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The Dean’s Leadership Circle Grant Initiative

The Dean’s Leadership Circle (DLC) Grant Initiative allows Merage School student-serving organizations and faculty to apply for programmatic and research funding that will have a direct impact on campus and across industries. Grant funding typically ranges from $1,000-$10,000 per organization. The 2025 Grant Portal is open for applications starting January 6, 2025 and closes on February 14, 2025 at 5 PM PT.

Organizations and faculty members seeking support for the following categories are encouraged to apply:

  • Academic and Research Projects
  • Career Preparedness/Talent Pipeline Development Programs
  • Business Community Connections and Partnerships
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
  • Student Experiences/Services

The  DLC is the premier philanthropic academic support group for The Paul Merage School of Business. Click here to learn more.


 

Criteria

  • Applicants must be Paul Merage School of Business staff, faculty or students who will be enrolled during the 2025-26 academic year.
  • Proposed projects must fall under one of two categories:
    1. Student-serving programs, providing:
      • Career Preparedness/Talent Pipeline Development
      • Business Community Connections and Partnerships
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
      • Student Experience/Services
    2. Faculty and Ph.D. Research Projects
      • Academic and Research Support
  • Proposed projects must take place (but are not required to be completed) between June 1-December 31, 2025.
  • Proposed projects cannot request funding for the following per UCI policy:
    • Scholarships/Cash rewards: Scholarships and awards have strict requirements, the use of these funds to provide such items is unallowable.
    • Licenses for students: Professional licenses for work or other licenses for student careers and resulting in personal benefit.
    • Personal expenses: Costs related to personal use or benefit, including personal grooming products, housing, living expenses, personal use supplies, and goods or services intended for personal gain.
    • Donations or political contributions: Donations or contributions to political campaigns or candidates.
    • Prohibited substances and related costs: Expenses related to substances such as alcohol and tobacco/vaping products.
    • Luxury and extravagant items: High-end, non-essential items, including designer-labeled products, luxury luggage, backpacks, computer bags, pens, high-end electronics, and other branded luxury goods.
    • Wages/compensation: Funds may not be used to cover salaries, stipends, or any form of payment for work.
  • Applicants must be available to present their proposal* at the DLC Grant Initiative Pitch Event on April 23, 2025.
(*if your proposal is selected during the initial review process, see Funding Process below for more information)

 

Funding Process

Step 1: Application

To be considered, complete our brief online application with the following information:

  • Foundation/Regent account number (if applicable)
  • Funding amount requested
  • Line-item budget
  • Project description (5,000-character limit)
  • Organization mission statement (if applicable)
  • Student-serving program/research project overview
  • Number of students served/research area of impact
  • Why you are applying for funding

 

Step 2: Application Review

The DLC Executive Board will meet to review applications the first week of March and select finalists to present their projects at the DLC Grant Pitch event. Finalists will be notified of next steps by March 17, 2025.

 

Step 3: Grant Pitch Event

Finalists will meet with DLC Executive Board Members in April to prepare for their 3-minute presentation at the DLC Grant Pitch event on April 23, 2025. This is an opportunity for applicants to connect directly with local industry partners and alumni.

The pitch deck is due on April 18, 2025 by 5 PM PT.

EVENT REGISTRATION COMING SOON

 

Step 4: Funding Amount Approval

Finalists will present their project at the DLC Grant Pitch Event. DLC members in attendance will vote to approve the funding amounts based on the project and presentation impact.

Finalists will be notified with their funding determination following the event. 

 

Step 5: Reporting

If awarded funding, reporting requirements include:

  • An acknowledgement letter from grant recipients, due along with the signed Grant Agreement
  • A brief progress/final report, due on January 15, 2026, (6) months after the Grant Agreement

The Merage School Advancement office will coordinate the disbursement of the funds, acknowledgement letters and reports. If you or your organization have any questions regarding fund distribution or reporting, please contact advancement@merage.uci.edu.

 

Past Grantees

2024 Grant Initiative Recipients

  • Associate Professor, Jinfei Sheng
  • Associate Professor, Vibhanshu Abhishek
  • Black Management Association
  • Financial Literacy Association
  • Human Resources Management Association (HRMA)
  • Irvine Investment and Trading Group (ITG)
  • Leadership Experience and Development for Success (LEADS)
  • Marketing Association
  • Merage School Career Center
  • Omni Glasses

2023 Grant Initiative Recipients

  • Associate Professor, Jinfei Sheng
  • Associate Professor, Tingting Nian
  • Data@UCI
  • Financial Literacy Association
  • Human Resources Management Association (HRMA)
  • Marketing Association
  • Merage Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA)
  • SIEML
  • Talent Design Studio

2022 Grant Initiative Recipients

  • Black Management Association (BMA)
  • CIWM Personal FinAnts
  • Human Resources Management Association (HRMA)
  • Merage Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA)
  • Merage School Latinx Initiative
  • Merage Career Center
  • UCI Real Estate Association
  • Undergrad Business Association

2021 Grant Initiative Recipients

  • Black Management Association (BMA)
  • Challenge for Charity (C4C)
  • CIWM Personal FinAnts
  • Human Resources Management Association (HRMA)
  • Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP)
  • Merage Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA)
  • Merage School Latinx Initiative