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Home Student Philanthropy and Grants Opportunities Student Impact Grant

Student Impact Grant

Student Impact Grants provide funding for a variety of University of Iowa undergraduate and graduate student activities outside the classroom, such as research, travel, and service projects. The goal is to enable students to pursue opportunities that might not otherwise be possible without financial assistance.

The President's Office has generously allocated $7,000 per semester to help enhance the student experience through these grants. The designated funds come from generous philanthropic gifts made by alumni and friends who have chosen to provide unrestricted support to the university.

Grants are awarded twice a year. Applications are typically accepted for the summer/fall semester beginning in January and for the winter/spring semester beginning in September.

Read the stories of previous recipients.

The grants are made possible by a partnership between the Office of the President and Student Advancement Network (SAN).

GRANT GUIDELINES

Award Application Process

Applications will be considered for funding based on the timeline below. An online form will be available for students and student groups to use when the application period opens. A maximum of $7,000 in total grants will be awarded. Grant amounts will range from $100-$1,000 awards.

Winter 2025 and Spring 2026 Semester Award Grant Cycle

  • September 2: Application opens
  • September 26: Application deadline (5 p.m.)
  • November 20: Grant recipients will be notified about funding requests for winter or spring semester.
  • December 3: Summer/Fall 2025 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant enhanced the recipient’s Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.
  • December 4: Signed recipient agreement form due
  • December 22: Award transfers/payments for summer projects
  • January 20: Award transfers/payments for fall projects
  • April 28: Winter 2025/Spring 2026 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant enhanced the recipient's Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.

Student Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be enrolled full time as a University of Iowa undergraduate or graduate student for the fall 2025 semester and be in good standing as defined in the University of Iowa Code of Student Life.
  • Student groups or organizations must be recognized by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership or by a University of Iowa department.
  • If your program is funded in full by other programs or funding methods your program is not eligible.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with these guidelines.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university research guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines. Funding does not provide IRB permission for the project.
  • Funding requests must be shown to improve or enhance the student experience and may not be used to reimburse research subjects. Recipients will share about this outcome during a biannual Student Impact Grant Presentation event.
  • Once a student receives a grant, they are not eligible for another University of Iowa Center for Advancement student grant within the next three years.
  • Grants are not renewable.
  • Recipients must present during the Winter/Spring grant recipient presentation detailing how the funds were used and how your Iowa experience was enhanced because of this award. Presentations will be held on April 28, 2026.
Apply Now

Review Process

Members of the University of Iowa Student Advancement Network will review all submissions and make a recommendation. A University of Iowa Center for Advancement employee will oversee the scoring and review process. After review, recommendations will be sent to the Office of the President, which will make the final decision on all grant awards.

Awardees will then be notified of their selection to receive a grant, and payment will be provided by the Office of the President through a transfer to the student's U-Bill or student organization's account. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid will be consulted to ensure that funding does not affect other financial aid that a student may receive.

If you have questions, please contact Hannah McClintock at hannah.mcclintock@foriowa.org.

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University of Iowa Faces Fiscal Challenges From Pandemic

During crisis, Iowa focuses on its core missions, making difficult decisions to ensure future success. University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld spoke virtually to a group of alumni leaders at the beginning of the fall semester, providing an update on the financial challenges the university is facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The fiscal consequences have been devastating," he said. Harreld said he prioritizes providing students a world-class education while protecting their health and well-being. A critical incident management team?made up of health experts from UI Hospitals & Clinics and the medical campus, as well as facilities managers, and academic and student life representatives?helped develop the plan to safely reopen the campus this past fall based on CDC guidelines. The team continues to meet a few times a week to monitor community health. The UI is facing an $18 million budget reduction compared to last year due to a loss in state funding and a decline in student enrollment. It will also be faced with significant financial challenges related to COVID-19. In April, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, froze tuition to assist students and families, and in June the Iowa Legislature reduced university funding over concerns about state tax collections. The UI then incurred increased costs to procure personal protective equipment and enact other safety measures against the COVID-19 virus. Enrollment declined by around 500 students, and Iowa significantly reduced its residence hall capacity this academic year to promote social distancing and ensure the availability of isolation and quarantine rooms. Several units across campus are experiencing substantial cuts as a result of the pandemic. Hancher recently began a three-year process to become a self-sustaining unit that doesn't rely on $1.5 million annually from the fund that primarily supports the university's educational mission. The already self-sufficient athletics department?which in recent years has provided $2 million annually in direct support to the university?now faces a significant loss in revenue from the cancellation or postponement of spring and fall sports that will take years to overcome. After careful consideration and "a lot of agony," Harreld said the men's and women's swimming and diving, men's gymnastics, and men's tennis programs will be eliminated at the end of the academic year. The $5 million in annual savings will assist the athletics department in creating a long-term debt repayment plan that allows the remaining sports to continue. Harreld said private support can play a crucial role in funding services that aid the academic success of first-generation and underrepresented students. As the university works to tackle inequities in retention rates, he said it's more important than ever to invest in high-impact programs that help mentor, tutor, and support these students. Harreld has donated half of his salary to the Student Life Emergency Fund, which assists students who face unforeseen events or circumstances that could negatively impact their academic success. "Each of us must make budget decisions that protect the core mission of the university and set us up for success moving forward," Harreld said. To give to the areas of greatest need at Iowa, including the Student Life Emergency Fund, visit givetoiowa.org.

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