Washington Campus Compact Grant Opportunity

Learn and Serve America Letter of Interest
Priority Due Date: March 12, 2009

Washington Campus Compact (WACC) is a statewide consortium of 34 higher education institutions that have joined together to advance the public purposes of colleges and universities, to help students become engaged leaders in their communities, and to strengthen communities. WACC is part of a national network, with 32 affiliated state offices and more than 1,200 colleges and universities as members. WACC advocates for civic engagement and service-learning to address critical education and community issues; provides grants, resources, and training to member institutions; and builds state and regional networks of leaders committed to social change. For more information: www.wacampuscompact.org

Washington Campus Compact (WACC) is seeking a Letter of Interest from member and nonmember institutions to participate in the 2009-2012 Learn and Serve America grant. Grant funds will support competitively selected member institutions (pending WACC’s receipt of grant funding). To submit your Letter of Interest, please provide:

• a brief statement (one to three pages describing your plans and how they align with Learn and Serve America’s two focus areas)


• the completed Cover Page.

If your Letter of Interest is selected, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Learn and Serve America has two priority areas:

1. Creating and/or expanding initiatives engaging campuses and the communities they
serve. Activities should focus on assisting with economic recovery and strengthening the vitality of the nonprofit and social service sectors.

2. Promoting student leadership through program models incorporating student-initiated and student-led service and service-learning activities addressing critical social needs, particularly those resulting from economic downturn.
Value: $15,000 subgrants

Investment: Approximately 2:1 in-kind match

Please note that continuing Learn and Serve America grantees will be expected to assume a leadership role as part of the 2009-2012 grant cycle.

Washington Campus Compact member institutions may apply for the Learn and Serve project by submitting a Letter of Interest. Letter of Interest should be 1–3 pages (not including the Cover Page), and should cover the following:

1. Describe the community needs—either pre-existing needs that have worsened due to the economic downturn or new challenges—being addressed, and any data to support these needs.

2. Briefly describe your proposed project/program and how it specifically relates to one or both of the focus areas as described in the Focus Areas of Learn and Serve America section above.

3. Continuing grantees only: Describe how your campus would play a leadership role during the 2009–2012 grant cycle.
Submit one (1) electronic copy and one (1) original.

E-mail electronic copy to:
raelyn.axlund@wwu.edu

Include in subject line: Letter of Interest: Learn and Serve America

Mail one original to:

Washington Campus Compact
c/o Western Washington University
516 High St., MS 5291
Bellingham, WA 98225-5996

Courier Service Address
Washington Campus Compact
405 32nd St., Suite 229
Bellingham, WA 98225

Contact:
RaeLyn Axlund
360-650-2325
raelyn.axlund@wwu.edu