DKU Center for the Study of Contemporary China

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

Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026 midnight China time

*This is a strict deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

Award Notification Date: December 1, 2026

Program Description

The Community Service Project Grant is provided by the DKU Center for the Study of Contemporary China (CSCC) to support community service initiatives that address real-world issues and make a positive impact on local communities in China and the Yangtze Delta region in particular.

The grant enables students and faculty to develop meaningful connections with local communities while applying their skills and knowledge to address pressing challenges. In the process, project members are expected to deepen their expertise of contemporary China, broadly defined.

Projects can be proposed by faculty or students. Student-led projects require the active involvement of a DKU professor, who is expected to mentor the team throughout the project, helping members navigate key decisions, address challenges as they arise, and oversee the effective implementation of the project while fostering meaningful connections with local communities.

The grant provides funding of up to 1,500 USD. The funding term is minimal 12 months and maximum 24 months. New and existing projects are both eligible to apply. Proposals will be reviewed by a CSCC grant review committee, which makes funding recommendations to the CSCC Co-Directors.

Eligibility

• Faculty members and freshman, sophomore, and junior students are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be employed or enrolled at DKU for the entire project duration.
• Senior students can join project teams, but cannot serve as project leader.
• Student-led projects must be supervised by a DKU faculty member.
• Faculty-led projects must involve at least two DKU students.
• Projects must be designed to make a positive impact on local communities.
• Projects must contribute to the academic and personal development of students.
• Projects without current funding support from other sources will be prioritized.
• Applicants can only receive funding for one CSCC project per year.

Application Material

Proposals must be submitted as a single pdf file and include the following components:

• Project Description (maximum 2 pages, single-spaced): A detailed description of the community service project, including: project title; project leader name; project overview, rationale, and significance; project goals; list of project team members and their responsibilities; project outputs; intended impact on the community, DKU students, and faculty.
• Project Activities Plan and Timeline (maximum 2 pages, single-spaced): A description of the project activities and milestones along with a realistic timeline for project completion.
• Budget (maximum 1 page, single-spaced): A well-organized table that lists how the grant funds will be used (in both USD and RMB) along with an explanation of each budget item. Budget changes are only allowed for up to 10% of the total budget after project approval. If applicants have or are actively applying for other support for the project, 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.
• Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae of the student team member(s).
• Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae of faculty member who supervises the project.
• Faculty Letter of Support: For student-initiated projects, a letter of support from the faculty supervisor, confirming their guidance and describing how they plan to be involved throughout the project.

Evaluation Criteria 

Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Impact on and collaboration with local communities:
  • How well is the project designed to contribute to positive change in a local community? (Please refer to the Considerations for Ethical Community Service Projects).
  • How well does the project demonstrate effective collaboration between the team and the local community, fostering positive relationships and mutual understanding?
• Alignment with CSCC’s Mission:
  • How well does the project deepen team members’ expertise of Contemporary China, broadly defined?
• Academic and Personal Development:
  • How well does the project enhance students’ academic learning and personal development?
• Feasibility:
  • Is the project plan well-structured and realistic given the proposed timeline, budget, students’ skills, and level of faculty commitment?
• Budget Justification:
  • Is the budget transparent, well-justified, and does it demonstrate a need for the grant funds?