[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

Spring 2026 (first-come, first-served) | Fall 2026 (first-come, first-served)

Up to $350 per institution; distributed as a one-time starter grant.

Supports the creation or reactivation of ACS student chapters or GSOs at institutions without an active chapter in the past five years.

Grants are awarded on a rolling basis in each cycle until funds are depleted.

--- ## Description This grant from the American Chemical Society (ACS) is designed to help undergraduate and graduate institutions establish or reactivate ACS student chapters, international student chapters, or Graduate Student Organizations (GSOs) that have been inactive for at least five years. The funding supports activities that foster community building, professional development, and engagement in chemistry through events, outreach, and technical meetings. The grant is intended as a catalyst for groups to pursue ACS charters and grow vibrant student communities in the chemical sciences. --- ## Due Dates - Spring 2026 (first-come, first-served until funds are exhausted) - Fall 2026 (first-come, first-served until funds are exhausted) Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis within each distribution cycle. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $350 per institution as a one-time starter grant. - Funds must be used directly for chartering a new student community (including ACS student membership and related activities). --- ## Eligibility - Open to two- or four-year undergraduate or graduate institutions worldwide. - The institution must not have had an active ACS student chapter, international student chapter, or GSO in the past five years. - A faculty advisor (current ACS member, any rank) must be identified. - Institutions with newly chartered or currently active ACS student communities are not eligible. - U.S. institutions must provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN). --- ## Application Process 1. Create a student community email (if not already available). 2. [Register for an account and apply online](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=acs). 3. Select "2026 ACS Student Communities Starter Grant" and complete the application. 4. Required materials: - Faculty advisor and applicant contact information - Institutional EIN (for U.S. institutions) - Institutional student club policy (copy/paste or URL) - Proposed budget and timeline for starting or reactivating the group 5. Submit the application (drafts are not considered). 6. A confirmation email will be sent within one business day of submission. Note: Receiving a starter grant does not automatically activate ACS recognition; a separate [charter application](https://americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2iOHOWYjMDk6Zo) is required for official status. --- ## Additional Information - Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis each Spring and Fall until available funds are depleted. - Groups that have recently received their ACS charter are not eligible for this grant but may apply for other ACS student community grants. - The grant supports activities such as community service, chemistry-themed events, science demonstrations, study groups, and technical meetings. - Sample bylaws and toolkits are available to support the formation process. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Application Instructions](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/acs-student-communities-starter-grant.html) - [ACS Student Communities Overview](https://www.acs.org/education/student-communities.html) - [Student Chapter Charter Application](https://americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2iOHOWYjMDk6Zo) - [Sample Bylaws for Student Chapters](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/student-communities/student-chapter-sample-bylaws.docx) - [Sample Bylaws for GSOs](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/students/graduate/gso-(graduate-student-organizations)/suggested-bylaws-for-an-acs-gso.docx) - [ACS Grants for Students](https://www.acs.org/funding/students.html) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Email | |-------------------------------------------|------------------------------------| | General grant/program inquiries | [studentcommunities@acs.org](mailto:studentcommunities@acs.org) | | U.S. Student Chapters | [undergrad@acs.org](mailto:undergrad@acs.org) | | International Student Chapters | [isc@acs.org](mailto:isc@acs.org) | | Graduate Student Organizations (GSOs) | [gso@acs.org](mailto:gso@acs.org) | | ACS general contact | [help@services.acs.org](mailto:help@services.acs.org) | Phone: +1 800-227-5558 ---

ACS Student Communities Starter Grant

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