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.

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.

Summer and Fall 2025 Semester Award Grant Cycle

  • January 27: Application opens
  • February 21: Application deadline (5 p.m.)
  • April 11: Grant recipients will be notified about funding requests for winter or spring semester.
  • April 21: Signed recipient agreement form due
  • April 29: Winter/Spring 2024 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.
  • May 19: Award transfers/payments for summer projects
  • August 25: Award transfers/payments for fall projects
  • December 2: 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.

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 Summer/Fall 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 Dec. 2, 2025.

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.

Iowa Magazine
Explore the latest stories from Iowa Magazine.
Related Content

The latest University of Iowa alumni and faculty achievements, including Caitlin Clark?s international impact, two doctors in Antarctica, and this year?s honorary degree recipients.

With help from the First Gen Hawks program, one student is using her success to inspire those following in her footsteps. PHOTO: John Emigh Undergraduate Student Government vice president Brenda Ramirez credits Iowa?s First Gen Hawks program with empowering her to find her place in college?and to help others do the same. When Brenda Ramirez began the college-application process as a first-generation student in Round Lake, Ill., she couldn't have imagined she'd one day be vice president of Undergraduate Student Government at the University of Iowa. Her parents, both immigrants from Mexico, worked long hours to support Ramirez and her three sisters. From an early age, the girls knew their parents wanted them to experience opportunities they didn't have?starting with attending college. Ramirez, now a fourth-year economics and political science major, was determined to make it happen; she just didn?t know how. Though her family and teachers encouraged her, none of them had the resources or experience to streamline the application process. There were no tutors for standardized testing, no college-essay workshops, and no how-to checklists. Ramirez watched many of her older peers who didn?t have that support either avoid college altogether or drop out within the first year. ?It was like driving without being able to see,? says Ramirez. ?I had no clue where I was going. I just knew I needed to get somewhere.? She decided that if no one around her had the answers, she would find them herself. After exploring YouTube tutorials and college FAQ pages, she pieced together a strong application that eventually yielded offers from several schools. Ramirez chose Iowa because of its strong support systems?both financially, through grants and scholarships, and academically, through its First Gen Hawks program, which would help her adjust to college life. Though she didn?t get a chance to visit campus before committing, everything she knew about the school, the city, and the people just seemed right. ?I knew I belonged at Iowa,? says Ramirez.? Still, her freshman year was daunting. On her own for the first time and afraid of failing, Ramirez initially restricted herself to classes and work, worried that extracurriculars and outings might hurt her chances of success. However, meeting with the First Gen Hawks allowed her to settle into college life. ?I love the First Gen Hawks. I knew that if I ever needed help, it was a program I could fall back on.? she says. In addition to providing resources for academic support and career building, the program encouraged her to find a work-life balance with friends and clubs. This motivated Ramirez to join Undergraduate Student Government as a sophomore. Now, as vice president of the organization, she helps improve the college experience for other first-generation students. After graduating this spring, she hopes to work in the field of public policy?and one day run for office?as a way to keep giving back. ?I love the idea that something I do today will help students five years from now,? she says. ?Even if they don?t know who I am, they will know someone was thinking about them.?

Group looks to support students and alumni and to maintain a supportive voice for their issues at the University of Iowa.

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Statement unless you have disabled them in your browser.