Spring 2025 NCHC Portz Grant Recipient

California State University at San Bernardino

"Funding Local Change: Startup Funds for a Pro Bono Honors Grant Writing Service"

Project Description

California State University, San Bernardino, has launched a program in which its Honors students can engage in meaningful, skills-based volunteer work that has far-reaching impacts on the Inland Empire–the CSUSB Honors Grant Writing Program. Now in its second year, the program has provided students with training from professional grant writers and has embarked on a mission to support community organizations by offering pro bono grant writing services to nonprofits.

The program is designed to give undergraduate students an opportunity to both serve their community and build professional skills such as research, writing, and the grant application process, while fostering civic engagement and service learning. Additionally, it strengthens the growth and sustainability of nonprofits by securing funding for socially impactful organizations. Unlike traditional volunteer models, the Honors Grant Writing Program goes beyond the hour-based service requirements by allowing students to make long-term, sustainable contributions to established organizations.

In the coming months, the program will be working with Join Our Youth (JOY), a nonprofit dedicated to teaching vulnerable populations about healthy eating and navigating the healthcare system. This collaboration, along with others like it, will allow students to apply their skills directly to securing funding for essential public health initiatives, reinforcing the program’s commitment to service learning with real-world impact.

Shared Principles Statement

Funding Local Change is a co-curricular and innovative service-learning initiative that bridges academic instruction with hands-on community engagement. More than just volunteer work, service-learning is a structured educational approach where students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, fostering both academic growth and civic responsibility.

Through this program, CSUSB Honors students make a direct impact by providing pro bono grant writing services to Inland Empire nonprofits and campus programs. This initiative enables students to engage in meaningful community service, while simultaneously developing practical skills in research, writing, and nonprofit funding strategies.

Unlike traditional coursework, service-learning prioritizes real-world impact, ensuring that students’ contributions translate into tangible benefits for organizations in need of financial support. By embedding community service into the learning experience, “Funding Local Change” cultivates socially responsible leaders, equipping them with valuable professional expertise while deepening their commitment to community advocacy and social change.

Project Beneficiaries

The CSUSB Honors Grant Writing Program directly benefits both students and community nonprofits. Participating students gain real-world experience in professional writing, research, and nonprofit funding strategies. They develop leadership skills, teamwork abilities, and communication expertise. The program is fully supported by faculty and experienced nonprofit grant writers, offering mentorship as students learn and work within the grant-writing sector.

While community nonprofits, such as JOY, benefit from the pro bono grant writing assistance, the Honors Grant Writing Program, students, and the local community are the true beneficiaries. We remove financial and logistical barriers that often prevent nonprofits from securing crucial funding. By supporting these organizations, the program amplifies the impact of local nonprofits, ensuring they have the resources to expand their services and reach more individuals in need. This ripple effect ensures ongoing impact amongst vulnerable populations in our community.

Through this initiative, students apply their education in tangible, impactful ways, while nonprofits gain access to funding that strengthens their long-term sustainability and outreach. Moreover, since grant writing costs can often be included in grants, students can establish an income stream in the process–a significant perk for our financially disadvantaged student population.

Institutional Support and Sustainability

The CSUSB Honors Grant Writing Program is supported by faculty leadership, student engagement, and curriculum integration to ensure long-term sustainability. Faculty oversight and instructional support will be provided by key faculty members who will provide mentorship, training, and grant writing workshops, equipping students with essential skills. In addition, the Department of Public Administration will offer an Honors-designated GE grant writing course.

The program will be sustained by incoming honors students. As new students join the program, they will continue and expand its mission, ensuring ongoing support for nonprofits and campus organizations. The addition of grant writing courses and a student volunteer commitment in the CSUSB Honors Program will further institutionalize the initiative, encouraging more students to participate and ensuring its sustainability. The Honors Grant Writing Program will oversee the student-led aspects of the program, electing leadership each semester and ensuring its continued growth and adaptation to community needs.

By embedding this initiative into both coursework and extracurricular engagement, CSUSB ensures that the Honors Grant Writing Program will continue to thrive and make a lasting impact on the community. Moreover, given our role as a site of innovation development, our next phase will extend our work further by scaling the program to the entire university.