Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship Grants: Tier 1

Spring 2026 Tier 1 applications are now open! Apply here.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funding has been expended.

Tier 1 grants support the creation of public outreach events and partnership development activities through funding for materials, travel and more.

Applicants may request up to $2,000 for each project, and proposals must align with one of the following categories:

  • Events – Lectures, workshops, community meetings or other stand-alone activities (stipends, materials, food, travel). Please note that Tier 1 grants cannot be used for strictly social events or conference attendance.
  • Partnership exploration or development – relationship building and exploratory collaboration to lay the groundwork for community partnership. Includes funding for travel to/from a community partner, informal meetings (materials, refreshments, etc.), community partner honoraria, etc.

For seeding and extending public and community-engaged scholarship projects, please see Tier 2 Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship Grants.

Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship Grants fund work that connects research, teaching and creative work with public needs and interests. Projects must connect CU Boulder scholarship with the expressed needs, interests or activities of external constituents and be aligned with the campus definition of outreach and engagement.

Grantee Stories

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Applicant must be a CU Boulder faculty member, staff member or currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student (with a faculty or staff advisor).

The most competitive Tier 1 grant proposals provide clear evidence of how the proposed activities and events respond to community-identified needs and meet the following criteria:

  • Connect to CU Boulder scholarship (research, teaching or creative work)
  • Provide mutual benefit to CU Boulder and external community participants 

Allowable Budget Items

  • Program materials and supplies, including printing costs and
informational materials

  • Equipment necessary to the project, including justification for its use and a plan for what will happen to the equipment once the project is complete (equipment is property of the state and cannot be donated or remain at external sites beyond the duration of the project)
  • Food or beverage integral to the project (cannot be used for
reception/social events)
  • Student stipends or hourly pay for currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate or graduate students (include pay rate and all costs associated with position including benefits, IT connectivity fees, etc.)

  • Stipends or honoraria for K-12 teachers or community partners
  • Travel expenses for CU Boulder faculty, staff, and students for engagement work taking place in the community
  • Expenses for community partners or participants to travel to campus
  • Expenses to host or create community-facing conferences, workshops, and meetings
  • Other direct costs needed for the project 

Non-allowable Budget Items

  • Pay, honoraria, or release time for staff or faculty, including postdoctoral researchers
  • Pay for undergraduate students enrolled in a course tied to outreach project
  • Fees and travel expenses for outside consulting, speakers, or professional/specialized services. However, fees and expenses for professional services will be considered if they are essential to the success of the project and are justified as to why they are needed instead of using any available talents or expertise of CU Boulder faculty, staff or students.
  • Expenses to attend a conference
  • Costs not essential to the community engagement activity
    • Capital expenses or overhead costs (e.g., rent, personal computers, office equipment)

    • Catering expenses for receptions or other social events. Funds cannot be used to purchase alcohol.
    • Marketing or advertising costs 

The Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship accepts Tier 1 grants (formerly named Micro Grants) on a rolling basis during the fall and spring semesters. 

  • Spring 2026: January 13 – May 1

Once funds for the semester have been allotted, no additional applications will be accepted.

Proposals should be submitted online no later than 45 days before the proposed event or activity. 

 
  • Keep in mind that the review committee members represent various academic disciplines. Write your proposal so that it is clear to all.
  • Be sure to spell out acronyms and provide definitions for technical terms.
  • Prepare a draft of your proposal to cut and paste into the online submission form so that you have a copy for your records.
  • Check your word count. The online form will cut off any information that exceeds the maximum word count.

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Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship staff review Tier 1 grant proposals on a rolling basis throughout fall and spring semesters:

  • Fall 2025: Aug. 21 – Dec. 12
  • Spring 2026: Jan. 13 – May 1 

Funding notifications are made within 14 days of proposal submission.

Applicants must complete the online proposal form. Applicants and projects may be awarded up to one Tier 1 grant per academic year. 

An academic unit or department must sponsor and maintain fiscal oversight of the project. 

Funding Requirements

To receive their funding, grant recipients must complete the following steps within 30 days of receiving their funding notification:

  • Sign the funding agreement

Communications Requirements

  • Acknowledge that the project received Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship grant funding on communications about your project including webpages, stories or press releases, and presentation materials.
  • Tag @CUBoulderPACES on any social media posts related to your project.
  • Respond in a timely manner to office staff about project deadlines or publicity related to the project

Status Report Requirements

  • Complete a brief status report within 30 days of the grant period’s end. Note that the status report must be completed prior to submitting additional funding requests to the office.

The Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship provides four tiers of funding. See other Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship Grant opportunities.

Questions: engagedscholarship@colorado.edu