Career Development Grants
Career Development Grants (CDG) are available to all UNCSA students to help fund opportunities that will impact their professional career.
This is a competitive grant.
Clearly articulate how your proposal will benefit your career. Consider how you will make industry connections and describe those plans in your proposal. UNCSA faculty can advise on networking and informational interview strategies.
In your proposal, request funding for the primary event you’re attending (registration cost for the festival, conference, etc.) before requesting the supplementary costs like food, travel, housing, etc.
Can be used for:
- Professional photos
- Festivals
- Competitions
- Professional auditions
- Work interviews
- Portfolio preparation including website development
- Professional certifications
- Professional conferences
- Internships/apprenticeships*
- Attending exhibitions and performances in conjunction with networking
- Web hosting and online cloud storage subscriptions (limited to a 1-year subscription)
*If internships/apprenticeships are paid, include the amount to be paid as a funding source in your budget.
Cannot be used for:
- Extracurricular instruction from UNCSA faculty and/or staff
- Funding productions or projects
- Curriculum requirements
- School auditions
- 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 | Secondary Grant Cycle for Spring/Summer Internship Support Opens! This will require a separate application, specifically for Career Development Grant - Internship grant (CDG-I).* More information to come! |
| Mar. 10, 2025 | CDG-I Applications Due |
| Mar. 31, 2025 | CDG-I Awards Announced |
| Aug. 31, 2025 | Reimbursement Request Deadline for May 2025 graduates |
| Dec. 15, 2025 | Reimbursement Request Deadline for Continuing Students |
*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.
- Refer to the Office of Career Readiness page for information on the fall 2024 grant writing workshops.
- Contact the Writing Center for assistance with your grant application.
Application
The grant application includes:
- Student information section
- Project details section
- 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. Project description (must include specifics, 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_Fall 2024
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 October 1 - December 9, 2024, for the 2024-25 cycle.
Career development grant application
Career Development Grant committee members
- Dance: Ming-Lung Yang
- D&P: Jessica Kammerud
- Drama: Sara Becker
- Film: Clint Smith
- Music: Oskar Espina-Ruiz
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.