Office of the Vice President for Research

At the Sorenson Impact Institute, we know capital can be a force for good. Proudly housed at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, our mission is to expand the market for impact investing and to equip the next generation of impact leaders, forging a future where social impact is seamlessly integrated across sectors worldwide. Our headquarters, the Impact & Prosperity Epicenter, is a pioneering live/work ecosystem that fosters a shared vision for the betterment of people and the planet.

The Sorensen Impact Institute is excited to announce the Social Impact in Education: Faculty Small Grant Program. This program allows for faculty from across the university can apply for grants of up to $2,500 per year to integrate social impact concepts into their work - research, courses, or other convening. These funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to: 

• Spending your own time integrating social impact-related concepts into your work, such as a course syllabus, research project with the goal of publication, or faculty initiative.
• Hiring graduate assistants (GAs) or teaching assistants (TAs) to assist with developing course content (e.g., finding readings, creating assignments, NOT grading or general assistance).
• Inviting a guest speaker from the field of social impact
• Investing or a related impact field to speak and bring animpact perspective to the class.
• Hiring research assistants (RAs) to help integrate social impact-related concepts into a research project with the goal of publishing.
• Inviting an academic from another institution that focuses on social impact in your discipline to give an academic seminar to a group of faculty related to impact research in your field.
• Travel to a social impact-related conference to present research or incorporate social impact concepts into your own research.
• Purchasing course materials such as project-specific supplies, renting space or covering event expenses.

Applications are due by May 15, 2025. Full details about this program can be found in the downloadable PDF flyer and announcement. We strongly encourage interested parties to throughly review all program guidelines before preparing an application. Note: This program is independent of the VPR's Faculty Small Grant Program (FSGP). For questions related to the Social Impact in Education Faculty Small Grant Program, please contact Katharine Luce.

APPLY HERE