A project of the Purpose Commons in partnership with PSiX

How to Apply to the Contribution Project

The application for our Spring 2025 Cycle is currently closed. However, you can learn more about the application process below. Stay tuned for future opportunities!

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply for the Spring 2025 cycle if the criteria below are true:

  1. You are between the ages of 14-25

    OR

    You are an undergraduate student at one of our partner universities*.

  2. You currently live in the United States/US Territory.

*Partner universities: Cornell, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Morrisville

What can I pursue for my Contribution Project?

All Contribution Projects must meet the following criteria:

  • It should be feasible, meaning you can reasonably take action on your project in the next six weeks.

It cannot:

  • be reasonably imagined to cause harm to yourself or other people.

  • be used to purchase weapons or to engage in, support, or promote violence of any kind.

  • be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

  • be used to engage in political activities or voter registration drives.

  • be used to support research.

  • be spent outside the United States. Your contribution can support international efforts, as long as the funds are spent in the US.

Inspiration for Projects

Not sure what to do? Here are some ideas and real examples of past Contribution Projects!

  • Podcast

    Create a podcast that covers emerging issues that are important to our community

  • Gaming

    Create a communal gaming center for students to have an outlet to build a sense of community

  • Nature

    Teach a fly-fishing class as a way to teach a relaxing and sustainable hobby

  • Business

    Start an online haircare retailer, marketplace, and research center dedicated to people with textured hair

  • Health Care

    Partner with a local organization to provide holistic health care to people in rural areas

  • Food

    Create a program to reduce food waste and food insecurity on our school campus

  • Financial Literacy

    Build an app to teach beginners the basics of financial literacy in a fun and interactive way

  • Animal Welfare

    Buy a digital camera for a local animal shelter, then take nice photos of dogs to help them get adopted

  • Family Care

    Provide free diapers, wipes, and toys for soon-to-be parents in a community in need

  • Sports

    Host a free soccer camp for local children and youth in the area

  • Access

    Expand access across our school campus by installing braille signage

  • STEM

    Create biomedical engineering kits for young girls to learn about engineering in an engaging way

  • Crafting

    Create handmade, crocheted stuffed toys for children in hospitals to spread kindness, happiness, and hope

  • Celebration

    Host an event to celebrate first-generation students on campus

  • Community Art

    Launch a community art project that highlights belonging and unity within your neighborhood

  • Virtual Book Club

    Organize a virtual neuroscience book club with students across the globe who meet over zoom

  • Healthy Eating

    Host a free cooking class on how to cook with whole foods on a limited budget

  • First Aid

    Led a free CPR course for the local community to increase access to lifesaving medical care

  • Music

    Buy a turntable, learning how to DJ, then starting a student-DJ business on campus

Project Timeline

Key Dates and Required Deadlines for the Spring 2025 Cycle of the Contribution Project

Application Open
Feb 1 - Feb 21, 2025

Pre-project survey & application window

Notification
Feb 28, 2025

Accepted applicants
notified

Launch Deadline
March 7, 2025

Deadline for all accepted contributors to complete launch steps

Contribution Projects
March 8 - April 18, 2025

Six-week window
to get started on your Contribution
Project

Final Deadline
April 25, 2025

Deadline to spend $400 award and upload receipts

Survey
April 25, 2025

Deadline to complete post-project survey for anyone who took the pre-survey

Application Questions

The application for Contribution Projects has four main questions.

  1. What’s your idea? Tell us about the contribution you want to make.

  2. Why is this important to you? Explain why this contribution matters and why you care about making it happen.

  3. What’s your role in making it happen? What part will you play in bringing this contribution to life? Will other people be helping you? If yes, who are they and what will they do?

  4. What’s your plan for the next six weeks? How much progress do you think you’ll make in that time? Share your plan, including what steps you’ll take, when you’ll do them, your budget for spending the $400, and any goals you have in mind.

How to Apply

  • Are you an undergraduate student at one of our partner universities?

    CLICK HERE

  • Are you aged 14-25, and do you live in one of the 20 counties that make up the Greater Cincinnati Area?

    CLICK HERE

  • If the other two categories don't apply to you: Are you aged 14-25 and living in the United States or a U.S. territory?

    CLICK HERE

How It Works

Click each item below to learn more information

    • We know that purpose matters in young people’s lives and we are exploring the connections between purpose and contribution.  We’re particularly interested in learning more about how purpose is cultivated, so we’re asking you to help us.

    • The application process starts with a consent form that tells you more about this research.

    • Then you fill out a pre-project survey (about 15 minutes long) to share more about what’s true for you today.  

    • And finally, you complete a simple application to share your idea for a contribution.

    • As recognition for participating in the research project, you’ll receive a $10 Amazon egift card within two weeks of doing the survey, whether or not you are accepted as a contributor.

    • We select contributors among all eligible applications.


    Only four questions to apply!

    You can submit your application in ANY format — you decide! Videos, audio, essays, presentations, etc. Choose the format where you are most comfortable and confident!

    1. What’s your idea? Tell us about the contribution you want to make.

    2. Why is this important to you? Explain why this contribution matters and why you care about making it happen.

    3. What’s your role in making it happen? What part will you play in bringing this contribution to life? Will other people be helping you? If yes, who are they and what will they do?

    4. What’s your plan for the next six weeks? How much progress do you think you’ll make in that time? Share your plan, including what steps you’ll take, when you’ll do them, your budget for spending the $400, and any goals you have in mind.

  • If you are selected to participate in the Contribution Project, you will have one week to complete your launch paperwork. This includes:

    • Signing an agreement.

    • Telling us how you’d like to receive your $400 award to spend on your Contribution Project

  • Once accepted participants have completed all their launch steps, they will receive $400 directly to spend on their Contribution Projects.

  • You are in complete control, independently planning and acting on your project. We expect all contributors to take action on their project in the six-week project window, and we know (and hope!) that contribution project extend long beyond this window.

  • After six weeks, participants will submit receipts to show how they’ve spent their award money. We know that many Contribution Projects will continue beyond the six-week window, which is great! We just ask that award money is spent and all receipts are submitted by the end of the six weeks.

  • All applicants who completed a pre-project survey will be invited to complete a post-project survey, regardless of whether you were selected to receive a Contribution Project award.

    • Take the post-project survey to help us learn about the impact that contributing has on young people.

    • For participating in the post-project survey, you’ll receive a $20 Amazon egift card within two weeks of completing your survey.

    We will also send a program evaluation survey that will help us learn more about how we can improve the Contribution Project in the future.

 Frequently Asked Questions

  • You are eligible to apply for the Spring 2025 cycle if the criteria below are true:

    1. You are between the ages of 14-25

      OR

      You are an undergraduate student at one of our partner universities*.

    2. You currently live in the United States/US Territory.

    *Partner universities: Cornell, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Morrisville

  • Awards may not be issued to anyone living outside the US.

  • The application process is meant to be short and simple. We will randomly select among the applications that meet the following criteria: 

    • It should be feasible so that you can reasonably take action in the next six weeks. 

    • It cannot  be reasonably imagined to cause harm to yourself or other people. 

    • It cannot be used to purchase weapons or to engage in, support, or promote violence of any kind. 

    • It cannot be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

    • It cannot be used to engage in political activities or voter registration drives. 

    • It cannot be used to support research.

    • It cannot be spent outside the United States/US Territory. Your contribution can support international efforts, as long as the funds are spent in the US.

    If you have questions, contact us at hello@contributionproject.org.

  • National Contribution Project:

    • Did you already receive $400 for a National Contribution Project? You are not eligible to apply.

    • If you haven’t yet received $400 for a National Contribution Project, you are eligible to apply.

    Cornell/SUNY Contribution Project:

    • Did you apply and/or receive funding for the Cornell/SUNY Contribution Project in the past? If so, you are eligible to apply again.

    GripTape:

    • Did you complete a GripTape Learning Challenge? You are not eligible to apply for the Contribution Project.

  • No, you can only apply once per application cycle.

    Additionally you cannot apply as an individual and as part of a group; nor can you apply as part of multiple groups.

    If you are weighing multiple ideas, please consider what contribution is most important to you.

  • Yes, you are welcome to submit as part of a group or collaborative team. Each group/team may submit only one application. Groups that are selected for funding will receive $400 total. However, please note that each group or collaborative team member must be eligible (see the question above) to receive funds and will be verified using the eligibility criteria for individuals.

    If the group/team is selected for funding, this will disqualify each group member from any other subsequent individual or group submissions that include them.

  • No. Every contribution idea that is selected for funding will be awarded $400. Of course, it is entirely up to you how you allocate these funds as you pursue your project.

  • All applications that meet the eligibility criteria are entered into a random selection process by organization. We have reserved 20 spots for Contribution Project awards in each organization, assuming there are 20 eligible applicants.

  • Step 1:  Complete the launch steps in your personal Contribution Project dashboard we’ll share with you once you’re accepted. You have one week to complete the following launch steps (see APPLICATION TIMELINE above for the exact dates):

    • Sign an agreement

    • Tell us how you’d like to receive your $400 award to spend on your Contribution Project (physical or digital Visa card, check, or direct deposit)

    Step 2: The Contribution Project window is six weeks long. We know that many projects will extend beyond the six weeks, which is great! We just ask all participants to do three things by the end of the six weeks, including:

    • Spend your award money in alignment with the contribution criteria (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

    • Keep all of your receipts as proof of how you spent your award money and submit them through your personal Contribution Project dashboard (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

    • Complete a post-project survey so we can learn more about your experience (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

  • Awards cannot be transferred. They may not be issued to organizations or anyone other than the accepted individual. 

Any questions?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@contributionproject.org