Community Building Fund

 

Open for Accepting Applications
Applications will be accepted until 9/15/25 at 11:59 p.m.

Community Building Fund: Request for Applications

Get up to $2,000 for a Community Building Event

The Academic Senate’s Committee on Faculty Welfare (CFW) will distribute $22,000 to faculty for community building events. CFW encourages faculty to submit applications for events that will create unexpected connections.

Important Dates:

  • Proposal Due Date: 9/15/25
  • CFW Reviews Applications: 9/17/25 - 10/15/25
  • Award Notifications: 10/31/25
  • Permissible Event Dates: 11/1/25 - 8/31/26
  • Maximum Award: $2,000
  • Amount in Fund: $22,000

Eligibility and Guidelines:

  1. BENEFIT FACULTY: The proposed event must be for the benefit of faculty. This is a requirement because the funding the Senate receives from the Chancellor is for this express purpose.
    • A faculty member must be the primary applicant and sponsor for the proposed event.
    • If there is no additional cost to making an event open to learners or staff, it can be open to others. If an event is primarily for faculty, a small number of staff or learners can also participate if their participation benefits faculty (e.g., staff who plan events for faculty can also attend those events). The focus should be benefiting faculty and building community.
  2. 2025-2026 THEME – UNEXPECTED CONNECTIONS: This is the second year CFW is sponsoring a Community Building Fund. Last year, CFW preferred applications that enabled people to connect who otherwise would not. This year, CFW has less funding ($22,000) and chose a lower maximum for awards ($2,000). This was, in part, because CFW also found it favored simple events with smaller budgets. CFW is hoping to receive fewer applications and grant a higher percentage of them. If you have an idea that is simple, low-budget, and fosters unexpected connections among faculty, please apply. These types of events are more likely to be funded.
  3. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION: Applicants will need to provide the following information about their proposed event.
    • A description of the proposed event.
    • How the event will benefit faculty and build community.
    • How the event will support UCSF’s PRIDE values and/or support UCSF’s Principles of Community.
    • The target audience.
    • Estimated number of attendees.
    • Whether the proposal is a single event or an event series.
    • How the event will be publicized (e.g., email, social media, department newsletters, etc.).
    • An estimated budget.
  4. EVENT TIMING: Proposed events should occur between 11/1/2025 and 8/31/2026. The fund cannot be used for reimbursement for activities that have already occurred. If the proposed event is for an event early in this period, it should be possible to plan the event quickly since decisions will not be made about funding until October 2025.
  5. IN-PERSON / VIRTUAL / HYBRID: CFW would like to fund in-person events, but virtual and hybrid events that build community will be considered. If you are proposing a virtual or hybrid event, please explain why that format is best for your group.
  6. FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS: Proposed events must comply with UCSF’s financial and business services policies. Proposed events also must comply with any requirements of the proposing faculty member’s department. The Academic Senate will transfer awards to departments, and faculty will either use that money directly through their department or seek reimbursement from their department. Faculty members are responsible for knowing about their department’s financial requirements, restrictions, and processes. The Academic Senate does not have this information, and the Academic Senate does not have the capacity, infrastructure, or expertise to execute event contracts, make direct payments for events, or do reimbursements for events for this fund.
  7. REPORTS / SURVEYS: Awardees will be asked to fill out a survey or submit a short report about funded proposals after the event(s).

Proposal Process:

Use the provided application form.

Submit completed application forms as PDF files via the Senate Service Portal. Please combine your application and any supporting materials into a single PDF file.

Please include your name. This is a small but important request. The Senate system renames the files when they are uploaded, so if you only include your name in the file name, it will be lost. CFW members may print your application, or it may be reviewed as part of a combined file. Your name should be clearly visible on the application itself.

Submit questions to the Committee on Faculty Welfare’s Analyst, Kristie Tappan, at [email protected].

  • Additional Information
  • 1. Financial Plan – Budget Overview (2024-2025)
  • 2. Highlights of Chancellor's Funds Awards.
  • 3. Frequently Asked Questions
  • Notice
  • Funding, submission rules, eligibility criteria, and other requirements are subject to change for each Chancellor's Fund cycle.
  • Be sure to review the website after every “Call for Applications” is launched to learn the updates and prepare your application accordingly.