engagement Hubs to strengthen and advance collaboration with external communities, with a focus on addressing mutual challenges around arts, education, equity, health, and sustainability.
OCE seeks proposals from Community Engagement Hubs’ faculty and staff working with community partners on defined engagement projects, particularly projects that center on building healthy and resilient communities in the Bay Area and beyond. Priority will be given to faculty-led projects working with the bottom quartile of residents in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For any primarily student-run projects, please connect with the Haas Center for Public Service.
The Silicon Valley Index released by Joint Venture Silicon Valley is a helpful guide to understanding the bottom quartile of residents in our local two counties; and the 2023 Silicon Valley Pain Index published by San Jose State University’s Human Rights Institute further illuminates inequality in the region.
Application Timeline
The call for proposals will open on Tuesday, August 29. Applications will close on Monday, October 2 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. and recipients will be notified before the 2023 winter closure.
OCE will host a Zoom open house hour on Thursday, September 14, 11:30am-12:30pm PDT for interested applicants to drop in and ask any questions about this year’s proposal criteria and funding process. Please email Merry Pham for the Zoom details.
Funding Types
All Community Engagement Hubs are eligible to apply for two types of one-time funding for projects in the Bay Area region or another U.S. location. Funding will support faculty- and staff-led efforts that address community needs as determined by those most impacted by those needs.
Level 1 funding up to $30,000 for early-stage time-bound projects or pilots with new community partners (less than 2 years old) that focus on understanding community-voiced problems, co-developing engagement efforts that uplift marginalized communities, and lead to possible solutions.
Level 2 funding up to $50,000 with established community partnerships for time-bound projects that apply Stanford resources to further capacity building and engagement efforts in concrete ways with co-created community solutions.
Examples of engagement efforts include education and health services, interventions, workshops, convenings, community-engaged research, and more. Our preference is for time-bound, specific engagement efforts to be completed by August 31, 2024 (but extension requests up to Dec. 31, 2024 will be considered). Extension of use of funding beyond Dec. 31, 2024 will not be possible. While applicants may apply for the maximum amount, we encourage applicants to articulate true budget needs to allow OCE to stretch funds and award more proposals.
Note: Projects that are continuing work with underrepresented youth and college students in the summer should contact Beth McKeown
Project Examples
Information about prior awardees can be found here. OCE is most interested in projects at the intersection of community needs and Stanford’s research and education mission. Examples of effective co-created partnerships funded by OCE include supporting young black students and their families in the SFUSD Shoestrings Program and beyond through interventions to disrupt the preschool-to-prison pipeline, the training of community health workers, and placement of Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) graduates in local classrooms for summer instruction.
Program Priorities
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Shovel-ready, time-bound engagement projects (where research and teaching mission meets engagement), especially projects working with the bottom quartile of residents in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties
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Committed faculty leadership for the project
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Meets need identified by a community partner
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Deepens partnership between campus and community
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Embodies co-creation and centers the community in new ways that advance equity and the university’s mission of teaching and research
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Measurable and realistic impact
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First-time awardees
Applications are open to Stanford Community Engagement Hubs, which OCE defines as the offices, centers, institutes, and impact labs that regularly engage with outside communities as part of education, research, culture and recreation activities. A hub’s faculty/lecturer or staff involved in the proposal may apply on behalf of the hub, but the project must be approved by the hub faculty or senior staff director. If you’re interested in being added as a Community Engagement Hub, contact Merry Pham. Primarily student-run projects are not eligible.
While prior seed funding award recipients may re-apply to further their projects; if selected, they will be considered for a portion of funds available. This encourages Stanford units to sustain ongoing efforts that are tied to the mission.
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Our preference is for one-time funding to be utilized by August 31, 2024 to help respond to the most immediate needs confronting communities, but extension of use of funding up to Dec. 31, 2024 will be considered. Extension of use of funding beyond Dec. 31, 2024 will not be possible.
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All projects should comply with Stanford’s Principles of Ethical and Effective Service.
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If selected, faculty director or senior staff lead awardees agree to the following:
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Confirmation of funding terms provided
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Creation of a new PTA within awardee’s home organization and management of funds
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Participation in a mid-point meeting
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Completion of a reflection on the project towards the end of the fund cycle (survey and/or interview) and a short presentation to the OCE community upon request.
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Funds may be used for education and other engagement, convenings, honoraria, and/or services provided by nonprofit partners of Stanford University.
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Funds may not supplant ongoing salary and benefit expenses, nor for student tuition.