Chapman and Innovation Grants

About the grant

The Chapman and Innovation Grants (C&I) offer UBC students the opportunity to create and carry out a meaningful project with a local not-for-profit community organization. C&I grants are designed to help students work with a community organization to test a new idea and take initiative in tackling an issue affecting underrepresented populations in their local communities.

The C&I grants are a dynamic learning opportunity, challenging students to learn throughout the project without the fear of failing. The grants are designed for students and community organizations to think imaginatively, constructively, and to push boundaries.The best learning often comes from simply trying.

Applicants can request funds between $1,500 to $10,000 CAD for their project, which must be completed within 6 months of the grant being awarded.

Successful proposals promote the self-empowerment of communities and foster strong, long-term partnerships between UBC and the community. Recipients are required to participate in a mid-project check-in with the Centre for Community and Engaged Learning (CCEL) staff and to submit a brief final report.

Safety protocols for COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all project proposals must follow UBC and BC Government public safety protocols. For more information, read UBC's COVID-19 Health Guidance.

What the grant can fund

Projects with off-campus activities
Off-campus activities include workshops, community-meetings, initiatives, community events, forums, educational, health, environmental or cultural-based projects.
Projects with a community partner
Community partners must be a registered charity, society, cooperative, non-profit or public sector, community organization, First Nation, school, municipal, federal or provincial government office.

Past grant winners

Check out a list of previous grant winners and the projects they've done.

Eligibility requirements

Before applying, read the Grant Eligibility Guidelines (pdf) to confirm that CCEL can fund your project.

Writing a successful grant application

A strong grant application has 3 parts:

A project idea that connects to a broader social issue with an achievable and measurable impact
A community partnership with clearly outlined roles and responsibilities
A project plan that includes goals, objectives, a timeline, and budget

Identify your project idea

When you apply for a grant, you need to clearly describe your project idea, which includes the problem and solutions you plan to work on.

Review the Identifying a Project Idea guide (pdf) for tips on drafting a problem statement. You can also use the brainstorming matrix in the guide to develop a strong project idea.

Find your community partners

Community partners must be a registered charity, society, cooperative, non-profit or public sector, community organization, First Nation, school, municipal, federal, or provincial government office.

Partnerships are best built by fostering a relationship with the community organization.

Learn how to build a partnership with a community organization through the Reaching out to a Community Organization guide (pdf).

Build your project plan

Now that you have a project idea and a community partnership, it’s time to write your application.

The CCEL Grants Application Toolkit (pdf) provides a detailed guide for answering each question in the grant application and can support you in developing your project plan.

Seek advising

From developing a project idea to finding a community partner, to building a project plan, the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) is available in person or online to support you and answer your questions.

Email community.learning@ubc.ca to book an advising session with CCEL staff and brainstorm your project idea or learn more about available grants.

How to apply

Chapman and Innovation Grant applications are open from Mon, Nov 7, 2022 to Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

Before you apply, review these documents:

Chapman and Innovation Application Package (pdf)
Read the package to learn what details and supporting documents you must include in your application.
CCEL Grants Budget Template (xlsx)
Plan how to allocate your project funding and expenses with this spreadsheet.

Apply online

If you have questions

Email the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) at community.learning@ubc.ca to learn about community-based opportunities, programs, and resources.