Community Action Grant
Community Action Grant supports girls in grades K–12 through community-based projects that build STEM skills, confidence, and identity, encouraging participation in STEM higher education and careers.
Funder: American Association of University Women
Due Dates: September 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET (Letter of Interest) | January 14, 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET (Invited application) | November 13, 2026 (LOI decision) | April 15, 2027 (Award notification)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 for projects lasting up to 24 months
Summary: Supports community-based projects that build STEM skills, confidence, and identity among girls in grades K–12.
Key Information: Projects must exclusively serve participants who identify as girls; individuals and AAUW branches and affiliates are ineligible.
Description
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Community Action Grant funds innovative, community-based projects that dismantle barriers to girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It supports both new initiatives and ongoing work that help girls in grades K–12 develop STEM skills, confidence, and identity, encouraging STEM higher education and careers. Projects serving girls from historically underrepresented communities in STEM receive priority.
AAUW’s approach emphasizes hands-on STEM learning, mentorship or exposure to women in STEM, family or caregiver encouragement, and intentional confidence, identity, or belonging-building experiences. Projects need not include every element, but cohesive integration of multiple approaches may be more competitive. Communities may be geographic, identity-based, or organized around shared learning environments. Single-site, multi-site, and virtual projects are eligible; virtual projects must demonstrate meaningful engagement and clearly define their community.
