The Southwestern College Foundation (SWCF) exists solely for the benefit of Southwestern College and awards approximately $70,000 per year for campus activities/organizations through the Foundation’s Mini Grant Program.

The purpose of the Foundation Mini Grant program is to provide funding to college programs, organizations and associations that enhance the educational experience of Southwestern College students; it is not intended to fund expenses normally covered by the college district (i.e. facilities, equipment, salaries or stipends to existing employees, "swag" such as T-shirts, giveaways, branded gifts, etc.).  

The program shall provide broad and flexible guidelines to mini grant applicants within a fair and equitable application, evaluation and selection process.

All funds must be used by June 30, 2026 and disbursement requests submitted by July 6th. This will be the only opportunity to apply for foundation funding for activities during the coming Academic Year.

Goals of the program are:

1. Encourage and motivate students to continue in their studies as a result of the enhanced educational experience funded by the mini grant program

2. Develop leadership and resource development skills of mini grant applicants

3. Create immediate and long-term opportunities for engagement and participation with the Southwestern College Foundation

4. Recognize and support campus programs and organizations

5. Create a partnership between college programs, organizations and association and the Southwestern College Foundation

6. Promote the impact of funded programs to the Foundation, Governing Board and broader community

Application Opens	Grant Seeker Workshop	Application Deadline	Award Notification	Awardee Workshop
August 25, 2025 8 am	August 28, 2025 11 am	September 12, 2025 5 pm	October 1, 2025	October 9, 2025 12 pm

A Grant Seeker Workshop will be held to review additional policy changes and provide technical assistance to anyone who plans on submitting a mini grant application. Register here.  Awardees will be invited to a workshop after notifcations are sent.

Eligibility
Applicants must be a college department, program, or student/staff organization.  Student Clubs must be chartered through ASO prior to using funds.

Funding categories will include:

• Conference Attendance
• Speakers
  • Foundation will fund either speaker fees or speaker expenses, but not both.
  • Speakers receiving any funding support from a foundation mini grant will not be allowed to sell any product or service during their work on the funded project.
• Equipment, not otherwise funded by general fund, Perkins or other funding stream.
• Food/Refreshments during an event/enhanced educational experience 
• Other projects that demonstrate an enhanced educational experience for students
• College Tours (applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with other groups applying for college tours, in order to leverage group purchasing power and lower overall costs)

Funding requests are competitive and not guaranteed. Projects that have been funded in the past are not guaranteed to receive funding again. The Foundation will consider funding requests of $5,000 or less.

Funding requests must demonstrate an effort to access additional funding through fundraising, other district funding sources and/or other external funders.

NOTE: Mini Grant applications for equipment will be considered only if the application provides documentation that funding was first requested through a college department.