For Students
Student Groups/Organizations
Here are some examples of service projects student groups have taken part in/coordinated in partnership with the Career Center.
Type of Project: One-Time and Short-Term
Area of Interest: Hunger and Homelessness
Service Project(s): Peanut Butter Jelly time–over 80 students from Community Service Club prepared 2000+ PB&J sandwiches which were then donated to a local homeless shelter and soup kitchen. Students learned about the plight of the homeless population.
Type of Project: One-Time and Long-Term
Area of Interest: Children and Poverty
Service Project(s): Dance to Make a Difference–Alpha Epsilon Delta’s Make-A-Wish Committee has partnered with a non-profit organization for two years. Dance to Make a Difference showcased six dance crews from Stony Brook University and raised over $500 for their cause. The committee tabled every week and did bake sales to raise money for the cause. The students raised over $1700 in donations in Spring 2011. Students learned about the impact of childhood cancer on families.
Type of Project: One-Time and Short-Term
Area of Interest: Environment
Service Project(s): Beach Clean-Up–Sigma Beta Honor Society coordinated a beach clean-up for 15 volunteers.
Type of Project: Long-Term
Area of Interest: Literacy and Poverty
Service Project(s): Book Drive–Alpha Kappa Psi donated over 6 boxes of books in the Spring 2011 and will be continuing the project in the Fall. Students learned about childhood illiteracy and its relationship to poverty.
Type of Project: One-Time
Area of Interest: Hunger
Service Project(s): Be the Change–Students of Sigma Beta Rho participated in a service project for 25 members to help out at a local farm. Activities included helping out with the fair and field work.
Download Service Project Guide (pdf) »
Grants and Fellowship Opportunities
Below you will find links to various descriptions of and applications for grants, fellowships, and awards. For answers to inquiries or for help with applying, please contact Urszula Zalewski at 631-632-6810 or urszula.zalewski@stonybrook.edu.
Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents representing some 6 million students who are committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education. An updated list of funding opportunities and fellowships for students and faculty can be found at Campus Compact.
CASE Grant
The New York Campus Compact is providing students at member campuses access to six awards of $1,000 to support a campus/community project, through the Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur (CASE) Grant program, described below. Supported by the Kellogg Foundation, the CASE Grants encourage students to collaborate with a community organization, work with a faculty member, and develop an effective response to a pressing community need. All applications are made online and are evaluated by a panel of NYCC reviewers.
Ford Foundation Grants
Founded to advance human welfare, the Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions around the world.
Frank Newman Leadership Award
The Frank Newman Leadership Award provides financial support and mentorship to assist students achieve their civic and academic goals. Two $5,000 awards are available to undergraduate students at Campus Compact member colleges and universities.
Jenzabar Foundation Grant
The Jenzabar Foundation welcomes grant proposals from institutions of higher education and recognized US-based non-profit organizations. The Foundation will entertain proposals that serve broader interests in the areas of education and social welfare. Students groups are encouraged to apply online as well as obtain more information about the grant.
DOROT College Grant
DOROT College Grants enable students nationwide to bring DOROT’s model of intergenerational volunteer support for the elderly to their campuses. Student leaders and professionals from undergraduate college student groups are invited to apply for DOROT’s Level I Grant, College Initiative Grants for Intergenerational Programs. Thanks to a grant from the Dorot Foundation, DOROT will award up to nine undergraduate college 501(c)3 organizations a grant of $500 for funding of programs that enable college students to volunteer with the elderly in their communities. The successful applicant will develop partnerships between student campus groups and local social service agencies that work with the elderly, with programs to be implemented between January and May. Students and student groups are encouraged to apply online.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $10,000 stipend for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world.
The Starbucks Foundation-Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants
Deadline: Rolling
Youth Action Grants are designed to help youth realize their natural potential to reinvent their local communities. The Starbucks Foundation accepts applications from organizations that provide young people (ages 6-24) with a continuum of service opportunities in social entrepreneurship. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Contact the Starbucks Foundation for more information and to apply for this funding.
State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants
State Farm Grants are available to institutions of higher education for projects which are youth initiated, designed, and carried out in conjunction with a community partner. Grants range from $25,000 to $100,000 and are evaluated by the youth advisory board for how well they utilize service-learning to address access to higher education, environmental responsibility, financial literacy, disaster preparedness, and driver safety. Detailed information on the RFP process, grant requirements, evaluation and eligibility criteria is available here.
STOP Hunger Scholarship
The Sodexo Foundation seeks applicants for the STOP Hunger Scholarships to recognize students in the fight against hunger in America. The STOP Hunger Scholarships recognize and reward students who have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger and its root causes in the United States.
Application materials available here » Access Key: SDXF
The Volvo Adventure Environmental Project Grants »
Ben & Jerry's Foundation Social Change Projects »
True Hero Competition
The TRUE HERO™ organization will award money for community service project expenses to qualified colleges and community organizations. The awards will be granted to those student community service projects receiving the most eligible votes from the general public during the current school year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011). In order to be eligible to win, the student community service project must involve at least three volunteers younger than 23 years old. To apply and for more information, please visit truehero.org.
Volunteers for Prosperity
The Office of Volunteers for Prosperity (VFP) in cooperation with the USA Freedom Corps at the White House, and Global Giving Foundation, launched the Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program or VFPServ. This is an innovative public-private partnership to help address the financial challenges facing a number of skilled Americans interested in short-term international voluntary service by providing matching grants ranging from $500 to $1000 to offset travel, insurance, and local living costs.
Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice
Through this fellowship, Families USA hopes to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from under-represented racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly from the Black/African American, Latino, and American Indian communities.
Do Something Grants
Want to make a difference but lack funds to start? DoSomething.org can help. Weekly grants of $500 are given to students and students groups who create and sustain projects to help with various social justice issues. Get a jump-start on your community service and make a difference. For more information, please visit dosomething.org.
Community Service Projects for Students & Student Groups
Adopt-a-Mentoring Program
Providing kids a snack is an important yet costly job for an after-school mentoring program. Why not lend a hand? Your student group can sign up to fuel a local mentoring program for a day, a week, even a month!
Interested in Volunteering in NYC?
Volunteer in various organizations in NYC as individuals or groups of people. Volunteer to help the elderly, children, or at soup kitchens, the possibilities are endless.
Book Drive
Collect books for schools and families in the US, Africa, and Asia.
If you are interested in participation in any of these projects or have an idea for a community service project but don’t know where to start, or if you are a student group and would like to request a presentation about community service projects to your organization, please contact Urszula Zalewski at 631-632-6810 or urszula.zalewski@stonybrook.edu.
Volunteer Opportunities
On- and Off-Campus Opportunities
Volunteers for Community Service (VCS) is a student-run, student-oriented service aimed at facilitating volunteer opportunities that connect campus and community.
International Opportunities
VCS coordinates short- and long-term volunteer positions ranging from protecting sea turtles in Mexico to building schools in Tanzania.
Hospital Volunteer Opportunities
Each year, more than 350 volunteers share their time and talents in almost every department of the Stony Brook University Medical Center.
Annual Campaigns & Charitable Endeavors
Alternative Spring Break Outreach
Student-developed, student-run community service organization whose mission is to promote critical thinking, social action, and civic engagement for a lifetime by combining education, reflection, and direct service on the local, regional, national, and international levels. If you would like more information please contact Hector Ian Martinez, President, ASBOsbu@gmail.com.
Habitat for Humanity
Providing housing for others is a concrete expression of what we believe: that Stony Brook is an integral part of Long Island, cares deeply about the health of this community, and will work to ensure that all the families of this area have the necessities of life.
It's About Us
Our University. Our Campaign. Find out how to give or get involved.
Stony Brook Cares
The University's annual fundraising drive that collects and distributes urgently needed contributions to hundreds of charitable organizations, giving vital aid and support to people in need.
6th Annual Community Service Awards Ceremony
We invite you to submit a nomination for yourself or a Stony Brook student, faculty, or staff member who participates in community outreach activities. The awards ceremony will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012, in the SAC, Ballroom A. Nominations are due March 23, 2012, for the following categories: U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award Gold and Silver, Excellence in Community Service, Outstanding Community Service Project, and Community Outreach Collaboration Award.
Encourages students to explore the meaning of community service and leadership—two keys to career success and life satisfaction.
Community Service Learning
The interdisciplinary minor in Community Service Learning is open to all undergraduates who wish to add a service learning dimension to their academic experience.
Undergraduate College of Leadership & Service
Encourages students to explore the meaning of community service and leadership—two keys to career success and life satisfaction.
Stony Brook Community Service Club
Meet up with your fellow students and serve the greater SB community as well!
Where: James College Lounge, H Quad
When: Tuesdays at 5:30 pm
Contact: Malisa Ali, President, cscsbu@gmail.com