Initiative releases funding call for its small grants program

The University of Washington Civic Health Initiative has released a funding call for three different categories of small grants. These grant programs are designed to foster new collaborations and innovations that strengthen civic health and democratic institutions nationwide.

Innovations proposed for funding to these grant programs must align with one or more of the areas of focus for the Initiative’s work. Applications for all three programs are due on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Teaching and curriculum awards

The purpose of this funding mechanism is to support UW faculty members who have innovative proposals that approach civic health, civic engagement and democracy through new curricular perspectives, methods and activities. The Initiative’s interests are broad in scope, so applications can propose projects with a range of foci. These foci include, but are not limited to, revising a course, creating an interactive learning activity, designing a student experience and so forth. Awards of up to $2,000 each are available.

Research awards

The purpose of this grant is to support faculty members and PI-eligible research staff to develop preliminary data or proof-of-concept needed to pursue follow-on funding or additional concept development to scale one’s efforts. Research projects should seek to catalyze new lines of inquiry and may include, but not be limited to, qualitative or qualitative empirical work, data analysis, evidence synthesis, comparative study, and so forth. Awards of up to $25,000 each are available.

Graduate student and postdoctoral scholar research awards

The purpose of this category of funding is to support UW graduate and postdoctoral researchers who are seeking to generate new knowledge that strengthens civic health, democracy and the structures that support it. The grants can fund research for dissertations, thesis field work or the student’s own topic of research completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor, mentor or principal investigator. Awards of up to $2,000 each are available.

Learn more

Please visit the Initiative’s funding page to learn more about these programs.