[Council of Independent Colleges](https://cic.edu)

November 21, 2025 | November 20, 2026

$60,000–$100,000 per award, for two years

Supports NetVUE member colleges in deepening, expanding, or strengthening campus programs for vocational reflection and discernment.

Only NetVUE members with at least one prior NetVUE grant are eligible; institutions cannot hold certain other NetVUE grants concurrently.

--- ## Description NetVUE Program Development Grants, administered by the Council of Independent Colleges with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., are designed to help NetVUE member colleges and universities deepen, expand, or strengthen programs focused on vocational reflection and discernment for undergraduates. These grants support a variety of program development activities, such as course redesign, collaborative programming between faculty and staff, integrating vocational exploration into curricula, and more. The grants are intended to offset one-time costs associated with program development and implementation, enabling campuses to build on existing efforts and foster vocational exploration among students. --- ## Due Dates - November 21, 2025: Full application submission deadline (2025 round) - November 20, 2026: Full application submission deadline (2026 round) --- ## Funding Amount - Awards range from $60,000 to $100,000 per institution. - Each grant supports a two-year project period. - Funds are disbursed in two equal payments: first half in May following award notification, second half the following May (after approval of an interim report). - Spending must be completed within approximately three years of the award (e.g., by April 30, 2029 for the 2026 round). --- ## Eligibility - Applicant must be a NetVUE member institution. - The institution must have received at least one previous NetVUE grant. - Institutions are **not eligible** if they currently hold a NetVUE Vocation across the Academy grant or a NetVUE Professional Development Award. - Any prior NetVUE Program Development Grant must have concluded at least three years before the start of the new grant period. - Institutions holding a NetVUE Grant for Fostering Leadership for Communities of Faith and/or for Reframing the Institutional Saga may apply, but must demonstrate adequate staffing/resources for both projects. - Only one proposal per institution per cycle. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted electronically as a single document through the [NetVUE Program Development Grants application portal](https://my.cic.edu/Programs/Nomination-Process/Nomination-Process-New?programid=34C0070C-158C-EB11-80DF-00155D056E08). - Required components: - Executive summary (1 page) - Brief public project description (120 words) - Four- to five-page narrative covering current programs, project goals, activities, assessment plans, strategies for broad participation, and sustainability - One-page project timeline - One-page roster of project leaders (with contact information and roles) - Concise budget (Excel format) and budget notes (Word format), following [Grant Budget Guidelines](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2027-PDG-Grant-Budget-Guidelines_combined-2.pdf) - Letter of support from the institution’s president, designating a cabinet-level administrator for project oversight and affirming institutional commitments - Budgets must include support for robust assessment and for project leader(s) (preferably via buyouts of time). - Applications that do not follow guidelines may not be reviewed. --- ## Additional Information - Grant funds may not be used for ongoing personnel costs, new hires, capital expenditures, indirect costs, or professional development programs already funded by NetVUE. - Direct support for students (internships, stipends, etc.) is allowed only as a minor budget component and with clear sustainability plans. - Grant recipients must maintain NetVUE membership through the grant period and participate in NetVUE conferences. - Grantees are expected to document and share “stories of success” internally and externally. --- ## External Links - [Program Page: NetVUE Program Development Grants](https://cic.edu/opportunity/program-development-grants) - [NetVUE Grant Programs Overview](https://cic.edu/networks/netvue/grants/) - [Invitation for Applications (PDF)](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2027-PDG-IFA-updated-final2.pdf) - [Grant Budget Guidelines (PDF)](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2027-PDG-Grant-Budget-Guidelines_combined-2.pdf) - [Online Application Portal](https://my.cic.edu/Programs/Nomination-Process/Nomination-Process-New?programid=34C0070C-158C-EB11-80DF-00155D056E08) - [Learn about NetVUE](https://cic.edu/networks/netvue/about/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | |--------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------| | Carter Aikin | NetVUE Grants Director | caikin@cic.edu | (217) 854-5619 | | General Inquiries | CIC Main Office | cic@cic.edu | (202) 466-7230 | For technical issues related to the website or NetVUE community access, contact Alex Stephenson, NetVUE Communications Coordinator, at astephenson@cic.edu.

NetVUE Program Development Grants

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