President's Building Bridges Fund

The President’s Building Bridges Fund is a one-time, nonrenewable grant for selected projects that bring together diverse groups of students along one or several of the following lines: building relationships between affinity groups whose interests and views on important issues might diverge; investing in intellectual excellence; acting against discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate; and fostering constructive dialogue on campus about interfaith issues, intercultural issues, or some combination of the two.

Applicants can request up to $5,000. Projects must be completed, and funds used, by May 31, 2025.

Applications will be reviewed starting Monday, January 6, 2025. Additional applications may be reviewed after the deadline if there are funds available.

• Applicant must be a current degree-seeking student.
  • These student-led projects require sponsorship from the project lead’s dean of students. For projects with a significant academic component, additional sponsorship from a faculty sponsor is encouraged. A letter or email from your School sponsor(s) is required with your application.
• Applicant must demonstrate:
  • Potential to promote one or more of the following principles among the Harvard student community: building relationships between affinity groups whose interests and views on important issues might diverge; investing in intellectual excellence; acting against discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate; and fostering constructive dialogue on campus about interfaith issues, intercultural issues, or some combination of the two.
  • Awareness and leveraging of existing student programs and resources, rather than duplication of current efforts.
• Funding cannot be used:
  • Retroactively, nor for equipment purchase.
  • For student employment, stipends, memberships, or travel.

• Each proposal will be evaluated by a review committee.
• Applications will be reviewed and decisions made after the January 6, 2025 deadline. Applicants will be notified of their status prior to the beginning of the spring term. Additional applications may be reviewed after the deadline if there are funds available.

Awardees will be asked to complete a brief report about project outcomes within 10 days of completion of the project/event/initiative.

Submit your application here.

Each application must include:

• Project name
• Description (including potential to promote connections between affinity groups, build community, invest in intellectual excellence, engage in efforts to combat discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate, and encourage constructive dialogue on campus about interfaith and/or intercultural issues; and description of cross-School collaboration, as appropriate)
• Marketing plan
• Itemized budget, including other funding support, using the budget template
• Letter or email of support from School sponsor
• Letter or email of support from faculty sponsor for projects/events/initiatives with a scholarly component.

If you have any questions about the Building Bridges Fund, please contact buildingbridgesfund@harvard.edu.