Community-Led Solutions Initiative
A funding opportunity that supports community-led projects addressing societal and regional challenges through collaborative partnerships with VCU.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Submit one PDF to
dcegrantsinfo@vcu.edu
Purpose
Support community-led approaches to societal and regional challenges through collaborative partnerships with VCU.
Strategic Pillars
Projects funded through CLSI should align with four strategic pillars.
Community
Leadership
Communities identify priorities, define the proposed approach, and help guide the overall direction of the project. VCU contributes expertise and resources in support of community-defined goals.
Partnership
Development
The initiative supports strong, reciprocal partnerships between community organizations and VCU. Projects may strengthen an existing relationship or establish a new partnership with the potential to continue beyond the award.
Knowledge Generation
and Sharing
Projects should generate practical knowledge that benefits communities and the university. Lessons, tools, and resources should be shared in ways that are useful to relevant community, practice, policy, and academic audiences.
Sustainable Community
Impact
Projects should make meaningful progress on the identified challenge while building the capacity, knowledge, relationships, or resources needed to extend the work beyond the initial funding period.
Funding Available
The Division of Community Engagement anticipates making up to five awards of up to $10,000 each.
Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of the proposals received. The Division may make fewer awards or fund a proposal below the amount requested.
Funds must directly support the approved project activities and contribute to addressing the identified community, societal, or regional challenge.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible community-based nonprofits (501(c)(3)), neighborhood associations with an eligible fiscal sponsor, local governments, public schools, faith-based organizations, coalitions, and other eligible entities.
The community organization or eligible entity must serve as the lead applicant. Individuals may not apply independently.
Applicants must identify at least one VCU faculty or staff partner at the time of application. The VCU partner must be included in the proposal and have a defined role in the project.
Use of Funds
Requested funds must be reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the proposed project.
The budget should show how the funds will support activities, community and stakeholder engagement, the community-VCU partnership, expected outputs, and progress toward the proposed outcomes.
Additional guidance on allowable and non-allowable expenses will be included after VCU fiscal requirements are confirmed.
Information Session (Zoom)
Learn more about this opportunity and get your questions answered during one of our information sessions. All sessions will cover the same content.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
12:00–1:00 p.m. ET
Friday, November 20, 2026
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET
Questions? Contact us at dcegrantsinfo@vcu.edu