Jewett Center for Community Partnerships

222 Church Street, 3rd Floor
Middletown, CT 06459
engage@wesleyan.edu
860-685-2861

Apply today! Fall 2025 Political Engagement Fund Grant Cycle Now Open!

About the Political Engagement Fund 

Wesleyan University has a long history of supporting student civic engagement and recognizes this moment’s unique opportunity for liberal learning through engagement with the public sphere. 

We are pleased to welcome applications for the Political Engagement Fund’s Fall 2025 cycle through November 19, 2025 (11:59pm). 

Projects and Proposal

The Political Engagement Fund (PEF) offers funding support to students interested in engaging in the electoral process. Wesleyan undergraduate students can apply to the fund for project support in one of the following areas:

  • Voter Registration 
  • Issues Advocacy
  • Local or national campaigns

See examples of previously funded projects at our Engage Blog and in the Wesleyan Connection!

Budgeting and Expenses

Fall, Winter, and Spring cycle Political Engagement Fund awards are capped at $500 per cycle per applicant, for a maximum of $1,500 for the academic year. Summer cycle PEF awards are capped at $5,000 per applicant.

Fall grants, which are capped at $500 per applicant, provide funding to help alleviate costs in the following areas:

  • Lodging Expenses
  • Food Expenses (related to engagement)
  • Travel Expenses: Airfare, Train Tickets, Bus Fare/Tickets, Subway/Metro Fare, Mileage (70 cents per mile)
  • Program Expenses: Tuition (non-Wesleyan), Conference Fees, Supplies (i.e. notebooks, books, pens)

Political Engagement Fund grants may not be used for any of the following: 

  • Payment/wages to applicant 
  • Payment/wages to others
  • Personal expenses deemed non essential to the project 
  • Other discretionary expenses deemed unrelated to the proposed project  
  • Tuition at Wesleyan University 
  • Purchasing or leasing a vehicle 
  • Equipment that will be retained by student or host organization (i.e. cameras, lighting equipment, laptops, etc.)

All applicants are required to submit a budget sheet, detailing the funding request. All items included in your budget must be directly related to your proposal. Based on the information you provide and available funds, an amount may be awarded to you equal to or less than your request.

Additional Political Engagement Fund requirements

Award recipients are required to:

  • Enroll in CSPL 494 (Elections Internship)
  • Submit a final report 
  • Share their experience at select Allbritton Center events

Timeline

Apply for the Political Engagement Fund before November 19, 2025 at 11:59pm. Applications will be approved and funds will be distributed on a rolling basis as applications are submitted. The final round of decisions will be announced by Monday, November 24.

How to access the Political Engagement Fund application

The application is hosted on Submittable, a social impact platform being used by Wesleyan's Gordon Career Center. Apply for the Political Engagement Fund here.

Resources

For more information, read through the PEF application and refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 

If you need additional information or want to further workshop your ideas, please contact Sonya Hadley at shadley@wesleyan.edu.

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