Mini-Grants

• Receive up to $750 in funding to support your efforts to Do Good
• Connect with other student resources available on campus
• Join our community of changemakers, activists, and idea creators in social impact 
• Gain access to optional one-on-one coaching support with Do Good Institute staff

The Mini-Grants program is open to any individual students or student teams. The specific eligibility requirements are: 

• Proposals must focus on addressing a social or environmental cause with a clear action plan.
• Proposals can be submitted by an individual or a team/organization. Teams may be new or existing (such as student organizations, fraternities or sororities, or academic programs).  Students or teams are not required to be a registered or official student organization with the University of Maryland to apply.
• Applicants must have a disbursement option in place to receive their grant award or have started the process of creating one at the time of application. See the FAQ section for more details on disbursement options and how we can help you create one.
• Applications must have a designated Lead Applicant. The Lead Applicant must be a full- or part-time degree-seeking student at the University of Maryland.Lead applicants will be the main contact person for all ​Do Good communications​, notifications, and questions. ​Lead Applicants will take primary responsibility for receiving and responding to all correspondence. If applying on behalf of a team, we recommend that Lead Applicants is an individual serving in a leadership capacity, such as a Founder, President, Chair, or other leadership role.
• Proposals, projects, events, or ventures must be student-led and student-run. Faculty, staff, and external partners are encouraged to serve strictly as advisors or mentors.
• The Do Good Institute has authority to determine eligibility for all submissions.
• Award recipients authorize the Do Good Institute to edit and publish proposal, project, or venture information – including team member information (including names, majors, and other affiliations), impact data, photos, videos, testimonials, and success stories – in web and printed materials. Some teams may be profiled on the Do Good Institute website and may appear in Do Good Institute and University of Maryland publications and other promotional materials.

Students interested in Mini-Grants will need to apply using our application portal. Please submit your application before 11:59 pm on November 3, 2024. 

Have questions about how to write a compelling application? Join our virtual Mini-Grants Q&A Sessions to learn more about what makes a great application, the facts and figures you want to include, what you need before submitting, and so much more. There will also be plenty of time to ask questions! 

• Thursday, September 12, 11:00-11:30 AM
• Monday, September 23, 12:00-12:30 PM
• Wednesday, October 9, 10:00-10:30 AM
• Friday, October 25, 1:00-1:30 PM 

Mini-Grants are best suited for projects and events that are in the implementation phase of development. Preference is given to teams that have a clear and developed project plan and to teams that aim to create as much impact as possible. Teams that are still in the idea phase or are still developing or refining their project plans should explore Impact Bootcamp. Teams that are further along in the implementation stage may be better suited to being an Accelerator Fellow or participating in the Do Good Challenge. 

Check our Do Good Student Teams page to see the past teams that have participated in the Do Good Mini-Grants program.

Yes! If you have received a Mini-Grant in the past, you can apply again. But, the process is a little different than last year. Mini-Grants is back to being just a grant award. Now, students and teams can receive their funding and participate in coaching sessions if they would like. If you are interested in more intensive development coaching, we recommend exploring Impact Bootcamp. We recommend that you attend a Mini Grant information session to hear more about the updated program and ask any questions you might have. 

Students can receive their funding three different ways. Please refer to the SORC Financial Manual to begin to explore and read more about each option, or to start exploring if your team is new to managing finances. The options for disbursement are:  

1. Student Organization KFS: This is the best option for student clubs that are SGA and SORC recognized. For this option, your organization needs a KFS account and number that you would use to receive your Mini-Grant funds. This method usually takes 1-3 business days after you submit the correct paperwork to receive your grant.
2. State-Issued Check: This is the best option for organizations or teams that work with a larger nonprofit. For this option, your organization needs an EIN, a W9 Tax form, and a mailing address in order to receive a state-issued check. You also need to have a bank account in the name of the organization (not a team member) that you can use to cash the check. This method usually takes 6-8 weeks after you submit the correct paperwork to receive your grant.
3. Sponsoring Office KFS: This is the best option for teams that work with a UMD office or department. For this option, your organization needs to work closely with a department or office on campus that has a KFS account and is willing to receive and manage the funds on your behalf. You must discuss this option with an advisor and/or the business manager of that office to make sure there is an understanding of how you will manage your Mini-Grant funds through their office. This method usually takes 1-3 business days after you submit the correct paperwork to receive your grant. 

You or your team may not have any of these financial options yet. Having a disbursement option is required to participate in the program, but, don't worry - the Do Good Institute is happy to help you set up disbursement options. We encourage you to reach out to Program Coordinator, Catherine Curtis (ccurtis5@umd.edu) to request support.