Tier 1 grants (formerly named Micro Grants) support the creation of public outreach events and partnership development activities through funding for materials, travel and more.

All available funds this semester have been distributed. Check back in August for additional Tier 1 funding.

Applicants may request up to $2,000 for each project, and proposals are accepted under 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 – travel to/from a community partner, informal meetings (materials, refreshments, etc.), community partner honoraria, etc. 

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.

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 (formerly named Micro Grants) grant proposals provide clear evidence of how the proposed activities and events respond to community-identified needs and meet the following criteria:  

  • Align with the campus definition of outreach and engagement  
  • Align with our office's mission  
  • Support communities with less access to university resources (e.g., rural Black, Indigenous, Latino, immigrant, low income)  
  • Connect to CU Boulder scholarship (research, teaching or creative work)  
  • Provide mutual benefit to CU Boulder and external community participants  

Allowable Expenses

  • Travel and project costs for community-engaged research, teaching or creative work and outreach events or activities. 
  • Program materials or supplies, including food 
  • Participant stipends and expenses 
  • Pay for currently enrolled students up to $1,000 

Non-allowable Budget Items

  • Pay or travel expenses for professional consultants or outside speakers 
  • Faculty and staff pay, honoraria or release time 
  • Academic conference attendance 

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 2024: January 16 – May 2, 2024  
  • Fall 2024: 

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.   

Review a copy of the application here. 

  • 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:  

  • Spring 2024: January 16 – May 2, 2024  
  • Fall 2024:  TBD

Funding notifications are made within 14 days of proposal submission.   

Applicants must complete the online proposal form. 

The Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship supports public and community-engaged scholarship across the entire campus. As we aim to distribute resources equitably, please be aware 1) an individual may receive only one Micro Grant per academic year, and 2) multiple proposals from a single unit within a given cycle may not receive funding. 

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

Funding Requirements

Orientation requirement 

  • Attend a 30-minute virtual orientation.  

Communications requirements 

  • Inform your department communicator and Gretchen Minekime, Office for Public and Community-engaged Scholarship communications program manager, about any events or story ideas related to your project. 
  • Acknowledge that the project received Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (formerly named Office for Outreach and Engagement) 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, which may be featured on the Community Outreach and Engagement Programs website.  

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