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Robert S. Nelsen Civic Engagement Grant Community Engagement Center

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Robert S. Nelsen Civic Engagement Grant

Details

Please join us on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 12–1pm PST to learn about the Robert S. Nelsen Civic Engagement Grant program. During this Zoom session, we will outline the purpose of the grant, how to apply, required and preferred proposal elements, and allowable expenses.

Zoom Registration


Dates:

Applications for the 2026-2027 grants will open February 9, 2026 and will close on March 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Grant awardees will be announced in early-May.

The award cycle is July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Applications must be submitted online via InfoReady.

Funding:

The maximum award for this grant is $5,000.

Applicant Info:

Eligible to apply are Sac State faculty members (tenured, tenure track, part-time) and program staff members.

Applicant need to notify their department administration (dean, department chair, administrator, budget analyst) of applicant's submission of the 26-27 grant application.

If you are applying for additional funding for a previously awarded Anchor or RSN Civic Engagement grant, you must show how another grant would build upon and expand previous work.

All awardees will be required to document how they used the funds and advanced the University's dedicated community engagement imperative in a final impact report after the conclusion of the grant period.

Serving as both the applicant and the community partner is not permissible. If an applicant represents the community partners and works at Sac State, they are considered the community partner stakeholder. In this case, a meaningful collaboration with a Sac State project or program is required, with the faculty or staff member acting as the project lead and submitting the application.

Application Info

Open the following RSN Grant Budget Template 2026-27 to begin work on your proposed grant budget.

Please review the Application Questions as you prepare your proposal.

In addition, use the Scoring Rubric to evaluate the quality of your responses to each question.

Note that the application must be submitted via InfoReady. The link to submit will appear here when the grant application opens February 9, 2026.

Description & Categories

The Robert S. Nelsen Civic Engagement grant aims to support innovative projects and programs, both new and existing, that focus on civic engagement to enhance the long-term welfare of the Sacramento Region. This grant seeks to advance civic education, community organizing and advocacy, voter engagement, and civic innovation and technology as drivers of societal advancement. By funding projects that promote civic participation, the grants aim to enhance the quality of life in communities by expanding access and opportunity.

Categories:

  • Civic Education Programs: Educate students and/or community members on their rights, responsibilities and the importance of civic participation. This may include projects to increase civic literacy, mentoring and leadership development.
  • Community Organizing and Advocacy: Support grassroots organizations that work to address social issues and promote positive change in their communities. This may include advocacy campaigns, research projects, community organizing, and coalition-building activities.
  • Voter Engagement and Mobilization: Assist programs to increase voter turnout, especially among underrepresented populations. This may include voter registration drives, outreach campaigns and efforts to remove barriers to voting.
  • Civic Innovation and Technology: Sponsor initiatives that use technology to enhance civic engagement and promote transparency and accountability in organizations. This may include the development of digital tools, platforms and apps that educate citizens and facilitate communication with stakeholders.

Required

  1. Aligns with at least one of the specified categories.
  2. All applicants must have at least one (1) new or existing community partner. Community partners may include non-profits, advocacy groups, schools, and government agencies, etc. The Sac State applicant must work collaboratively with the community partner to complete this RSN Grant Community Partner Form. Note the community partner lead contact must sign the form, and once completed and signed, you will upload it as part of the grant application. We encourage the Sac State staff/faculty applicant to begin work on the form as soon as possible, noting that the grant must be submitted by the application deadline of March 2, 2026.
  3. The proposed activities must connect directly to Sac State student success, link to learning outcomes, or encourage student engagement and retention.
  4. The proposed activities will have faculty/staff and student roles.
  5. The proposed activities must advance equity, antiracism, and/or social justice in our community and/or on campus.

Preferred

  1. The proposed activities will ensure the sustainability of the project or partnership.
  2. The proposed activities will help community partners in their research, evaluation, and/or capacity building.
  3. The proposed activities will expand opportunities for scholarly research or creative activities by faculty, staff, or students.
  4. The proposed activities will enhance Sacramento State students’ sense of community by participating in civic engagement projects.
  5. The proposed activities will involve a partnership with another department, program, or center within the University.

Permissible and Non-Permissible Expenses

Permissible Expenses:

  • Supplies
  • Materials
  • Equipment
  • Mileage/travel reimbursement for students/CSU employees
  • Food, drinks, and catering
  • Student employment (assistants, paid intern)**

Permissible Payments to non-CSU Individuals and Organizations:

  • Payment to a non-profit organization or K-12 school
  • Payment to non-CSU employed individuals to perform services
  • Payment to a business to perform services
  • Payment to a guest speaker
  • Payment to an individual providing training service

Non-Permissible:

  • Gift cards
  • Tuition assistance or scholarships for enrolled students
  • Student stipend
  • Staff stipend or bonus
  • Faculty assigned time/release time/additional pay

Please Note:**

  • The student assistant job classification shall be used for all payments to students.
  • Due to federal law, students without work authorization cannot be paid with General Fund dollars. Campus units looking to hire such students should contact the Student Employment office for questions.
  • Visit the Account Services' webpage for more funding information about payments to students.

Contact Information

For more information and questions, please contact the Community Engagement Center staff at cec@csus.edu.