Community Microgrants

Eligible applicants include: 

• University of Waterloo students, staff, and faculty 

• Employee resource groups, clubs, affinity groups or independent collectives 

• External organizations, collectives, and community members, with the primary applicant being a current University of Waterloo student, faculty member, or staff member who will serve as the project's lead contact and be responsible for the administration of funding and reporting requirements

Ineligible applicants include: 

• Formal departments, administrative units, or teams with existing institutional/operational budgets 

• Projects already funded through institutional grants, research funds, or operating budgets 

Proposals must show clear alignment with at least one of the following: 

• Fostering inclusion, belonging, and community engagement 

• Strengthening connections across cultures or communities 

• Supporting underrepresented or marginalized voices 

• Encouraging creativity, dialogue, healing, or well-being 

Example project ideas: 

• A cultural celebration, showcase, or performance 

• A peer support group or dialogue series 

• A public workshop, teach-in, or panel 

• A community well-being or mental health event 

• A digital resource, zine, podcast, or media project 

• Microgrant amount per project: up to $1,500 

• Term budget: $5,000 per term (Winter, Spring, Fall) 

• Annual pilot budget: $15,000 total 

Eligible costs may include: 

• Booking or room fees 

• Materials and supplies 

• Speaker fees or honoraria 

• Food and refreshments  

• Accessibility supports  

• Promotion and outreach 

• Digital tools or platforms needed to deliver the project 

Ineligible costs include: 

• Salaries or long-term staffing 

• Standing or ongoing operational costs 

• Projects that clearly fall outside community support, equity, or inclusion 

Complete the online application form with short form questions on:

• Applicant information

• Community details

• Project information

• Plan and budget

• Budget and timeline 

• Applications are reviewed by a committee that may include members of the Office of EDI-R staff and EDI-R Student Ambassador Group.

• Projects are assessed on: 

  • Connection to community and potential impact 

  • Feasibility, clarity of plan, and realistic budget 

  • Inclusion and centering of marginalized groups 

  • Creativity, sustainability, and opportunities for reflection/learning 

• For applications submitted by the first month of the term, decisions will be shared within two weeks after the deadline.

• Applications received later in the term will be reviewed on a rolling basis, subject to remaining funds. 

Recipients are required to share the impact of their project following its completion. This helps celebrate the work taking place across our communities, demonstrate the value of community-led initiatives, and support the continued growth of the program. Within 30 days of completing the project, recipients must submit an Impact Summary. Submissions can be provided in a written, visual, or multimedia format.

Your Impact Summary should include:

• A brief description of the project or initiative.
• Who participated in or was impacted by the project.
• Key outcomes, reflections, or lessons learned.
• Photos, videos, creative works, resources, or other materials developed through the project, where applicable.

Multimedia support

We recognize that not everyone wants to communicate impact through a written report. Recipients may instead choose to submit a video reflection or other multimedia format. The Office of EDI-R is also available to support recipients in documenting and sharing their project's impact. This may include recording a short interview, creating a video spotlight, or capturing stories about the initiative and its outcomes. Participation in these opportunities is optional but encouraged.

By sharing project outcomes, recipients help build a collective picture of the meaningful work happening across campus and strengthen the case for future investment in community-led initiatives.