Q&A with Catherine Curtis ’22, Program Coordinator
Catherine Curtis is a program coordinator at the Do Good Institute, where she manages educational and professional programs, including Impact Interns and Mini-Grants. Her work inspires students to take an active role in the nonprofit sector and make a meaningful impact in their communities. Catherine is a University of Maryland alumna and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public policy, as well as a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and leadership.
1. Can you tell me a little about this year’s Mini-Grants program?
This year, we received a record 103 applications, which was both exciting and incredibly encouraging. It shows just how many students are eager to make a difference and lead projects that matter. The sheer volume and quality of ideas we saw speaks to the energy and creativity on campus right now. We were able to accept proposals from 55 teams—those teams include more than 2,100 students from across campus.
These students represent a wide range of academic backgrounds. Our lead applicants come from 10 different schools and colleges: the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Policy, School of Public Health, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Information Studies, Robert H. Smith School of Business, A. James Clark School of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. They also come from several living-learning programs, including College Park Scholars, Honors College, Carillon Communities, QUEST, FIRE and CIVICUS.
2. What are some of the grand challenges that this year’s Mini-Grantees are tackling?
One of the most inspiring parts of this work is seeing students take action on the issues that matter most to them. Whether it’s mental health, sustainability, social justice, or community building, they’re not waiting for permission — they’re stepping up, organizing and creating real change. It’s a powerful reminder that leadership can start right here, right now, with passion and purpose.
Teams in our cohort are addressing several grand challenges:
- Global Health
- Public Health Beyond Borders aims to reduce health disparities around the world and increase awareness about good health practices. Supporting Hospitals with Resources and Equipment (SHARE) donates unused medical supplies from hospitals in the United States to hospitals in Kenya, Panama, and Nigeria. Rooted Maternity is dedicated to addressing high maternal mortality rates and improving maternity care for Black mothers.
- Threats to Democracy
- Prince George’s Vote aims to ensure that no constituent is left behind and exists to bring in people who are usually sidelined or excluded from the political process. The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative organizes various advocacy events and projects throughout the year that highlight different children's issues
- Social Justice
- Environmental Justice Maryland (EJMD) seeks to address the past and prevent any future environmental injustice in Maryland through awareness, action, and advocacy. The Woman In Me Initiative equips youth and families in underserved communities with essential resources to bridge critical gaps in education and health. The Asian American Student Union is committed to providing community building, education and advocacy for the Asian Pacific Desi American (APIDA) community at University of Maryland
- Education
- Science Competitions Advocating for Learning Equity (SCALE) is an elementary school outreach program that partners with local Prince George's County public elementary schools to provide engaging STEM content. The Every Child Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free, virtual tutoring to K-12 students in Maryland who do not have free and accessible tutoring. Classroom for Change is working to improve the lives of children by providing diverse children's books to local schools.
- Food Insecurity
- Jackie’s Kitchen is dedicated to preventing food waste and supporting local families facing food insecurity by recovering surplus food from the Hillel Dining Hall and delivering it to families in need. AquaSafe is committed to empowering Tanzanian agricultural communities with tools and knowledge to improve water quality in irrigation, ultimately promoting public health and sustainable farming.
3. What has been the most inspiring or surprising project you've seen come out of this year’s Mini-Grant program?
While it’s incredibly difficult to pick just a few teams, this year’s cohort has been able to create some amazing impact for several very deserving communities. Some of my personal favorite projects included:
The Movement Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting social action, economic empowerment, and community growth, with a focus on Black and brown communities. They have worked with over 3,500 volunteers and facilitated over 845,000 volunteer hours across the country. This team also won 3rd place in the Founders track of this year’s Do Good Challenge.
The Hack 4 Impact UMD Chapter empowers students to use technology for social good by partnering with nonprofit organizations to build free and impactful software solutions that address their needs. This year, the students involved in the club partnered with seven different nonprofits, volunteering over 23,000 hours to develop customized solutions for their partners.
Students for Wellness, founded in the fall semester of Impact Bootcamp, offers after-school opportunities for students to create their own health campaigns, mentored by UMD pre-health student-athletes. This spring, they were able to partner with College Park Academy to launch their first student-selected health campaign focused on sanitation.
4. Were there any returning grantees from previous years?
One of the things I loved about this year’s cohort was the even balance between new and returning teams. It created such a dynamic mix — fresh ideas and perspectives from first-time applicants, paired with the experience and momentum of returning groups. Here are some highlights from our returning teams:
The Petal Project provides a supportive community for students at the University of Maryland who have experienced harmful relationships. They used their grant to support weekly programming during domestic violence awareness month, including flower distribution, community workshops, and educational panels.
Miles for Smiles wants to expand access to dentistry in the communities around the campus. This organization used its grant to host their annual spring 5k fundraising run to raise funds for local dental service organizations. They were also able to put on workshops and panels focused on underserved communities for their members.
Lean on Me UMD Chapter aims to bridge the gap of accessibility and apprehension in student mental health support by providing students with peer emotional support via text 24/7. This year, the team used their funding to support their large finals tabling event, where they provided students with care packages at the end of the semester.
However, I’d be remiss not to highlight some of this year’s amazing new teams, such as Al-Hikmah, the University of Maryland’s first-ever Muslim student newspaper; Justice for Fraud Victims, a campus-based nonprofit that offers free assistance to victims of financial fraud; and Rescue Toys, which provides comfort to children in emergency situations by equipping College Park Fire Department ambulances with toy boxes.
5. What was the best part of working with this year’s Mini-Grant teams?
The most rewarding aspect is witnessing the students' creativity, dedication and resourcefulness in action. Every year, I’m blown away by how deeply they care about their communities and how willing they are to step up and lead. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch them take an idea — sometimes just a spark — and turn it into something real that impacts others. Their energy and determination remind me why this program exists in the first place. It’s a privilege to support them.Catherine Curtis Program Coordinator, DGI
6. What advice would you give to student teams who are interested in applying for a grant?
My biggest piece of advice is to really know your 'why' — why this issue matters to you personally, and why it matters to the community you’re trying to serve. The strongest applications come from students who have taken the time to deeply understand the people they’re trying to support, and who can clearly articulate the need. We also look for teams who think critically about how they'll measure their impact — not necessarily with big, complex data, but with thoughtful indicators that show whether their efforts are making a difference. Passion is essential, but pairing it with a clear plan and a strong understanding of your audience takes it to the next level.
Meet the teams accepted into the 2024-2025 Mini-Grants program:
- Active Minds
- Al-Hikmah
- Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Delta Zeta Chapter
- AquaSafe
- Asian American Policy Union
- Asian American Student Union
- B.L.A.C.K. Tech Innovations
- Best Buddies
- Black Graduate Student Union
- Classroom for Change
- Coalition of Latinx Student Organizations
- College Mentors For Kids
- College Mentors For Success
- Collegiate Financial Management Association (CFMA)
- Don't Adjust Your C.R.O.W.N
- Echoish
- Entrepreneurial Design Realization
- Environmental Justice Maryland (EJMD)
- Ethiopian & Eritrean Student Association
- Foundational Learning and Mentorship Experience
- Girls College Organization
- Hack4Impact
- International Policy Council
- International Sports Organization
- Jackie's Kitchen
- Justice for Fraud Victims
- Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth, and Families
- Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program at the University of Maryland College Park
- Latinx Pre-Health Society
- Lean On Me College Park
- Med-ucate
- Miles for Smiles
- Mu Delta Alpha Sorority Inc.
- National Pan-Hellenic Council
- Opportunity Bridge
- Peer to Peer
- People4Tigray
- Prince George's Vote
- Project ElevateHealth
- Public Health Beyond Borders
- Rescue Toys
- Rooted Maternity
- Science Competitions Advocating for Learning Equity (SCALE)
- Smiles for Our Future
- Students Against Skin Cancer
- Students Engaged in Public Health
- Students for Wellness
- Supporting Hospitals with Resources and Equipment (UMD SHARE)
- Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) Graduate Student Association (GSA)
- TeleShadowing
- The Every Child Project
- The Health Law Society
- The Kappa Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
- The Movement Street
- The Petal Project
- The Woman in Me Initiative
- Third Space
- UMCP UNICEF
- UnLocked Project