Swearer Center for Public Service
Engaged Research Mini-Grants
Engaged Research Mini-Grants support expenses related to conducting and/or presenting engaged research that involves some collaboration with community members or organizations, as well as the creation of a product, analysis, or other outcome that will be shared with the community partner and/or broader public audiences.
Funding
The Engaged Research Mini-Grants budget is divided into fall, spring and summer allocations . A committee will conduct a holistic review of all applications. Selection criteria will include the clarity of the proposal’s academic and public purposes, the relevance of the budget, the project’s alignment with the Swearer Center’s values and learning priorities, and the depth and potential impact of the research partnership.
Financial Requirements
Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply for mini-grants up to $500.
Applicants will be asked to indicate any other types of research funding they have applied for or already secured. Undergraduate students cannot receive multiple grants or fellowships (e.g., Research at Brown grant, Royce Fellowship, Engaged Research Mini-Grant) for the same proposal/project during the same application cycle. If students are awarded one grant or fellowship, they will be required to remove any applications under consideration for other awards before acceptance.
Research Guidelines
Student research must align with all Brown University research guidelines and protocols. Resources include Brown's Division of Research, the Research Cycle and Swearer Center's Engaged Research.
Apply
Applications for the 2025-2026 Engaged Research Mini-Grants are open from November 17, 2025, through January 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. Apply on UFunds.