1889 Impact Grants application deadline extended to Nov. 8
By Bill Studenc
Because of the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene, 甜瓜视频app鈥檚 Division of Advancement and the WCU Foundation have extended the deadline for applications from faculty and staff interested in obtaining funding for projects through the 1889 Impact Grants Program.
The new deadline is Friday, Nov. 8. The application process opened Sunday, Sept. 1, and was originally scheduled to close Monday, Sept. 30.
Although internet and other communications services on campus were quickly restored after the storm hit the region late Thursday, Sept. 26, numerous faculty and staff live in outlying areas that are still facing outages and other hurricane-related issues, said Ben Pendry, vice chancellor for advancement.
鈥淪o many members of our university family reside in Haywood, Buncombe and surrounding counties, and they are in the midst of significant cleanup and recovery activities,鈥� Pendry said. 鈥淲e felt it appropriate to extend the deadline for the 1889 Impact Grants Program so that those folks can focus right now on more pressing matters and allow them the opportunity to apply for a grant when their conditions improve.鈥�
Launched in 2021 and entering its fourth year, the program is designed to provide a consistent source of grant funding for colleges and other units at WCU in support of initiatives that enhance the engagement of alumni and community stakeholders to the philanthropic activities of the university. A total of $45,000 is available for projects for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Funding for the program comes from annual contributions to the Fund for WCU, including leadership gifts from members of the 1889 Club, which recognizes donors for gifts made on an annual basis to the Fund for WCU. The club, among four giving societies established by the Division of Advancement to celebrate the impact of philanthropy on the institution, is named in honor of the year of WCU鈥檚 founding.
All applications should be submitted using the online form. Grant requests should be vetted and approved by the appropriate dean or division head to make sure that it is aligned with priorities.
Members of the WCU Foundation Board of Directors comprise a committee that will review applications. Grant recipients will be notified by Sunday, Dec. 15, and all awarded funds should be utilized by the end of the spring 2025 semester. Award recipients are expected to provide a report summarizing the impact of their projects in June 2025.
Over its first three years, the program funded projects including a service-learning initiative in which marching band students filled 4,000 bags with potatoes for food pantries, a Hunter Library initiative sharing historical photographs with communities across the region, trips to Argentina and Central Europe providing international learning experiences for students who completed the Academic Success Program, and the installation of wireless internet service in the Health and Human Sciences Building鈥檚 primary care clinic for migrant and seasonal farm workers.
In addition to the 1889 Impact Grants Program, the Fund for WCU provides first-year access scholarships to new incoming students and supports ongoing donor stewardship efforts.
For more information including how to join the 1889 Club, visit the website.
