Through the Daniel Community Scholars Endowed Support Fund, The Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds Blackburn student-led initiatives to address the needs of Alabama communities. The new class of students has multiple projects funded each year, and there are opportunities for additional project funding for returning students as well as a rural initiative, which launched in 2023.
New Student Class Projects
Each Blackburn New Student Class is divided into teams to develop community-based grant proposals to compete for funding. Selected civic engagement projects are implemented in Tuscaloosa County.
The Blackburn Institute began awarding funding for Daniel Community Scholars projects in 2006. Since then, individual Blackburn students and teams from the new class have won grants to address a variety of issues including food deserts, education, mental and physical health, disaster relief, the environment, and voting rights.
Proposal Templates
Details for full proposals are provided at New Student Retreat and in Student Resource Book. New students should utilize the resources below in the planning phase of their proposals for the Daniel Community Scholars program.
- Poster Presentation Template (.pptx) – PowerPoint slide scaled to correct size for display at the poster presentation session.
- Budget Template (.xlsx) – Excel spreadsheet with embedded formulas for submission with final written proposal.
These resources should be used in the format provided; do not convert to any other formats, such as Google Docs. Microsoft Office software is available for free to UA students from the Office of Information Technology and on student computers in the Blackburn Institute.
Recent Grant Winning Projects
Returning Student Projects
Returning students may work independently or in groups to develop a proposal. Selected projects must be completed within a two-year period and prior to the graduation of the project lead.
Through the Daniel Community Scholars Program, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds Blackburn student projects to address the needs of Alabama communities.
Proposal Guidelines
Returning students may work on their own or in groups to submit proposals that fulfill the Returning Student Proposal Guidelines. The guidelines provide fall and spring semester timelines and required content for a successful proposal.
Proposals are reviewed by a panel of Advisory Board members, Fellows, and university staff members in the fall or spring semester. Selected projects must be completed within a two-year period and prior to the graduation of the project lead.
Recent Returning Student Daniel Community Scholars Awards
Rural Initiative
In 2023, The Daniel Foundation expanded their endowed fund for the purpose of creating new immersive, robust, and extended experiences for students working on projects to positively impact rural Alabama communities.