UMD Engage Offering Grants For Student Service Projects
Oliver Yehlik (left) and Cheryl Skafte (right) tabling outside of Bohannon 83. Photo by Seth Roeser
Editor’s Note: This article was edited to capitalize “The” in “The Allstate Foundation” and for accuracy.
UMD Engage, a program of the Office of Academic Affairs, is now accepting applications for micro grants of up to $1,000 for student-led projects centered around service and volunteering. The priority deadline for applications is Tuesday, Feb. 4.
“We want it to be exciting, and we want to really feel like it’s empowering students to take their service ideas and make them a reality,” said UMD Public Engagement Coordinator Cheryl Skafte.
According to the UMD Engage webpage, student-led service projects include but aren't limited to projects undertaken by student organizations, projects inspired by class assignments and personal passion projects. The page defines service as “acts intended to benefit people and/or communities by enhancing connections and relationships to address issues and strengthen communities.”
UMD Engage Community Engagement Specialist Oliver Yehlik says the broad definition of service has allowed for a variety of different ways the grant money can be utilized.
“I think there’s a lot of room to be really creative,” Yehlik said. “I’ve been excited to see what those applications are for and seeing what creative energy students can apply to some service and volunteering opportunities.”
UMD Service Microgrants are funded by grants from The Allstate Foundation and while the maximum amount an applicant can ask for is $1,000, there is functionally no minimum amount.
“If someone was like ‘I need $5 for a parking pass for a community partner,” we’d consider it,” Skafte said. “I don’t think there’s really an amount too small.”
Applications must be sponsored by a student organization or supported by a faculty/staff member — those without either can be sponsored by UMD Engage upon applying.
UMD Engage is a program of the Office of Academic Affairs created in January 2023. It recently kicked off its “Spring Into Service” initiative, which started with the Spring Volunteer Fair on Jan. 28, with more events lined up until April 26.
“I’ve been very impressed with the commitment I’ve seen from the student body at UMD,” Skafte said. “All the student orgs I talk to are like ‘How can we connect to the community?’ ‘How can we give back?’ ‘How can we volunteer?’”
“And I see it across the board from so many student orgs and I just think that’s really, really special.”
The date for grant disbursement is to be determined, but the awarded funds must be spent in full by May 15. More information about UMD Engage and the micro grant application process can be found here.