The Allstate Foundation

College Service Grants

The Allstate Foundation College Service Grants

In support of The Allstate Foundation‘s youth empowerment strategy, the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) has partnered with the Foundation to (re)define youth service for a new generation and empower youth to serve and improve communities. In continuation of this partnership, we are excited to announce the 2025-2026 College Service Grants. To date, The Allstate Foundation has generously granted $1.5 million toward this program.

Funded initiatives fall into one of the following categories:

Microgrants: Directly provided to students for new, youth-led service initiatives.
Access Support: Initiatives that increase student access to service experiences.
Increasing Impact: Initiatives that enhance the depth of impact of existing youth-led service activities.

Institutions are required to apply by April 15, 2025 for consideration.

Apply Today!

View the 2024-2025 Recipients

Alvernia University
Baldwin Wallace University
Berkeley College
Bowling Green State University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California State University, Long Beach
Christopher Newport University
Concordia College Moorhead
Cornell University
CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies
Dallas College
Denison University
Drexel University
Eastern University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Goodwin University
Goucher College
Greensboro College
Harford Community College
Hope College
Irvine Valley College
Kansas State University
Kennesaw State University
Kent State Uniiversity
Longwood University
Marquette University
Northeast Lakeview College
Oglethorpe University
Pennsylvania State University, Abington
Saint Louis University
Saint Mary’s College of California
Sonoma State University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Virginia University
Springfield College
Texas Woman’s University
The College of New Jersey
Trinity College
University of Central Arkansas
University of Chicago
University of Minnesota, Duluth
University of Mississippi
University of Montana
University of Nebraska, Omaha
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at San Antonio
Weber State University
York College of Pennsylvania

View the 2023-2024 Recipients

Baylor University
Butler County Community College
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Coahoma Community College
Irvine Valley College
Gonzaga University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Norfolk State University
Roanoke College
Texas State University, San Marcos
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of Miami
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Portland

“Receiving this grant has been a catalyst for broadening interpretations of service and leadership for our students, including community service, leadership, engagement, and extracurricular opportunities. By participating in this grant, we have been able to operationalize a robust, youth-led, service-oriented collegiate experience that supports student success in college and beyond.”

Amrik Johal

Assistant Dean of Students, Irvine Valley College

2025-2026 Applications Close April 15

Apply now to secure funding for student-led service projects on your campus!

Apply Today!

How to Apply

Institutions will be selected through an application process. Questions about The Allstate Foundation College Service Grant application can be directed to tafyouthservice@expandingleadership.org.

Eligibility

Eligible Initiatives
Funded initiatives must fall into one of the following categories:

Microgrants: Directly provided to students for new, youth-led initiatives.
Access Support: Initiatives that increase student access to service experiences.
Increasing Impact: Initiatives that enhance the depth of impact of existing youth-led service initiatives.

Ineligible Initiatives
Grants may not be used for:

International initiatives;
Alternative break/immersion service trips;
Service-learning initiatives;
“Re-gifting” funds directly to a charity or cause, or using funding to purchase resources for a charity or cause;
Support for political campaigns, candidates, parties, or political issues; OR
Salary support or institutional overhead.

2025 - 2026 Timeline

March 1, 2025: Application Launches
April 15, 2025: Application Deadline
June 2025: Notification of Awards
August 14-15, 2025: College Service Grantee In-person Convening
October 2025: College Service Grantee Virtual Convening
February 2026: College Service Grantee Virtual Convening
April 2026: College Service Grantee Virtual Convening
May 15, 2026: Grant Expenditure Deadline
June 5, 2026: Grant Report Deadline
TBA: Grantee Student Representative Virtual Focus Groups

Application Requirements

The online application must be completed in its entirety for consideration. This includes, but is not limited to, the following open-ended responses:

Please share below how you intend to utilize the funds.
How do you plan to measure and document the outcomes of the grant?
Documenting impact of the experience overall is important. In particular, assessment of the ways in which this grant supported youth in developing social connectedness and workforce readiness are highly encouraged.

Grant Requirements

Funds must be distributed to support youth-led, youth-driven community service at your institution. For the purpose of this grant, community service is defined along a continuum from volunteerism to civic engagement (Dugan, Skendall, & Weatherford II, 2024). Significant funding is already directed toward service-learning, consider opportunities beyond that modality. You do not need to launch a new program to receive funding.
Funds must be spent by May 15, 2026. Given the size and scope of funding, no overhead will be provided.
Grantees agree to provide a final grant report outlining the use of funds by June 5, 2026.
Grantees commit to participating in an in-person convening with The Allstate Foundation and CELO August 14-15, 2025.
Grantees commit to sending at least one youth involved in service from their campus to participate in a virtual focus group coordinated by CELO (Date TBD).
Grantees commit to participating in three (3) virtual convenings with The Allstate Foundation and CELO in October 2025, February 2026, and April 2026.
Grantees commit to contributing success stories and photos of student service work done as part of this grant.
Grantees may be invited to contribute to media and dissemination efforts. Our goal is to amplify stories of your youth and campus efforts to ignite a renewed and sustainable investment in community service.