1
Grants & Leadership Awards

Higher Education

Vote is Sacred Campus Pilot Grants

Introduction

Introduction

The courage of the late John Lewis amid brutal repression will stand as a monument to one of the country’s most significant efforts to save this democratic experiment we call the United States of America. As an original architect of the twentieth-century’s civil rights movement and during his 17 terms in Congress, Rep. Lewis worked tirelessly to ensure access to the ballot box for all people, particularly Black people, and others for whom the burden of voter suppression weighs most heavily.

Program Rationale

Program Rationale

At Interfaith America, we share this belief and commitment. Indeed, Interfaith America’s vision for an interfaith America only exists in the context of a country where everyone has the opportunity to speak and be heard. Vote is Sacred will activate the social capital of higher education and faith communities to underscore the centrality of the vote in a religiously diverse, participatory government. We will leverage our robust network of interfaith leaders to mobilize hundreds of students and community members around voter and issue education, voter registration, and voter engagement.

Grant Details

  • Application

    Application Components

    A description of your Vote is Sacred project idea and how it amplifies interfaith bridge building and civic engagement

    The intended audience for your project

    Anticipated challenges of doing this work on your campus

    What success will look like in your context

    Name and description of each Team member’s role (faculty, staff, and/or student leaders).

    Application Deadline

    All applicants must complete an online application by June 30, 2022.

  • Timeline

    June 30, 2022

    Application period closes

    July 18, 2022

    Grantees will be notified of their selection

    August 12-14

    Grantees participate in Civic Engagement Track at Interfaith Leadership Summit

    August 15, 2022

    Grantees can begin recruiting, training, and implementing their campus projects

    December 16, 2022

    Grantees will submit a status report on their projects

    March 17, 2023

    Grantees will submit a final report on their projects

    April 2023

    Grantees will participate in a virtual focus group, which will include an assessment of program impact

Related Documents

Project Examples

Campus projects will vary in nature and scope. Here are some examples the types of curricular, co-curricular, and/ or community projects grantees might propose. Examples include but are not limited to:

Discussion Series

Discussion Series

A core group of student leaders hosts a discussion series about how to think about particular social or political issues from a faith perspective. For example, the group of Vote is Sacred student leaders could meet with the campus Muslim Student Organization to host a dialogue about what Islam says about the importance of civic participation. At the end of this conversation, there could be a call to action by having attendees register to vote and/or verify their registration is correct. This model can also be replicated to have meaningful dialogue with external organizations and groups to foster and strengthen relationships in the broader community.

Public Campus Programs

Public Campus Programs

Throughout the semester, student led Vote is Sacred teams can use funds to develop and promote high quality public campus programs. They could convene an array of diverse public intellectuals, social media influencers, community activists, civic and religious leaders to have in-person public events or webinars around voting and civic engagement.

Voter Registration Drives

Voter Registration Drives

Student leaders could host voter registration drives on campus. Funds could be used to support the necessary costs to administer a series of voter registration drives that target various demographics and groups on campus. Funds could also help support actual GOTV efforts during an election season. For example, paying for shuttles to transport students and other community members to the nearest polling place to cast their vote.

Latest Articles

Join us today

Get inspired, equipped, and connected to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity.

1
}