CAFES Frequently Asked Questions | Willamette University

What kinds of projects does CAFES support?
Who can apply for funding?
When can proposals be submitted?
What makes a “successful” proposal?
What is a “p-card holder”?
What is a “stakeholder”?
Where can I find the CAFES logo for advertising?
I need funding for a different kind of project. Where can I go?

1. What kinds of projects does CAFES support?

CAFES works to support proposals developed by students, staff, and faculty of all Salem schools and colleges that aim to advance sustainability, equity, and social justice in the Willamette community. Past projects have included the installation of period product dispensers in Campus Recreation facilities, support for underrepresented students in professional development (P.A.I.D. fund), and various renovations and initiatives at Zena Farm. We are always looking for ideas that address various campus needs and aim to promote the betterment of the Willamette community as a whole. Since CAFES is supported by student fees (CAS, MBA, & LAW students), the committee prioritizes proposals that provide benefits to students and the Willamette community as a whole. Our biggest recommendation for those looking to develop a project proposal would be reaching out to our proposal consultants.

View past projects

2. Who can apply for funding?

The CAFES Committee accepts proposals from students, staff, and faculty. CAS, MBA, and LAW students may apply for funding and collaborate with staff and/or faculty as needed. Students are welcome to collaborate with other students, faculty or staff from different schools at Willamette (e.g., undergraduate groups collaborating with graduate school groups). As CAFES is based on the support of student fees, faculty and staff projects are encouraged to include elements that provide benefits to students and the Willamette community as a whole.

If applicable, those writing proposals may find it helpful to consult with non-voting members of the CAFES Committee, Laura Taylor, Lisa Holliday, and Mark Mazurier. Our proposal consultants can also help share ideas for how a proposal may fit with university policy, planning, and practice.

3. When can proposals be submitted?

The committee has three big deadlines for regular grant proposals each semester. We accept Mini Grant Proposals at any time throughout the semester until the final regular deadline. All proposals are assessed on a first come first served basis, and we will continue funding projects till we hit our funding limit for the semester.

For more information about this semester’s deadlines and the proposal process, please refer to the Apply for Funding page.

4. What makes a “successful” proposal?

When writing a project proposal, we recommend that you read and fill out each section of the required budget and proposal forms carefully (linked on our Applying for Funding page). We see a lot of errors on submissions that seem like obvious mistakes, but can be easy to miss with all the information required. Also make sure that you are filling out the correct form for your project (regular Grant Proposal v.s. Mini Grant Proposal).

Here’s a checklist of required items that are frequently left out of student submissions:

Budget form (this form is required, make sure we can access the document - give us viewing access on Google Sheets or Excel)
P-card holder (including signature)
Relevant Stakeholders (including signature)
Well-justified responses to each question. Responses don’t need to be long, but they do need to be thorough!

We highly recommend communicating with our proposal consultants to make this process easier and to make sure you don’t have to resubmit. The proposal consultant can help you navigate through the committee’s needs, and ensure that your proposal is well-written and feasible to implement.

5. What is a “p-card holder”?

A Purchasing Card Holder, or “P-Card holder”, is a staff or faculty person who has a University credit card that allows them to make purchases through the University’s accounting system. For proposals, a P-Card holder should be someone who is willing to assist the proposal authors in needed accounting related tasks such as purchasing or hiring for a project.

6. What is a “stakeholder”?

A stakeholder is someone on campus (generally a staff or faculty member) who has a vested interest in the implementation and continuation of the project. Reach out to all stakeholders early on in your proposal development to make sure they're on board, and try to find folks from different parts of the Willamette community.

When assessing proposals, the Committee looks at stakeholders to ensure that all relevant parties that either will be impacted by your project or will help you with the implementation of your project are in support and have deemed your project feasible.

For example, if you were to apply for a grant for period product dispensers in residence halls, you would need to have someone from the Housing Department sign off on the project. If you were to apply for a grant to create a garden on campus, relevant stakeholders would include facilities management, environmental science professors, etc.

7. Where can I find the CAFES logo for advertising?

You can download the logos here:

8. I need funding for a different kind of project. Where can I go?

Even though we are open to all kinds of ideas, there are some projects that are better suited for other types of funding. Below is a list of contacts for alternative funding sources on campus.

List of alternative funding contacts:

If you’re looking for funding for an internship or summer experience, try contacting:

Office of Career Development

Frequently Asked Questions