The Allstate Foundation – College Service Grants 2027–2028

$10,000 Grants Supporting Student-Led Community Service at Colleges and Universities Nationwide

The Allstate Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO), is accepting applications for its 2027–2028 College Service Grants program. The initiative provides $10,000 grants to U.S. colleges and universities to strengthen student-led community service, expand participation in volunteer activities, and increase the impact of existing youth-driven initiatives.

Funding supports projects that place students at the center of designing, leading, and implementing meaningful service activities. Institutions may propose new programs or expand existing initiatives.

Applications are due February 17, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (8:00 p.m. Eastern).

Organization: The Allstate Foundation
Program Partner: Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO)
Support Type: Institutional grants for student-led community service
Geographic Focus: United States — Nationwide
Funding Amount: $10,000 per award
Application Deadline: February 17, 2027

About the Funder

The Allstate Foundation is the charitable foundation associated with Allstate, the insurance company. Its youth empowerment strategy focuses on preparing young people to become confident leaders who contribute to their communities through service.

The Foundation partners with the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity to support youth-led and youth-driven service initiatives at colleges and universities across the United States.

The College Service Grants program has received more than $2.5 million in cumulative support from The Allstate Foundation.

The program recognizes that students can be powerful drivers of community change when provided with the resources, opportunities, and leadership responsibilities needed to turn their ideas into action.

What This Program Supports

Applicants must propose initiatives aligned with at least one of three funding categories.

Microgrants for Student-Led Service

Funding may be used to establish or expand campus microgrant programs that provide students with resources to design and implement their own community service initiatives.

These programs empower students to identify community needs, propose solutions, and lead service activities.

For example, a college might establish a competitive student microgrant program that provides small awards to student teams developing local community service projects.

Increasing Access to Service Opportunities

Grants may support initiatives that remove barriers preventing students from participating in community service.

Examples may include:

• Transportation to volunteer and community service locations
• Background checks required for service placements
• Program supplies and materials
• Other eligible expenses that make service experiences more accessible

The goal is to increase the number and diversity of students who can participate in meaningful service opportunities.

Increasing the Impact of Existing Service Programs

Institutions may also request funding to deepen or expand the impact of existing student-led community service initiatives.

Examples include:

• Expanding the reach of successful student service programs
• Improving resources available to student leaders
• Strengthening community partnerships
• Increasing the number of community members served
• Enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of ongoing youth-led initiatives

Applicants do not need to establish a new program. Existing initiatives are eligible when grant funding would increase their impact.

Eligible Support Types

The Allstate Foundation provides institutional grants of $10,000.

Allowable budget categories may include:

• Food, snacks, and meals
• Transportation
• Space and venue expenses
• Program supplies and materials
• Student stipends
• Print services
• Microgrants distributed directly to students for approved service initiatives

Student compensation must follow the institution’s policies.

Funds must directly support youth-led community service rather than general institutional operations.

Eligibility & Preferences

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based colleges and universities seeking to support student-led, student-driven community service initiatives.

Institutional Requirements

• Applicants must be U.S.-based institutions of higher education.
• Grant funds are awarded directly to the institution.
• A full-time faculty or staff member must serve as the primary institutional representative.
• Student organizations must apply in partnership with an eligible institutional representative.
• The institution must administer the grant and provide financial oversight.
• Proposed initiatives must align with at least one of the three eligible funding categories.
• Funded activities must be open to all individuals, regardless of demographics.

Student Leadership Requirements

The program emphasizes genuine student leadership.

Strong proposals should demonstrate how students participate in meaningful decisions, including:

• Designing the service initiative
• Identifying community needs
• Developing project plans
• Making decisions about implementation
• Leading activities
• Evaluating results
• Building community partnerships

Programs that simply involve students as participants, without meaningful leadership responsibilities, may be less competitive.

Multiple Applications

Institutions may submit more than one proposal.

However, CELO advises that it is unlikely an institution will receive more than one award because funding is limited.

Departments and campus units are encouraged to collaborate and submit a coordinated proposal.

Previous Grant Recipients

Previous recipients may apply again.

Returning applicants should explain how the proposed initiative strengthens, expands, or builds upon previously funded work.

Geographic Eligibility

Nationwide — United States

The program is open to eligible colleges and universities throughout the United States.

There are no published state-specific geographic priorities.

Institutions in rural, suburban, and urban communities may apply.

The application requests information about the institution’s state, approximate student population, and community setting.

Ineligible Requests

Grant funds may not be used for:

• International initiatives
• Alternative break or immersion service trips
• Service-learning initiatives
• Direct donations or pass-through grants to charitable organizations
• Purchasing resources simply to donate to another charity or cause
• Political campaigns, candidates, parties, or political issues
• Staff salaries
• Institutional overhead
• Speaker fees
• Conference registration or travel
• Marketing products such as T-shirts and promotional items

The program does not provide direct grants to individual students or independent nonprofit organizations.

Student-led initiatives must be administered through an eligible college or university.

Summer programs are not eligible for this funding cycle because grants will be distributed in July 2027 and must be spent by May 19, 2028.

Funding Amounts

Grant Amount: $10,000

Each selected institution receives a $10,000 grant.

The Allstate Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million in cumulative funding to the College Service Grants program.

The total number of awards available for the 2027–2028 cycle has not been specified.

Grant funds are expected to be distributed in July 2027, following the required in-person convening.

No institutional overhead funding is provided.

Timeline & Review

2027–2028 Grant Cycle

📅 Application Opens: November 9, 2026

📅 Application Deadline: February 17, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific / 8:00 p.m. Eastern

📅 Applicant Notification: April 1, 2027

📅 Required In-Person Convening: June 9–10, 2027

📅 Funding Distribution: July 2027

📅 Virtual Convening 1: October 22, 2027

📅 Virtual Convening 2: February 18, 2028

📅 Virtual Convening 3: April 14, 2028

📅 Student Focus Groups: May 2028

📅 Grant Spending Deadline: May 19, 2028

📅 Final Report Deadline: June 9, 2028

Grantee Participation Requirements

Award recipients must commit to:

• Sending one full-time faculty or staff representative to the June 2027 in-person convening
• Participating in three virtual convenings during the grant period
• Spending all grant funds by May 19, 2028
• Submitting a final report by June 9, 2028
• Arranging for at least one participating student to join a virtual focus group
• Providing success stories and photographs documenting student service activities

Travel, lodging, and meals for one institutional representative attending the required in-person convening are covered by The Allstate Foundation.

Application / Request Process

Applications must be submitted through the official online SurveyMonkey application.

The application is designed to be relatively brief and does not require lengthy supporting documents.

Information Requested

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

Institutional Information

• College or university name
• Institution website
• State and community setting
• Approximate student population
• Primary contact information for a full-time faculty or staff member
• Secondary institutional contact
• Billing or grant distribution contact

Project Description

• Purpose of the proposed initiative
• Funding category or categories addressed
• How students will design, lead, and participate in the initiative
• How funding will strengthen or expand service opportunities
• Anticipated community benefits

Budget

A high-level budget explaining how the $10,000 will be used across eligible expense categories.

Outcomes & Impact

Applicants must explain how they will measure and document project results, including the anticipated number of:

• Students directly impacted
• Youth ages 5–25 indirectly impacted
• Community members impacted

Previous grantees must also explain how their proposed activities build on earlier grant-supported work.

Submission Requirements

Applications must be completed in full by the published deadline.

The program does not accept supplemental application materials by email, and there is no option to upload additional documentation.

Applicants should include all information they want considered directly within the online application.

Apply / Learn More: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TAFCSGApplication2728

Program Guidelines: https://expandingleadership.org/tafcollegeservicegrants/

Questions: tafyouthservice@expandingleadership.org

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is particularly well suited for:

• Colleges and universities seeking to expand student-led community engagement
• Campus volunteer centers and civic engagement offices
• Student affairs and leadership development programs
• Institutions developing student microgrant initiatives
• Colleges seeking to remove transportation or financial barriers to student service
• Existing campus programs that could increase their community impact with additional resources
• Student organizations working with full-time faculty or staff sponsors

The Allstate Foundation College Service Grants program is particularly valuable for institutions that view community service as a vehicle for developing student leadership, civic responsibility, and lasting community partnerships.

Unlike traditional community service grants that primarily fund direct charitable activities, this program emphasizes student ownership, leadership development, and meaningful participation in community change.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Competitive annual grant cycle
Application Deadline: February 17, 2027
Funding Amount: $10,000
Eligible Applicants: U.S. colleges and universities
Geographic Eligibility: Nationwide
Funding Focus: Student-led community service, civic engagement, and youth leadership
Funding Distribution: July 2027
Grant Expenditure Deadline: May 19, 2028
Final Report Deadline: June 9, 2028
Best Suited For: Higher education institutions developing or expanding student-led community service initiatives