The Cultural Engagement Fund (CEF) is a funding source for students groups that meet the following criteria:
Funding will be provided each academic year. Twice a year (once in the Fall and once in the Spring), The Center for Multicultural Affairs will call for funding proposals.Questions? Please email culturalengagementfund@duke.edu
The Cultural Engagement Fund (CEF), formerly known as the University/Cultural Fund (UCF), provides student organizations with financial support to develop and implement programs, which promote the arts, co-curricular education, health and wellness, multiculturalism and social justice, community service, and/or cross-cultural collaboration.
The Cultural Engagement Fund (CEF) derives its name from the “Cultural Fund” established in 2001 by President Nannerl O. Keohane to support student groups with a rich history of cultural programming on campus. Groups who typically receive funding from this source are those with long-standing signature events that have contributed significantly to the development of a more inclusive campus environment and a deeper understanding of cultural diversity.
With the recognition of cultural diversity and constant student needs in a changing campus climate, it was necessary to incorporate “engagement” in the new name to reflect broader and multifaceted ways students participate in various enriching activities on Duke campus as well as with each other.
The Cultural Engagement Fund provides student organizations with financial resources to develop programs that promote any of the following: arts, co-curricular education, health and wellness, multiculturalism and social justice, community service, and/or cross-cultural collaboration. The mission of the Cultural Engagement Fund is to support student cultural organizations with more consistent funding for long-standing signature programs.
Eligible Student Organizations
Any student organization that meets the following qualifications:
Eligible Programs
The Cultural Engagement Fund provides separate funding for student organizations to attend conferences related to issues pertaining to their organization’s mission. Student organizations are required to have a representative complete the online CEF module to meet the eligibility criteria of the Cultural Engagement Fund in order to apply.
For more information on CEF’s eligibility criteria visit: Student Organization Policies
Funding criteria will also be shared during info sessions.
Conference Definition
A conference is a half-day to multi-daylong event where higher learning takes place. Conferences are also a place where researchers typically present their findings or presenters speak on current issues. Eligible conferences are focused around academic learning or professional development related to a field of study enhancing the organizational effectiveness of a student organization.
Examples of Eligible Conferences:
Examples of events not deemed a conference:
Application Process
Post-Conference Follow-Up
The following provides all the information you need to apply.
HOW TO APPLY
The CEF application is now available on your organization's Duke Groups page.
Click the 'Money' tab from the left navigation menu
Select Cultural Engagement Fund from the list of available budgets
Review the info module (linked in the blue box at the top of the page)
Take (and pass) the CEF quiz (linked in the blue box at the top of the page)
Return to the budget page and click 'Create Budget Request'
President, Treasurer, and Advisor approve the submission on Duke Groups from the 'My Workflows' tab on the Duke Groups homepage.
The application process for the Cultural Engagement Fund (CEF) 2022-2023 is now open.
In order to apply for funding, student organizations must have a representative complete the CEF online module. More information will be shared later this summer along with CEF's new funding schedule. Student organizations must complete the module in order to be eligible to apply for funding. Organizations need to complete the module each time you apply.
The proposal should contain detailed information regarding the programs for which you are requesting funds. For EACH program for which you are requesting funding, complete the following:
Using the Budget Form, list a line-item budget of researched expenses. Take the time to obtain quotes for speakers, entertainment, catering, technical fees, airfare, ground transportation to and from campus, hotels, advertising, etc. Avoid inflating your budget. The CEF committee can tell when a budget is intentionally inflated. Please attach budgets and additional sheets, if necessary.
Budget Tips
Proposal Tips
Student organization’s advisor, president, and treasurer must review application before submission. To ensure that the aforementioned individuals have reviewed the proposal and budget, the advisor, president, and treasurer must approve the application in DukeGroups. Once an officer from your student organization creates and submits a workflow, it will populate for the required approvers. Questions about the workflow function in Duke Groups? Email culturalengagementfund@duke.edu.
For this semester only, interviews will be suspended. However, if clarification is needed re: your submission, you will be contacted.
The evaluation form allows the CEF staff and committee to continue to meet the needs of student orgs. We highly encourage groups to complete the end of year evaluation to help continue to improve the CEF process.
When submitting your funding proposal, remember to:
Review the outline of the application before submitting. Applications where the text is not complete will be marked as Incomplete and will become ineligible for review.
The second round of the CEF Spring 2023 application process has closed. Award notifications will occur shortly after December classes end.
Allocation Limits
Entertainment
Food
Reservations
Venues
Costumes
T-Shirts
Retreats
Exclusions
If you have any questions, call 919-684-6756 or send an e-mail to culturalengagementfund@duke.edu. Thank you for your interest in the Cultural Engagement Fund.