Swearer Center for Public Service

Engaged Research Mini-Grants

The Swearer Center's Engaged Research Mini-Grants provide up to $500 in funding to support undergraduate and graduate students conducting engaged research in collaboration with community partners.

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 Researchthe Research Cycle and Swearer Center's Engaged Research.

Application Timeline

Applications are accepted through UFunds during the Fall, Spring and Summer funding cycles.

CycleApplication Opens Application Closes 
Fall 2026Mon, July 6, 2026Mon, September 7, 2026
Spring 2027Mon, Nov 16, 2026Mon, Jan 25, 2027
Summer 2027Mon, Mar 1, 2027Mon, Apr 5, 2027

Apply

Applications must be submitted through UFunds.

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