Community Service Project Grant

Community Service Project Grant (Max. 1,500 USD)

Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025
Award Notification Date: within six weeks

Program Description

The Community Service Project Grant is designed to support collaborative projects initiated by faculty or students, with the involvement of a faculty supervisor for student-led projects. This grant aims to promote community service initiatives that address real-world issues and make a positive impact on local communities. Unlike traditional service-learning projects conducted within a course setting, this grant supports independent community service projects that allow students to engage meaningfully with the community while applying their skills and knowledge to address pressing challenges.

Community service projects facilitated by this grant encourage students to actively contribute to the betterment of society by collaborating with community members, identifying solutions, and fostering positive change. Through these projects, DKU students develop essential leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, while building meaningful connections with the community.

The grant provides funding of up to 1,500 USD to support community service projects that align with the mission of the Center for the Studies of Contemporary China (CSCC) and contribute to the overall welfare of local communities in Kunshan, the Yangtze Delta region, and beyond. Please note that we have extended the funding term from one year to a maximum of two years.

Eligibility

  • Faculty members and students (with a faculty supervisor) are eligible to apply for the CSCC Community Service Project Grant.
  • Projects must be designed to address authentic community needs and make a positive impact.
  • Applicants must articulate how the project will contribute to the academic and personal development of the participating students.
  • Priority will be given to projects where applicants do not have existing funding support from other sources. If applicants have or are actively applying for other support, they must mention this in their proposal.
  • If the completion of the project requires more than the maximum amount that can be awarded via the CSCC Community Service Project Grant, the applicants must demonstrate that other support is available to sustain the continuation of the work over the necessary timeframe.

Application Material

Proposals must include the following components:

  • Project Description: A detailed description of the community service project, including the identified community issue, project objectives, and intended impact (Not to exceed two pages, single-spaced).
  • Project Plan and Timeline: An outline of the project plan and a realistic timeline for project completion (Not to exceed two pages, single-spaced).
  • Budget: A well-justified budget outlining how the grant funds will be utilized to support the project’s implementation (Not to exceed one page).
  • Current Curriculum Vitae of the faculty applicant(s) or resume of the student applicant(s) (Not to exceed three pages)
  • Faculty Support: For student-initiated projects, a letter of support from the faculty supervisor, confirming their guidance and involvement throughout the project.
  • Student Involvement: For faculty-initiated projects involving students, provide a brief statement explaining how students will be actively engaged in the project. (This component can be integrated into the project description)
  • Submit all required components as one PDF file.

Evaluation Criteria 

Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Alignment with CSCC’s Mission:
    • How well does the project align with the mission of the Center for the Studies of Contemporary China in promoting understanding and addressing contemporary China’s challenges?
  • Impact on Local Communities:
  • Academic and Personal Development:
    • How will the project enhance students’ academic learning and personal development through their active involvement in community service?
  • Feasibility and Budget Justification:
    • Is the project plan well-structured and achievable within the proposed timeline and budget?
    • Does the applicant demonstrate a need for the grant funds and explain how they will be used to enhance the project’s outcomes?
  • Collaboration and Partnerships:
    • Does the project demonstrate effective collaboration between DKU and the community, fostering positive relationships and mutual support?
Acknowledgement

All poster, presentations, media products, or other means of dissemination resulting from work supported by a CSCC research grant should acknowledge funding from the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Duke Kunshan University.

Mid-Project Report and Final Project Report Requirements

One year from the award notification date, each grant recipient is required to submit a Mid-Project report; two years from award notification date, a Final Project Report needs to be submitted. This report should be no more than 2 pages long (single-spaced) and detail the progress and outcomes of the project within the specified time frame. The final project report must be submitted by the stated deadline and should provide a comprehensive overview of the project’s results and achievements.

Deadlines

Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025

Award Notification Date: within six weeks

Mid-Project Report Deadline: A year from the award notification date

Final Project Report Deadline: Two years from the award notification date

Fund Closing Date: Two years from the award notification date

Spending Authorization Approval Request

All spending authorization approval requests must include the following:

  1. Final Project Budget:
    o Attach the final project budget that was submitted during the grant application process and based on which the grant was awarded.
  2. Supporting Documentation:
    o Provide supporting documents that clearly demonstrate the alignment between the proposed spending and the objectives of the awarded project. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, invoices, quotations, and detailed descriptions of the expenses.

Please ensure that all required documents are complete and accurate to facilitate the approval process.

CSCC Grant Budget Modification Policy:

Grantees are allowed to modify up to 10% of the total grant award for expenses not originally outlined in the approved budget. Requests for modifications exceeding this limit, due to extraordinary circumstances, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To request a budget modification, grantees must submit an updated budget and a rationale for the changes, which will be reviewed by the CSCC co-director for approval.

All grant proposals and inquiries should be sent to Chi Zhang, the program coordinator for the Center for the Studies of Contemporary China.

List of CSCC Grant for Community Service Projects

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