Outreach and Engagement Grant Opportunities

Outreach and Engagement Grant Opportunities

The Office of Outreach and Engagement provides funding to faculty and/or faculty-led teams, and university staff that hold PI status with the annual Engagement Grants program. Grants will be awarded at the maximum amount of $15,000 to support: (a) an impact report of an existing university sponsored/facilitated outreach and engagement program, performance, exhibition or similar program; (b) an impact report of a community-based organizations program, performance, exhibition, or initiative for the purpose of establishing a partnership or enhancing an ongoing relationship; (c) development of a public policy document or impact report in partnership with community organization; (d) development or implementation of a program, performance, exhibition, or initiative based upon previous research, assessment, or community stakeholder/public input; or (e) enhancing or expanding a program that extends community access to the university, broadly defined.


Eligibility: Faculty (all ranks and titles) and/or faculty-led teams are eligible to apply. University staff that hold PI status are also eligible to apply.


Applications are due March 4 and should be submitted via email as a PDF to Assistant Vice Provost Nicole Nieto at nieto.12@osu.edu.

Download application (Word doc)


Questions? Contact Assistant Vice Provost Nicole Nieto at nieto.12@osu.edu.

Grant Category Descriptions

This category is intended to support the assessment or evaluation of a university-led program, performance, exhibition, or initiative that is conducted in partnership with a community partner that engages individuals external to the university.

This category is very similar to the above, but is intended to focus on programs, performances, exhibitions, or initiatives that are not currently led or co-led by a university unit or faculty/staff/student. The purpose is to engage with a community-based organization to conduct an assessment or evaluation with the purpose of establishing a new relationship or enhancing/growing a current partnership. It is important that the assessment/evaluation be driven by the community organization need with a longer-term plan for engagement clearly articulated by the applicant.

The output from this funding category can take on many forms including, but not limited to a policy proposal, research report, or program impact report. Target audiences are broad ranging from policy makers, to funding agencies, to community members. Support for print materials or digital strategies would be appropriate when identifying ways to share the work.

As a result of research, a program needs assessment, or other documented public input a new program is being proposed that meets a need for the community (broadly defined). This may be a program that is conducted at one of the university campuses or properties, or at a community organization facility.

This funding category is intended to support existing programs that are led by the university or a community partner where there is a desire to expand or enhance current participation in programs, exhibitions, or initiatives. This may be a program that is conducted at one of the university campuses or properties, or at a community organization facility.

Past Outreach and Engagement Grant Recipients