Wright State University Foundation accepting applications for Students First Fund grants

The Wright State University Foundation is now accepting applications for Students First Fund grants. Since its inception in 2019, the program has awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to support innovative ideas that help students succeed, thrive, persist, graduate and begin their careers.

“We are pleased to offer the Students First Fund grants program once again,” said Scott Rash, president and CEO of the Wright State University Foundation. “Our Foundation Board of Trustees is fully committed to the success of Wright State’s students. The Students First Fund grants program gives the board a wonderful opportunity to support projects that further enhance the student experience while reinforcing the university’s commitment to recruitment, retention and relationships.”

All Wright State students, faculty and staff with a creative concept to promote student success are welcome to apply for a Students First Fund grant.

Applications must be submitted on the Students First Fund website by March 28, 2025.

The Students First Fund grants committee, which consists of members of the Foundation Board of Trustees, will review all applications and make the final decision on how to distribute $50,000 in funding. Recipients will be announced in April 2025, and funding will be available for use in July 2025.

“Ideally, we are looking for projects that will become self-sustaining,” Rash said. “The foundation board views the Students First Fund grants as one-time seed money to help launch a new program or initiative that will have a wide-ranging impact on students across our Dayton and Lake campuses. We are looking for projects that will move the dial and truly make a difference in the lives of our students. The greater the number of students who will be impacted by a project, the more likely it is to receive funding.”

Last year, the Students First Fund grants committee received 29 applications. Nine of those projects were approved for funding with awards ranging from $500 to $9,200.

“Being selected for a Students First Fund grant is always a highly competitive process,” said Rash. “We receive applications for so many worthy projects, and it’s never easy for the grants committee to decide which ones to fund. We look forward to receiving applications for this next round of funding and seeing all of the innovative ideas that our students, faculty and staff present.”

For more information, visit wright.edu/StudentsFirstFund.