UServeUtah will be concluding its Community Engagement Grants Program. We extend our appreciation to all past grantees who have worked towards advancing community and civic engagement.
While this marks the end of the current grant program, we are excited to announce that we will be releasing an announcement on future funding opportunities in May 2024. We encourage you to stay tuned for further details and updates by signing up for funding emails from UServeUtah.
Community Engagement EZ Grant
The Community Engagement EZ Grant provides funding up to $2,500 to support initiatives that increase that increase awareness of and participation in community and/or civic engagement.
The EZ Grant encourages new and innovative projects that focus on the experience of the volunteers and/or participants by providing funding to support the early stages of program development. UServeUtah defines community and/or civic engagement as implementing actions that improve issues of public concern through both political and nonpolitical processes.
The EZ Grant is designed to have a simplified application and reporting process.
UServeUtah has identified the compelling need to raise awareness of the positive effects of volunteerism and provide high-quality volunteer/educational opportunities that educate participants to be engaged members of their community for their entire lives. This grant opportunity provides project-based funds for volunteer/participant-centric projects located throughout the state of Utah. The project goals are:
- Supporting community and/or civic engagement programming with a focus on the volunteer/participant
- Engaging individuals during the project period and beyond
- Fostering commitment to service, volunteerism, and civic engagement
Grant Timeline: 2023-2024
Monday, March 6, 2023: Application released
Thursday, March 16, 2023: Virtual Information Session (optional) 11:00 AM
Recording available below under Resources
Monday, May 1, 2023: Applications due by 5:00 PM MST
Wednesday, May 31, 2023: Applicants notified
July 1, 2023 - June 15, 2024: Project period
Eligible Applicants
- Nonprofit organizations
- Institutions of higher education
- State Agencies
- Government entities within the state including cities, counties, and municipalities
- Community or faith-based organizations
- Partnerships of any of the above entities
Grant Amount
Awards will be funded up to $2,500. This is not a reimbursable grant. Funding will be distributed in July 2023. UServeUtah reserves the right to award less than the requested amount based on available funding and submitted applications.
Funds are intended to support new initiatives or changes to existing programs that significantly increase volunteer/participant reach. Previously funded Community Engagement grantees are welcome to apply; however, projects can be funded no more than two times.
Organizations may only receive funding for one Community Engagement Grant (including all three grant types) each fiscal year (July - June). Project grants above $2,500 may be requested with the Standard Grant application. Projects below $500 may be requested with the Mini-Grant application.
Match
Project Criteria
Applicants must clearly address the following in the grant application narratives:
- Goals to increase the awareness of and participation of Utahns in community/civic engagement.
- Projects are focused on the volunteer and/or participant
- Projects will incorporate one or more of the Community Engagement Pathways
- Intentional activities and/or education should help volunteers and/or participants stay engaged after project completion
- Expected outputs (number of volunteers/participants, etc) of the project
Fundable Expenses
The following expenses are fundable depending on the proposed project scope:
- Personnel Expenses (up to 25% of budget): compensation paid to individuals who charged time to the initiative
- Advertising (funds spent to promote the initiative)
- Facility (cost of location to carry out the initiative)
- Printing (printed materials for the initiative)
- Supplies (items purchased to carry out the initiative)
- Travel (designation, dates of travel, number of people)
- Food (funds for snacks and meals for initiative participants)
- Contractual Services (programmatic efforts carried out by a third party)
Non-fundable Expenses
- Grants may not be used for fundraising or cash prizes
- While funding may be used to educate on the political process, direct political event(s), lobbying, or religious proselytizing activities are not allowed
- Scholarships
- Gift cards or certificates
- Assist, promote, or deter union organizing
- Impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements
- Event(s) and program(s) outside of Utah
Assessment Criteria
Grant Recipient Responsibilities
Applicants who receive grant awards will be responsible for:
- Providing UServeUtah with evidence of a passed background check for all employees paid with grant funds
- Tracking all expenses and submitting a detailed invoice to UServeUtah
- Submitting end of project report: no later than 45 days after the end of your initiative and no later than June 15, 2024
- Acknowledging UServeUtah's support of your initiative by use of logo, signage, social media tags, etc. Tagging @userveutah in social media posts.
How to Apply
Resources
- Community Engagement Grants Information Session
- Grant Application (Microsoft Word version)
Final applications must be submitted in Qualtrics - Performance Measurement Resources
- Community Engagement Pathways
- Frequently Asked Questions