PittServes Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions
How much can apply for?
Both The Signature Days Grant and Mini-Grants can be awarded for up to $3,000.
Do I have to use volunteers? Can I use my own?
If you are applying for The Signature Days Grant, you will need to use our University of Pittsburgh volunteers during one of the days of service events. The three Signature Days of Service are Civic Action Week (typically a Friday and Saturday in October), MLK Day of Service (on MLK Day in January), and Be A Good Neighbor Day (typically a Saturday in late March/early April). The exact dates change from year to year, once they are scheduled it will be advertised in our monthly newsletter. If you are applying for a Mini-Grant, it is highly encouraged that you use the University's volunteers to complete your project. A representative from the Office of PittServes will work with you to determine a date a time for the project and make every effort to help recruit volunteers for your project needs.
Are there any tasks volunteers are not permitted to do?
We do not allow Pitt student volunteers to operate power tools during service projects or work on highways or on unsafe projects. Partners may not transport volunteers in private vehicles. Overall, we ask that projects and tasks do not harm the wellbeing of Pitt volunteers.
Can my organization apply for multiple projects?
Yes, your organization can apply for different projects for the same or different grant programs, however, you cannot apply for the same project twice in one fiscal year.
How soon will my organization be notified if we have received or have not received funding?
Our Grants Committee does its best to review and decide on applications in a timely manner. Often times we are able to complete the process within a month of your application submission, however, depending on the time of year and number of applications being submitted, notification times may vary.
If I am applying for funding from a source in addition to PittServes, am I still able to apply for the grant?
If you have already been awarded funding that partially supports your project, you can still apply for one of the PittServes grants. If you are waiting to hear back from funders, we ask that you disclose explicitly how the PittServes money will be used and a contingency plan for your project in case you do not receive all of your proposed funding.
Can I apply for partial funding of a project?
Yes. With your application please submit a timeline of your project, a contingency plan on how you plan to fund the remaining portion of it, and what will happen if you do not receive enough funding.
How soon should I apply?
If you are hoping to be awarded funding for the next Signature Day of Service event or if you are hoping to host a project in the fall semester, you should apply ASAP. If you are hoping to host a project in the spring semester, you can apply now or wait until you are within three months of the project to apply.
Where do I apply?