Saint Louis University's Center for Social Action offers numerous signature programs throughout the year for SLU students, faculty and staff to become more meaningfully involved in the community.
1818 Community Engagement Grant Program
What impact could your group have on the community with $1,800? The 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program celebrates the over 200-year history of SLU giving back to the St. Louis community. Eighteen grants of $1,800 each are given to selected applicants to make a positive impact in the community in partnership with a local nonprofit organization.
2024-2025 Grant Cycle
Applications for the 24-25 cycle of the 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program are now open! The deadline to submit is Monday, Sept. 30 by 11:59 p.m., and applicants will be informed of the committee's decision by Friday, Oct. 11.
Apply for a 2024-2025 Community Engagement Grant
You may download a PDF copy of the questions, however, you must use the link above to formally submit your application.
For questions or more information on the 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program, contact Aubra Ladd with the Center for Social Action at aubra.ladd@slu.edu.
Grant Information and Requirements
2024-2025 Grant Info Sheet (PDF)
- Groups must complete an application and submit a project budget and timeline.
- All groups must have at least one community partner as a coapplicant and include SLU students in the initiative.
- Grants must either be used to start a new community engagement program or significantly improve an existing one.
- All projects must be completed no later than May 31, 2025. All funds must be used by that date.
- All recipients will present a poster on their project at the 1818 Community Engagement Grant Showcase on May 1 in the Center for Global Citizenship.
Past Projects
Read the reports below to see the impact that previous years' grants have on the community:
Frequently Asked Questions
The grant program welcomes applications from students, as well as faculty and staff. For groups of faculty or staff, it is highly recommended that students be involved in some way with the project.
While the grant lead must be a SLU student, faculty or staff member, it is a requirement that a nonprofit organization also be a partner on the grant.
Yes, as long as it can demonstrably show a significant potential improvement in your group’s community engagement program.
No, all funds must be spent by May 31, 2024. Unused funds will be returned to the main 1818 Community Engagement Grant program and distributed the following year.
While we encourage groups to think long-term about their potential projects, groups can certainly apply for funding to create a one-time or short-term program.
Yes! Groups who receive funds this year will be encouraged to apply again for future cycles to build on their first year and will be given preference if a high degree of impact can be demonstrated in year one.
All funds must be spent on materials, services, etc. No funds can go directly to the community organization.
Groups are encouraged to think about the community organization or issue they want to impact, then approach them to collaboratively develop an idea for a grant proposal.
Potential programs could include:
- Building a playground at a local school or community center
- Implementing an after-school or weekend STEM program for youth
- Hosting a winter or spring break service/immersion trip
- Partnering with a local organization to host a health fair
- Creating a sustainable hunger-reduction program
- Organizing an advocacy campaign related to a particular social justice issue or congressional bill
The Center for Social Action staff is also available to consult on a variety of ideas and potential community partners.
Service Fairs
An easy way to learn about how you can make a difference in the community, both as a student and as an alum, is to attend our Community Engagement and Year of Service Fairs. You will be able to meet staff from dozens of groups to learn about their work and how to get involved.
Community Engagement Fair
Held each fall as part of Fall Welcome, this event brings 60+ nonprofit organizations from across the region to campus to advertise service opportunities to our students.
Year of Service Fair
In November, representatives from 25 organizations offering postgraduate service opportunities will be on campus to advertise their programs. SLU juniors and seniors are especially invited to explore the possibility of doing one or two years of service after graduation, whether here in St. Louis, around the country or across the world. Each year, nearly 75 members of the graduating class go on to participate in at least one year of service.
Participating Service Organizations
The Billiken Teacher Corps at Saint Louis University forms the next generation of Catholic school educators through service, learning, and spiritual growth in community. This program is a unique opportunity for faith-driven college graduates to have a transformative impact in underserved Catholic schools in Springfield, Illinois, and St. Louis.
BTC Fellows live the Jesuit Mission of being men and women for and with others. For two years, the members live in an intentional faith community while teaching full time and earning their Master of Arts in Teaching degree with full tuition remission. Members also earn a Missouri teaching certificate via the alternative route if they are not already certified.
Jesuit Volunteer Corps engages brave leaders in life-changing service, living and accompanying those in need to build a more just and hopeful world. Volunteer for one to two years, either domestically or internationally. Live in community with other JVC volunteers. Room, board, health insurance and a monthly stipend are provided.
Similar to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, JVC-Northwest takes place specifically in the northwest region of the country, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho, with both rural and urban experiences offered.
AmeriCorps works with local and national partners to tap the power of the American people to tackle our country's most pressing challenges. Volunteer for one year domestically. Live individually and receive a modest living allowance and an educational award.
In more than 60 countries, Peace Corps volunteers are putting their purpose, passion, and skills to work in partnership with welcoming host communities. Volunteer for two years internationally. Room, board, health insurance and a monthly stipend are provided.
Teach For America works toward the day when every child will receive an excellent and equitable education. Volunteer to teach in a high-need public school for two years. Salary and health insurance are provided, as well as an education award upon completion of service.
Sponsored by the Jesuits of the Central and Southern Province, Alum Service Corps volunteers commit to a year of service teaching in a Jesuit middle or high school in Denver, Kansas City or St. Louis. The program offers retreats, housing, health insurance, a stipend, a community car and close ties to the school's Jesuit community.
For over 70 years Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) has provided a loving home to orphaned, abandoned, and at-risk children in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Bolivia, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. NPH USA screens, places, and supports U.S. volunteers (21 or older) who serve for a year or more in one of our homes. Room, board, health insurance, and a modest monthly stipend are provided.
For information on these or other programs, contact Bobby Wassel at 314-977-2041.
Advocacy and Justice Programming
Policy Pods
Policy Pods are small groups of students who engage in legislative research and meetings. Students meet weekly on topics such as criminal justice reform, immigration reform, environment, education immigration and disability rights. Toward the end of each semester, they set up legislative meetings, advocate for their positions, and host an event to educate the campus. Groups start each year by meeting with advocacy agencies to get information on their topics and celebrate with a keynote address at the end of the year. Students can receive CP2 credit for Policy Pods if they are a regular part of their group and attend a reflection with the assistant director about their experience with pods connecting to their vocation and development.
Apply to Policy Pods by Sept. 6, 2024 by clicking below, or email jessica.trout@slu.edu.
Apply for the 2024-2025 Policy Pods
Social Justice and Advocacy Training
If you want to take your service and community engagement efforts to the next level, enroll in the Social Justice and Advocacy Training series, sponsored by the Center for Social Action in the Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement.
Spring 2025 Program Dates: Fridays from 3-5 p.m. on Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, and Feb. 28
Register for the Spring 2025 Training
Through this intensive series, accepted applicants develop skills related to working for social change at the systemic level. Students who are accepted and complete the program gain:
- The opportunity for a paid social change internship for the semester, at a community organization of their choice, for up to $1,000.
- Core credit for completing Cura Personalis 2 (CORE 2500) through attending a majority of the sessions.
- A letter from the vice president of diversity and innovative community engagement, along with a certificate of completion from the trainers.
- The tools, skills and knowledge necessary to work for social justice.
Social Action Trip.
Social Action Trips
The Social Action Program offers justice-based experiential learning and advocacy. During the Spring Semester, teams of 10-12 engage in weekly education and community building activities with local partners. Students attend a Spring Break Trip and follow up with action planning meetings.
Trips will begin to rotate in 2026, while both will run in 2025. We go to the US-Mexico Border with an immigration focus and New Orleans with an LGBTQIA+ focus.
Students must be available to attend already set pre- and post-trip
meetings. The cost is $200-250 per person. Applications are due Nov. 1, 2024 with
deposits due Nov. 17. Undergraduate students are prioritized.
Full completion of the program and trip counts for Reflection in Action Credit.