Career Development Grants

Career Development Grants (CDG) are available to all UNCSA students to help fund opportunities that will impact their professional career. 

The current grant cycle was created to facilitate participation in Summer 2025 internship opportunities.  Funding requests for this cycle must be specific to supporting an internship opportunity.

This is a competitive grant. A successful application will clearly articulate how the proposed internship opportunity will benefit your career. In your proposal, be sure to fully explain the type of internship you are seeking and what you hope to learn. If you have already secured an opportunity, please include pertinent details like:

  • Name and location of employer
  • Mission of the organization
  • Internship description (what will your duties be?)
  • Dates of the internship
  • If paid, what is pay rate/stipend? You must include expected payment as a funding source in your budget.

In addition, consider how you will network to make professional connections and describe those plans in your proposal. UNCSA faculty can advise on networking and informational interview strategies. 

Please note that this is a reimbursement grant for expenses in support of an internship experience:

CAN be used for:

  • Housing expenses
  • Food
  • Travel cost

 

CANNOT be used for:

  • Wages
  • Extracurricular instruction from UNCSA faculty and/or staff
  • Curriculum requirements/Academic Credit
  • Equipment and materials

Deadlines for the 2024-25 Career Development Grant

Oct. 1, 2024 CDG Online Application Available
Dec. 9, 2024 CDG Applications Due
Jan. 31, 2025  CDG Awards Announced
Feb. 10, 2025 CDG Application for Summer Internship Support (CDG-I) Opens! 
Mar. 10, 2025 CDG-I Applications Due
April 15, 2025 CDG-I Awards Announced
Aug. 31, 2025 Reimbursement Request Deadline for May 2025 graduates
Dec. 15, 2025 Reimbursement Request Deadline for Continuing Students

Please note that students may apply for both the CDG and the CDG-I grants; however, they may only accept one of them. Only one award per student per academic year is allowed.

 

Important Information for Applicants

  • Grant awards range from $300 to $1000 to cover one activity.
  • Funding can only be used for the activity outlined in the grant application.
  • One award per student per academic year is allowed. 
  • This is a reimbursement grant. Be sure to read the reimbursement instructions before submitting grant application.
  • Contact the Writing Center for assistance with your grant application.

 

Application

The grant application includes:

  1. Student information section
  2. Project details section
  3. Project documents section (submit a single 5-page PDF file, with the applicant’s name appearing at the top of each page, that includes the following)
    • Page 1. Internship description (500 words maximum)
    • Page 2. Short summary of how this grant will directly impact your career (250 words maximum) 
    • Page 3. Project approval from your primary faculty member/adviser/mentor (this can be an email converted into a PDF or a signed letter in PDF form)
    • Page 4. Budget $300-$1000 (See example of a budget)
    • Page 5. Resume (See example of a resume)

The PDF file you upload should be labeled as follows:

  • Last name_First name_CDG_Spring 2025

This rubric will be used to score the applications. It is recommended that all applicants review the rubric prior to submitting their application.

The application will be open February 10 - March 10, 2025 for the Spring 2025 cycle.

CDG-INTERNSHIP APPLICATION


Career Development Grant committee members

Career Development Grants are made possible through the generous support of the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation.