Community-Engaged Learning Grants

We are now accepting applications through October 31, 2025. 

Call for Proposals

Spring 2026 Community-Engaged Learning Grants 

Through October 31, 2025  


Information Session and Showcase of Prior Grants 

POSTPONED to October 29, 2025, 4:00PM 

Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, Woodruff Library, Suite 216 

The CFDE is pleased to announce the availability of the Community-Engaged Learning grants under the direction of the Director of Engaged Learning, Dr. Vialla Hartfield-Méndez. Anyone currently teaching at Emory is eligible, including graduate students, adjunct faculty, visiting faculty, lecturers, and tenure track faculty. Please note that Vialla is available for teaching consultations about community engaged pedagogy, syllabus development, partnership cultivation, and general related questions.  

Please also note in your calendars: On October 29 (NEW DATE), 4:00-5:00pm, the CFDE will host an information session about community-engaged teaching, highlighting CEL courses taught recently and including other campus resources.   

Grants may be used to support activities that support community engagedexperiences that are well-integrated in courses or academic programs. Proposals should address how community engaged pedagogy is leveraged to assist organizations with addressing critical community needs in the metro Atlanta area. The application requires answers to questions about: 

  • the relationship with the partner(s) 
  • how the student experience will meet a need identified by the partner,  
  • how the experience with partners is integrated into the course, and  
  • how reflection about the experience is integrated into the course.  

Such partners might include neighborhood groups, nonprofit organizations, public agencies or other similar organizations. Proposals may also be submitted for projects that are in the early stages of community partnership development (especially those that include students in the partnership development work) and/or learning experiences for students that prepare them to better engage with community partners. 

Funding Guidelines 

CEL Grants cover amounts up to $1200 and are intended to support both new or ongoing opportunities for faculty toincorporate community-engaged learning into their courses or programs. In some cases, grants may be made to support ongoing or existing community engaged learning activities, particularly when those activities grow to involve more students, new partners or communities, or new strategies. For questions about what grants may cover, please contact Vialla Hartfield-Méndez (vhartfi@emory.edu). 

Specific Items Funds May Cover  

Grant funds may be used to cover reasonable costs associated with the project, such as: 

  • Stipends for community participants in focus groups or for completing surveys; stipends for community partners who engage with students to develop or complete the project.
  • Printed materials, project supplies, printing, and the like, as well as certain costs of online publication or materials.
  • Honoraria for guest speakers from community-based organizations who visit class, either in person or virtually.
  • Transportation costs. 
Additionally, funds can be used 
  • To support graduate assistants for teaching when reasonable and appropriate within the community engaged pedagogy.
  • To fund other student work (especially for undergraduates), in cases in which no academic credit is involved.
 What Funds May Not Cover 

Computer equipment and other information technology devices and software generally are not approved expenses. Grant funds may NOT be used to pay Emory students for work conducted as part of a course and for which they will receive academic credit. Funds may not be used to cover salary or consulting fees for faculty or other instructors. 

Apply here

Helpful websites for consultation regarding best practices for community-based learning and research include: 

PLEASE NOTE 

Applicants must either have their own Smartkey account or be connected to a department with a Smartkey account. 

Applicants must also participate in assessment of the program, which may include online evaluations or focus groups. 

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Vialla Hartfield-Méndez, Director of Engaged Learning, atvhartfi@emory.edu.