March 19, 2026 | By Danny Silva (MM '26)
Every year, student ideas spark meaningful change across our campus and community. Through our student project grants program, we help turn those ideas into action, supporting projects that uplift others, strengthen the community, and improve the campus climate.
Last fall, we awarded a series of project grants of up to $500 to students and student organizations pursuing one-time initiatives with lasting impact. These grants supported a wide range of efforts, including student-written plays, senior theses, conference participation, speaker series, and community-centered events.
Three projects, three paths
While each project was unique, they all shared a common goal: using creativity, leadership, and learning to make a difference.
Senior art and design major Emilio Rodriguez shared how their grant helped them expand their senior thesis project, "The Ball of Sin": "I've used the funding to blend both fashion fabrics and upcycled unconventional materials, which serve as a symbol for transformation and giving new life to things that have been rejected." Emilio's project celebrates queer existence and LGBTQ+ narratives through fashion and performance.
Jonah Baum, a history major, received funding to produce a developmental workshop for a new musical written and directed by LGBTQ+ theater professionals. As Jonah explained, "Having the Spectrum Center project grant was a massive help in allowing me to focus on the producing work itself." This project provided an opportunity for University of Michigan students to collaborate with Broadway artists, hone their producing skills, and create a space of community and camaraderie around a story about queer youth.
The Queer Advocacy Coalition also organized a successful drag show with the help of a Spectrum Center grant. As Sebas Abbate, MSW student and co-president of the coalition, shared, "Receiving this grant ensured that we could secure a venue and materials for our drag performances… setting us up for success at our event and in our future as a group." This event not only showcased local queer performers and artists but also raised awareness for the Beyond Do No Harm Network.
Finding fresh, creative projects each semester
Grants in prior years have also supported discussions, speakers, and workshops; film, performance, and other creative projects; LGBTQ+ campus climate initiatives; and dozens of other initiatives. They're funded through the generosity of donors, including B. Clare Harris and Anne G. Harris, ensuring that students have access to resources that might otherwise be out of reach.
"Students are doing incredibly exciting work across the university!” Baum noted. “There are so many cool things happening every day. These projects are the lifeblood of the university, and supporting these projects means the world."
Applications are reviewed using an internal rubric, with careful consideration given to clarity of purpose, community impact, and opportunities for student leadership and skill development. This process ensures that funding goes to projects that are both thoughtful and actionable.
A powerful ripple
For many recipients, the impact of these grants extends beyond financial support, and they become a catalyst for growth. Students gain hands-on leadership experience, develop transferable skills like project management and collaboration, and build resources that benefit others long after the event or project concludes.
Campus partners also benefit from student-led initiatives that expand programming, deepen engagement, and address real needs within the community. And the donors who support these programs do so because their contributions directly empower students to lead with purpose.
The opportunity makes it possible for students and organizations to pursue projects aligned with the impact they want to see in the world, projects that foster connection, amplify voices, and create a more inclusive and supportive campus environment. Together, these small grants create a steady, powerful ripple effect where students grow as leaders, communities are strengthened, and meaningful change becomes possible one project at a time.
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