We’re excited to announce our 2026-2027 Request for Proposals is now live!
The deadline for proposals is Friday, May 15th, 2026. Decisions will be made by or before Friday, June 12th.
Complete proposals must be submitted through our Google form: tiny.utk.edu/curci2026RFP
You can view the full list of questions for the proposal by visiting here as well:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1grVN392Tu9dvtHbw2QFPlHN2_INIaLPIZX-EmO40gbo/edit?tab=t.0
or downloading the PDF below!
FAQ
Please click below for answers to common questions. If you have more questions, please reach out to us at curci@utk.edu!
Who can apply?
The proposal form is meant to be filled out by either a community organization, or a community organization in collaboration with a UTK faculty member. Faculty members without a community organization connection are not encouraged to fill out a proposal.
Please email CURCI staff (curci@utk.edu) if you are unsure your project is appropriate for CURCI funding or if you have questions about the proposal process. You are also welcome to review our website for a better understanding of CURCI and previously funded projects: curci.utk.edu
How do I find a faculty partner?
If your proposal is selected and your organization does not have a faculty partner identified, CURCI staff will help you find the right fit for your project and your organization. We don’t reach out to faculty until your organization has decided if they are a good fit for your project.
How much funding do you provide?
We fund up to $20,000 per project. Budgets should be itemized (if possible at this stage) and include what is going to a community organization and what is going to UTK support (through faculty stipends, student pay, etc.). CURCI’s model ensures that both community organizations and UTK faculty are able to have material resources to accomplish the research as proposed. Budgets do not have to be split down the middle – typically community organizations have more budget needs than faculty.
What are important dates to know?
Proposals are due by May 15th, 2026.
Decisions are made by June 12th, 2026.
Yearly funding runs with UTK’s fiscal year: July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.