Community & Access Mini-Grants

Celebrating Culture, Dialogue, and Inclusive Programming 

The Community & Access Mini-Grants support events and programs that foster cultural awareness, inclusive education, and meaningful community engagement. These grants are well-suited for projects that bring people together across differences through dialogue, celebration, and collaborative learning.  

Up to eight (8) awards of $300 per semester are available. 

Grounded in Beloved Community: What We Fund 

• Justice in Action
  • Justice is not a favor—it is what every person is due. This track supports projects that affirm human dignity, advance equity, address harm, or remove barriers to participation. Proposals may respond to both structural and interpersonal inequities with care and intention. These projects should recognize that justice does not flatten our differences but attends to them, ensuring that every person can participate fully and freely in campus life. 
• Truth Through Dialogue and Engagement
  • In the Dominican tradition, truth is pursued through dialogue and shared inquiry. This track funds projects that bring people together across differences for storytelling, historical recovery, courageous conversation, or educational engagement. Whether amplifying marginalized voices or exploring difficult truths, these efforts foster deeper understanding and community trust. 
• Love as Liberation and Flourishing 
  • Love is what allows people not just to survive, but to thrive. This category funds initiatives that affirm identity, celebrate culture, and foster joy and belonging. Projects may include affinity group programming, hospitality events, peer mentorship, mutual aid networks, or community care efforts—anything that nurtures connection and uplifts the whole person. 
• Integrated Projects: Embodying Beloved Community   
  • These proposals weave together justice, truth, and love for holistic, mission-aligned impact. They may include cross-disciplinary collaborations, artistic or spiritual expression, restorative practices, or projects that reimagine campus spaces and systems with equity and inclusion at their core. 

Eligibility & Criteria 

• Must align with one or more of the Mini-Grants Program Beloved Community principle(s) listed above
• Must be a new, innovative initiative designed to advance DEI at Providence College 
• Must clearly state project outcomes and metrics for success 
• Should address a demonstrated need within the community 
• Event-related projects are encouraged (e.g., guest speakers, celebrations, or workshops) 
• Travel and travel expenses are not eligible under this grant 

 Examples of Funded Projects 

• Guest lecturers or identity-based speakers 
• Cultural or heritage celebrations 
• Student groups attending off-campus conferences (registration only) 
• Workshops or dialogues that support inclusive campus climate 
• Prevention education and awareness opportunities  

Open to all Providence College student organizations, faculty, and staff. Collaborative efforts between students and faculty/staff are highly encouraged. 

Applications accepted from August 15 – April 15 each academic year, on a rolling basis. Responses are typically provided within three weeks. 

Each applicant (individual or group) may receive only one Community & Access Mini-Grant per academic year. All awarded funds must be used before June 30 (fiscal year-end). 

 All recipients are required to share their work at the End-of-Year Mini-Grants Showcase. 

 Please Note: These grants are reserved exclusively for Providence College students, faculty, and staff.