
CCEL Grants for Students
Transform an idea into action, and receive funding to make it happen
About CCEL Grants for Students
At the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), we empower students to drive social change through funding for meaningful projects in partnership with BC-based community organizations. Our grants support students in co-designing and implementing impactful initiatives that directly address community needs. We encourage bold, creative ideas and offer hands-on experience in tackling real-world challenges. Dive in, explore new possibilities and gain experience working to address real-world issues.
Applications will open on November 1, 2025!
Wish to learn more before applying? Register for our grants virtual information session, happening Thursday, Nov 6, 2025 (12 – 1 pm)
Program impact
Dates and deadlines
| Dates | Deadlines and important information |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 1, 2025 | Applications open |
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 | Virtual information session (12 – 1 pm) |
| Monday, December 1, 2025 | Deadline to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) |
| Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Application deadline |
| February – March | Review and adjudication |
| April | Funding decisions |
| May | Student projects begin |
*Advising is available all year round. Learn more about year-round advising.

Connect to Community
Target audience: Tailored for students embarking on the initial phases of their changemaking journey, intended for those taking their first strides.
Connect to Community grants (C2C) offer UBC students the opportunity to create and carry out introductory, trial, and smaller scale projects that support community priorities. Designed as an introduction to the grants experience, students are challenged to learn from the application process through to project completion. Explore our Grants Projects Library below for examples of previous C2C projects.
$500 – $2,000 CAD per project.
Projects must be completed within six (6) months of the grant being awarded.

Chapman and Innovation
Target audience: Designed for students advanced in their path toward making a difference, well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the community.
Chapman and Innovation grants (C&I) offer UBC students the opportunities to work on projects that promote the self-empowerment of communities through meaningful collaboration. Strong projects will have an innovative or creative approach to addressing social issues. Explore our Grants Projects Library below for examples of previous C&I projects.
$5,000 – $10,000 CAD per project.
Projects must be completed within six (6) months of the grant being awarded

Global Fund
Target audience: Tailored for students who have some experience working alongside communities towards social change, intended to further empower them in expanding their learning and capacity to work in partnership with community.
Global Fund grants are funded in partnership with the UBC Alma Mater Society. Eligible projects include those that foster intercultural learning and exchange by building relationships across communities through dialogue, shared practice, or co-creation. Projects may also elevate underrepresented voices, celebrate cultural heritage, and address barriers to inclusion or equitable participation through locally grounded, lived experiences.
$2,000- $10,000 CAD per project.
Projects must be completed within six (6) months of the grant being awarded.

Applicant eligibility
Eligibility criteria
All applications must include at least one (1) UBC student and one (1) community organization who are listed on the application.
Student eligibility
✓ Undergraduate and masters degree students are eligible for CCEL grants.
✓ Domestic and International students are eligible.
✓ Students may apply individually, or as a team of students.
✓ Students studying out of UBC’s Vancouver’s campus. Okanagan-based students should refer to the UBC-O campus funding opportunities page.
✓ Students currently on co-op are eligible.
X PhD students are not eligible.
X Diploma, certificate and non-degree students are not eligible for CCEL grants.
Community partner organization eligibility
✓ Eligible Community partner organizations include nonprofits, public sector organizations, registered charities, societies, cooperatives, First Nations Communities, schools and municipal, federal or provincial government offices.
X Partnerships with for-profit businesses are not eligible.
X UBC student clubs/groups are not eligible. However, a student club/group member can apply for funds as long as there still is a partnership with an eligible community organization.
X A UBC student cannot receive funds to partner with an organization they founded or co-founded. To render a project of this nature eligible:
- An additional community organization that is separate from the one they have founded must be partnered, or;
- A non-affiliated student can apply for funds on behalf of the student-created organization to support the project’s efforts.
Additional project eligibility guidelines
✓ Projects must take place in BC.
✓ Projects must take place off-campus, with primary audiences and beneficiaries being community members unaffiliated with UBC – that is, individuals who are not UBC students, faculty or staff.
X Funding will not be considered for the same project in the following year or in subsequent years if the project is unchanged.
- Students are not limited in the number of grants received. However, after having been awarded an initial grant, subsequent applications must demonstrate project innovations and how learning is measured.
- If you have been awarded a CCEL grant, you must fulfill reporting requirements before you can apply for new funding. Reporting requirements include a
- Project Report detailing project outcomes and learning, and;
- An expense report.
X Funding shall not be used for the personal gain of individuals, or to fund an organization’s ongoing operational or core expenses.
X Applications submitted after an event or project has been completed are ineligible.
X Projects that are deemed politically partisan may not be considered.
X Your grant project cannot be for course-credit. Projects that are extensions of, or innovations on course-work are eligible, but should be discussed with a grants advisor to be sure.
X Registration or travel to academic conferences are not eligible.
Eligible expenses
All project expenses must adhere to UBC Expenditure Guidelines.
Students are allowed to secure additional sources of funding to support the project or initiative. Any funds secured or applied for prior to the application should be disclosed in the submitted budget (also known as “in-kind” support/funding).
- Commonly expensed line items include: space rentals, equipment rentals, food (snacks, catered meals), project materials, gifts (excluding alcohol), speaker and facilitator fees, travel (transit, car share, ride-hailing, personal mileage), and tokens of appreciation.
- The budget proposal should outline all project costs, not just the requested grant amount. The budget should provide a fully itemized project expense summary.
- Students are allowed to secure additional sources of funding to support the project or initiative. Any funds secured or applied for prior to the application should be disclosed in the submitted budget (also known as “in-kind” support/funding).
| Connect to Community Grant | Chapman and Innovation Grant | Global Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Funds may not be allocated towards a student stipend. | Up to 30% of the requested funds can be allocated towards a student stipend. | Up to 20% of the requested funds can be allocated towards a student stipend. |
| Some funds may be allocated towards admin costs on a case-by-case basis. Connect with Jacquie to inquire further. | Up to 12% of the requested funds can be allocated towards compensating the community partner organisation for admin costs associated with hosting and supporting the student throughout the project. CCEL Grant funds are not intended to be used towards shared organization operational costs e.g., office rent, utilities, etc. | |
Notice of Intent (NOI)
Submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) is optional but highly recommended as it can enhance your chances of building a stronger application and provide you with early access to valuable resources and support. The deadline to submit is December 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
The NOI form below will open on Nov 1, 2025
Scoring criteria
Application review process
| Connect to Community Grant | Chapman and Innovation Grant | Global Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Adjudicated internally by a committee of three (3) CCEL staff. | Adjudicated by a committee of seven (7), comprised of two (2) UBC staff or faculty, two (2) former CCEL grant recipients, two (2) community partner representatives and one (1) CCEL chair. | Adjudicated by a committee of five (5), comprised of two (2) AMS representatives, one (1) UBC staff or faculty, one (1) community partner representative and one (1) CCEL chair. |
| All adjudicators are instructed to adhere to the following scoring guidelines, to ensure fair and equitable access to grants. | ||
Funding decisions are announced in April, and most projects launch in May.

Resources
Information sessions
Register for our virtual information session on Thursday, November 6, 2025, 12pm – 1pm, to learn more and ask question.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Got questions about applying for a CCEL grant? This FAQ section covers the most common questions applicants ask, like who’s eligible, what to include in your project plan and budget, and what the chances are of getting funded.
Year-round advising
We can support you by :
Anything else related to applying for a CCEL grant!
- Connecting you with a community partner organization
- Exploring, scoping out and evaluating project ideas/feasibility
- Answering questions about the application process
- Determining project eligibility
- Offering resources for grant writing and reviewing drafts
- Creating and revising project budgets
Tips for writing a successful grant application
This section shares practical tips to help you craft a strong application, such as clearly outlining your project goals and budget or showing how your work will make an impact in your target community. Whether you’re applying for the first time or refining a previous submission, these insights can boost your chances of success.
Contact information
E-mail Jacquie (she/her) at jacquie.kwok@ubc.ca with your questions or to book an advising appointment. Our office aims to respond to emails within 1-2 business days.
Appointments are available Monday to Thursday 10 am to 4 pm virtually via Zoom or in-person at the Centre for Community Engaged Learning.

