Community Engagement Impact Projects FY26
The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) works across units to foster collaboration with communities as we address mutual challenges and welcome the public to campus. Our priority is mission-driven work that supports Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, while we welcome visitors and forge stronger engagement on campus and across the globe. OCE leverages the expertise and resources of Stanford’s Community Engagement Hubs.
OCE seeks proposals from Community Engagement Hub faculty and staff working with community partners on defined engagement projects, particularly projects that center on building healthy communities in our local two counties.
Priority will be given to projects that are co-created with community partners to address identified needs felt more broadly in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and that lead to deeper Stanford engagement in the region. Helpful guides to understanding the identified needs in our local two counties include Stanford Health Care’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), the 2025 Silicon Valley Pain Index published by San Jose State University’s Human Rights Institute, and the 2025 Joint Venture Silicon Valley Index.
Application Timeline
The call for proposals will open on Friday, August 1. Applications will close on Wednesday, October 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. and recipients will be notified before the winter closure. Preview the application questions here.
OCE will host a Zoom open house hour on Friday, Sept. 12, 11:00 am-12:00 pm PT for interested applicants to ask any questions about this year’s proposal criteria and funding process. Please sign up here by Monday, September 8.
Funding
Faculty and staff leadership from Stanford’s Community Engagement Hubs are eligible to apply for up to $40,000 in funding. Funding will support faculty- and staff-led hub efforts that address community needs. Staff projects should not be stand-alone or individual projects, but rather be embedded in the priorities and operations of their school or unit, and have senior leadership involvement.
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.
Project Examples
Read more about prior awardees. OCE is most interested in projects at the intersection of community needs and Stanford’s research and education mission. Examples of engagement efforts include expanding health information, education outreach including STEM, community-engaged research, research practice translation, critical convenings, and more.
- Shovel-ready, time-bound engagement projects (where research and education mission meets engagement), especially projects that address identified needs felt more broadly in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties
- Committed faculty or senior staff leadership for the project
- Project works towards addressing a community need; and deepens partnership between campus and community
- Embodies co-creation and centers the community in new ways that advance the university’s mission of education and research; measurable and realistic impact
- 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, 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 new Community Engagement Hub, contact Merry Pham.
- Before completing your application, update your hub map entry with current key community partners, hub contacts, and all your featured engagements (i.e., collaborations with community partners) as possible. Hubs can submit information via this form.
- One-time funding should be utilized by Dec. 31, 2026. Should you not be able to utilize your funding for your project, please let us know.
- All projects work to uphold Stanford’s Principles of Ethical and Effective Service.
-
If selected, faculty director or senior staff awardees agree to the following:
- Confirmation of funding terms provided
- Provide a PTA within awardee’s home organization and management of funds
- Participation in a mid-point meeting
- Completion of a brief reflection at the end of the fund cycle (survey and/or interview), final expense reports, and a short presentation upon request.
- Our priority is for time-bound engagement efforts with budgets that are likewise time-bound and project-specific to support the activities of the community partnership.
- Funds may be used for education and other engagement, convenings, honoraria, and/or services provided by nonprofit partners.
- Funds may not supplant ongoing salary and benefit expenses, nor be used for student tuition.
- Funds are generally not intended for ongoing salary, continuing internship programs, or recurring programs.
