Funding bold ideas that spark innovation and collaboration.
Fund Your Community-Building Idea
CLIF grants empower members of the Harvard community to actively pursue one idea over a year to create a more accessible and respectful campus where everyone has a chance to participate.
Apply today! The deadline is Friday, March 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. US Eastern Time.
Faculty and Staff:
All Harvard University benefits-eligible staff and faculty. All primary team members must have a primary affiliation with Harvard University. Harvard-affiliated hospitals and non-profit, independent corporations are not eligible as primary applicants and require teaming with a primary applicant at a Harvard University school or unit to apply.
All benefits-eligible Harvard administrative/professional, support, or service and trades staff members.
Primary, secondary, and adjunct faculty.
Students, Postdoctoral Researchers, and Fellows:
All full-time, degree-seeking Harvard undergraduate and graduate students. All primary team members must have primary affiliation with Harvard University.
Postdoctoral researchers and fellows are eligible to apply.
A full-time appointment at Harvard University is required.
The appointment must last the duration of the funding period if awarded.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Alignment - Aligns with the Harvard University Community Values and advances a campus culture where every member can thrive in their academic, professional, and research pursuits.
Accessibility - Applies inclusive principles recommended by Harvard University Disability Resources so that the proposed product, resource, or service is usable by as many different people as possible. Adherence to the Digital Accessibility Policy is required.
Connection to Campus - Directly impacts the Harvard University community.
Data - Has measurable outcomes and attainable goals once implemented.
Innovation - Offers a novel or creative approach to strengthening a culture of mutual respect and full participation for all on campus.
Non-Discrimination - All events organized as part of the project implementation should be open and welcoming to all members of the Harvard community.
One Harvard - Project teams include a combination of faculty, students, staff, and/or postdoctoral fellows, or demonstrate cross-School or cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Promising Practice - Has potential for university-wide impact and/or designs resources to be shared and replicable across offices, departments, schools, and units.
The first round of application evaluations is from March to April. The final round is from May to June.
Top-rated proposals will advance to the final round of judging, where teams will pitch their projects to the review committee. If you have been selected to move forward to the final round, you will receive instructions on how to prepare for the pitch competition.
By late April or early May, you will receive a notification about the status of your application.
Award recipients are notified by Tuesday, June 30.
54
Spring 2025 Proposals
submitted by students, staff, postdocs, and faculty from across the University.
These grants support the work of faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral researchers, and fellows from different backgrounds and belief systems from across campus who are working together to achieve our shared goal of building community.
Sherri Ann Charleston
Chief Community and Campus Life Officer
Frequently Asked Questions
Join our virtual Open House on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 11 a.m. to noon ET to learn tips about applying.
You may email culturelab@harvard.edu with any questions related to your proposal. Live virtual Office Hours are available for 30 minutes in February and March to provide customized support for your project questions and ideation.
Selected projects can receive between $5,000–$15,000. In addition to funding, recipients will join a cohort of innovative peers and gain support on how to improve and scale their initiatives.
The requested amount is not guaranteed. Funds are prioritized for ideas with the broadest impact.
It is expected that award recipients will provide a general report outlining spending and project progress to the Culture Lab Innovation Fund (CLIF) at the end of the award period. CLIF will provide instructions to awardees regarding the scope and submission of these reports. To the extent possible, CLIF will highlight award project development on relevant websites and may feature your award in press releases, communications with donors, and other materials.
If you receive funding, you will join a cohort of fellow fund recipients. For the duration of your funding term, you will have access to office hours, training, and an invitation to special events. Other resources will be made available upon request.
Select Culture Lab Past Projects
First-Generation/Low Income Visibility Week
First-Generation/Low Income Visibility Week, a scaling grant awardee, recognizes students who are the first in their family to pursue a degree in US higher education.
Beyond Access
A 4-day art event celebrating the December 3rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities, featuring a design talk, a global movement installation, a choral performance, and interactive sculptures.
Nunchi Health
Nunchi Health delivers peer-led mental health programs for students worldwide that are free, accessible, and culturally grounded.
Harvard University Peer Coaching Initiative
A semester-long professional development opportunity for Harvard students and researchers who want to develop their leadership skills and experience the benefits of high-quality listening while meeting peers from across the University.
Graduate Career Capsule
Graduate Career Capsule empowers graduate students by providing professional attire and equipment for job interviews to support their career development.
