Dietrich College Summer Community Engagement Grant

The Dietrich College Summer Community Engagement Grant was established to make community engagement opportunities with nonprofits more financially accessible.听

Undergraduates at Dietrich College are encouraged to undertake meaningful community engagement opportunities. However, we understand that many of these opportunities are unpaid and on a voluntary basis, potentially hindering students鈥� ability to participate.Yet it is often through these very opportunities that students gain hands-on experience, help create long-lasting impact on the community, and develop marketable skills.

We have established the Dietrich College Summer Community Engagement Grant to make it easier for our undergraduates to take advantage of unfunded but meaningful opportunities to collaborate with nonprofit organizations by providing stipends in the amount of $2,000. Each year, 10 students will be awarded this grant.

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled domestic and international undergraduate students registered either as a primary major in one of the Dietrich College major programs or as a BHA student at the time of application.听
  • Students seeking grant support for any portion of time after they graduate are not eligible.

  • Last at least four weeks, entailing at least 100 hours of work.听
  • Occur during the summer. Academic year opportunities will not be considered.听
  • Take place in-person with a non-profit organization in any location, including internationally. For-profit partnerships and experiences on a college campus are not eligible for this grant.听
  • Be supervised by a professional representing the nonprofit.听
  • Demonstrably support students鈥� personal, academic and/or professional goals and development.

Application Process

Your chosen community engagement opportunity must take place at an off-campus nonprofit organization.

Before applying for the grant, you and a supervisor or representative from the nonprofit must complete and sign the .听

The requires the following materials:

  • Your most recent resume: This resume should reflect any volunteer or community engagement you have done previously, including throughout high school. The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) can provide assistance in preparing your resume.
  • Short Response Questions:
    • Nonprofit Description (fewer than 250 words): Describe the mission of your non-profit placement and share your motivation for choosing this organization, including how you personally connect with their mission and the work they do.听
    • Description of Work and Timeline (fewer than 250 words): Provide a general description of what kind of work you will be doing for the organization and an overview of your intended timeline to fulfill the required number of hours.
    • Connection to Goals (fewer than 250 words): Please describe how the experience aligns with your personal, professional and academic goals.听
    • Is there anything else you would like us to know? It can be helpful to include additional aspects of financial need, involvement with multiple nonprofits, previous experiences you鈥檇 like to highlight, etc.
  • Your completed
  • If you receive financial aid, please include your most recent CMU financial aid award document.

If selected to receive a grant, you will be required to:听

  • Submit an on Dietrich College Connect.
  • Attend a virtual one-hour orientation session with your cohort, during the week of May 11.
  • Attend one virtual summer training session during which you reflect on your community engagement work through breakout room discussions and activities, sharing challenges and questions you have faced.听
  • Complete a short reflection paper upon completion of the grant, detailing your experience and what you learned from it.听
  • Submit an updated resume that includes this opportunity.听
  • Attend one in-person celebration at the start of the fall semester.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • The preferred deadline to apply for a grant is April 24 and applicants will be notified May 1.
  • Applicants must confirm participation by May 6.听
  • Remaining spaces will be filled on a rolling basis.

Dietrich College also offers grants to students seeking funding for an internship or study/travel abroad.

The Dietrich College Internship Opportunity Grant Program and Study/Travel Abroad Grant Program are cost offset grants, with monetary awards dependent on the costs associated with the internship. This grant is a flat sum awarded to all students regardless of costs incurred by the experience.

Yes, you may collaborate with multiple nonprofits. You are required to include documentation for all the nonprofits you partner with, including the number of hours you will work at each nonprofit and their respective locations.

Yes, international students are eligible.

Yes, students may use this grant during study/service abroad opportunities if the experience fulfills the number of required hours (at least four weeks and 100 hours).

Tax Information听

Please note that these grant funds are considered a nonqualified scholarship under IRS regulations. As a result, for U.S. tax residents, taxes will not be withheld from the payment; nor will Carnegie Mellon issue a tax statement (W-2 or 1099) to the recipient or the IRS for the payment. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to include information about the grant funds on their personal income tax return. Students should consult their personal tax advisor for additional information or if they have additional questions.听

Nonresident aliens (Non-U.S. tax residents) may also be subject to tax withholding and reporting requirements. For non-resident aliens, it is the student鈥檚 responsibility to discuss employment authorization with their Office of International Education advisor for any employment opportunity that involves an employer other than 好色先生TV.