Request for Proposals (RFP) for Civic Catalysts

Proposal Deadlines: June 1, October 1, December 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027.
Funding Amount: $1,000 max
Program Duration: Engagement with Title 1 schools must be completed by the end of the 2026-2027 school year. Stipends, reflections, and final reports must be submitted by July 1.

Program Overview

Community Engagement Alliance (CEA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Civic Catalysts Program. This initiative aims to support projects where college students engage middle or high school students at Title 1 schools in civic learning or America 250 themed activities during the 2026-2027 school year.

Projects should focus on sustained engagement with the Title 1 schools rather than one-off activities. For example, Civic Catalysts should participate in at least a “pre-teach” or preparation activity, the facilitation or guidance of a central activity, and a class session to help students make meaning of their experience in the central activity.

Applicant Qualifications

  • Faculty of any rank or discipline
  • Professional staff
  • Senior administrators
  • Graduate Students*

The primary investigator must be a student or employee of a CEA partner institution, and any funds awarded will be distributed to the partner institution for further management and distribution. CEA welcomes and encourages proposals from project teams that include any combination of eligible applicants above as well as community partners.

*Graduate Students wishing to apply to this funded program must include a full-time faculty or staff member to serve as co-primary investigator.

Program Goals

This program seeks to enhance academic and civic learning outcomes for Title 1 students and Civic Catalysts (i.e., college students).

Project Examples

  • “Our Community, Our 250th" -- Civic Catalysts partner with a social studies or English class to help create short digital stories (videos, podcasts, etc.) about how their community has changed since the founding of the United States and what they hope it will look like by the  300th anniversary.
  • “Schoolyard Civic Murals and Story Walk” -- Civic Catalysts partner with art or social studies students to research local civic history and create a “story walk” on school grounds that celebrates the history and aspirations of the school or community.
  • “From Archives to Action” -- Civic Catalysts parter with Title 1 students to prepare for, experience, and reflect on a visit to a local historical landmark. As part of the reflection activity, Civic Catalysts lead Title 1 students in the creation of a mini-exhibit that represents how their view of local history has changed as a result of this experience.

Proposal Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials by the proposal deadline:

  1. Project Overview
    • Project Title
    • Title 1 School Partner
    • Project Start Date – project should not plan to utilize grant funds before March 1.
    • Project End Date
    • Requested Amount – monetary figure requested to conduct the projec
    • Executive Summary
  2. Investigator Information
    • Full Name
    • Academic Institution
    • Professional Title
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • All of the information above for Civic Catalyst(s) any Co-Investigators
  3. Fiscal Officer*
    • Full Name
    • Professional Title
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • *Fiscal Officer refers to the individual who is a designated financial signatory for the campus and/or department. The Fiscal Officer will fulfill the financial reporting requirements and manage all financial aspects of the grant. The Investigator cannot also serve as the Fiscal Officer.
  4. Project Description & Activities
    • What is the core activity of this project (e.g., field trip, art installation, community conversations, etc.)?
    • How will the Civic Catalysts (i.e., college students) be involved before and after the core activity?
    • Approximately how many hours will the civic catalysts spend engaging with students at the Title 1 school(s)?
    • When will each aspect of the project take place?
    • How was the project intentionally designed to generate civic learning outcomes for both the civic catalysts and students at the Title 1 school?
  5. Goals, Anticipated Outcomes, & Evaluation
    • In the simplest terms possible, explain what you hope to achieve with this project.
    • How will achieving your goals represent progress toward enhancing academic and civic learning outcomes for the civic catalysts and Title 1 students?
    • What observable or quantifiable outputs will the project produce?
    • How will progress be assessed?
    • What data will be collected and how will it be analyzed?
  6. Budget Request and Reporting Form
  7. Optional Information\
    • Letter(s) of Support - Letter(s) of support can be submitted from a senior administrator, community partner, or any relevant stakeholders.
    • References - If you use quotations, refer to prior research, or make mention of your previous work, please provide a reference list in a standard format (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

Submission Process

Please submit your completed proposal online. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. For questions regarding this RFP, please contact grants@engagedalliance.org.

 

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Scroll to Top