Sustainability at Willamette
Sustainability at Willamette / Community Action Fund for Equity and Sustainability (CAFES) / Applying for Funding

Applying for Funding

The Community Action Fund for Equity & Sustainability Committee (CAFES) seeks to provide financial support to projects and programs advancing sustainability, equity, and social justice at Willamette University and in our community. CAFES funds are intended to support new or one-time projects and initiatives on campus. For long-term projects, our mission is to provide the resources necessary to get pilot programs off the ground so that they may grow and become a permanent part of the Willamette community. Please note that CAFES does not fund reimbursements for projects that have already taken place. When developing proposals, we require students to work closely with staff and/or faculty, especially if your project requires working with them or programs they support. Please reach out to the committee community-action-fund if you need help with developing your proposal. We always highly recommend meeting with our Proposal Consultant before submitting a grant.

2025-2026 Cafes Funding Precedents

These are our funding precedents for the year and are subject to change yearly based on our budget. Please review them carefully before applying to ensure your project is eligible under our current restrictions.

Required Form:

The 2025-2026 CAFES Proposal Form can be submitted at any time. The CAFES Committee reviews incoming proposals every Wednesday at 4PM. Proposals must be submitted within 48 hours after the committee’s weekly meeting to be processed that same week. The committee will review proposals in order of submission and require at least a week for consideration. Please be mindful of your project timeline; do not submit a proposal the same week as your event. We highly recommend that your project start date be at least two weeks after the committee’s vote date to allow sufficient time for review, funding allocation, and preparation. Rushed proposals are strongly discouraged

Apply for Mini Grants!

CAFES Mini Grants are designed to fund up to $300 for small scale projects rooted in social justice, equity and sustainability. Mini Grant applications will be considered any time until Sunday April 26th at 11:59 PM. Please see the proposal form for more details about the application process.

If you have any questions, please contact community-action-fund and we will be happy to assist you in the process!

Mini Grant Required Form:

Resources on Campus

CAFES works to support proposals that aim to advance sustainability, equity, and social justice in the Willamette community. A wide variety of projects fit within the scope of CAFES funding, but there are other resources on campus you should consider, too.

Funding needs that might be better suited to an alternative campus resource include:

  • Funding for recognized student organizations (ASWU)
  • Funding for projects within residence halls (RHA)

Check out ourFunding Workshoppresentation for more information about these funding resources and how to apply for each type of funding.

Unsure if a resource already exists on campus? Use this page to discover the wide variety of events/items/initiatives available from pre-existing organizations and departments at Willamette.

Searching for a specific resource: Try “command” +” F” on your keyboard, type a specific search term

Alternative Funding Contacts

  • Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU)
    • Any registered student organization is eligible to apply for funding through the ASWU
    • In order to be eligible for funding, organizations must be officially recognized by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership
    • ASWU Funding Standards.
  • Willamette Events Board (WEB)
    • Work with WEB to plan a new event/submit event ideas
  • Residence Hall Association (RHA)
    • Funding for projects/events especially within residence halls or for on-campus residents
    • No Cap: Events held within Willamette University, especially within residence halls, or supplies bought that are open primarily for all on-campus residents and directed towards on-campus residents.
    • 50% Cap Applied: Events held within Willamette University or supplies bought that are open and directed to all students, on-campus resident or off-campus resident, or also non-resident community members.
    • Rejected: Events held or supplies bought that are for private individual, group, or club use. Events held outside Willamette University.
  • Internship Funds
    • Awards given to promote student career preparedness, designed to enhance the recipients' practical experience, work exposure, and career opportunities.
  • Office of Career Development
    • Source for funding for an internship or summer experience