The UCA Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation existing solely to benefit the University of Central Arkansas. The UCA Foundation is committed to supporting the students and faculty of UCA. Each fall and spring semester, the Foundation awards grants to faculty to support events or activities that enhance learning opportunities at UCA. These grants are intended to encourage creative endeavors that may serve as “seeds” for future programs or support innovative activities that enhance the reputation of UCA.
Grant Priorities
Frequently, good ideas require funding that is not easily available from annual budget sources. The UCA Foundation has allocated funds from unrestricted gifts to invest in creative projects that support the mission of the university and have a positive impact on the community.
Highest priority is given to innovative proposals that directly involve students and enhances the outreach of the university in a manner consistent with UCA principles. Proposals for projects that may serve as seeds for development of more permanent programming are generally ranked above other requests. However, proposals for worthy activities that cannot be covered by established budgets may also be considered.
Proposals will not be funded if:
- No level of financial support by the department, college or other sources is demonstrated
- Requested funds are more than $5,000
- Individuals requesting funds have received foundation funding in the past year
- Similar projects have received foundation funding in the past year
*A detailed budget must be included in the proposal specifying how Foundation funds will be spent (see example included on application). Purchases of equipment, faculty travel, or faculty stipends will not be funded using Foundation grant money, however they can be funded by other sources.
Application Information and Procedures
The request for proposals will be valid through academic year 2027-2028. Completed applications must be submitted no later than October 16, 2026. Award decisions will be made no later than October 31, 2026 by a committee appointed by the UCA Foundation, which includes faculty and community members. Completed applications, as well as letters of support from the applicant’s Dean and Department Chair, should be submitted through the online application.
The online application can be found here. Faculty grant awardees should submit a brief status report at the end of the project.
