Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant

The Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant program is facilitated by the Center for Social Change and Community Involvement. The grant supports Lewis & Clark College undergraduate student-initiated projects and is designed to:

• Fund effective and transformative social change initiatives; 
• Encourage innovation and creativity to explore what is possible;
• Equip communities that our students care about, both locally and globally, with the tools required to positively impact social change;
• Develop and test ideas, solve problems, and create opportunities.

Made possible through the generosity of Patrick Nielson ’71 and his wife Dorris Nielson, the Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant provides Lewis & Clark College undergraduate students with funds to cover costs such as equipment or technology, educational resources, travel expenses, or other items used to strengthen grassroots efforts for progressive, systemic social change.  This fund prioritizes applications that address community outreach and education, leadership development, root cause and power analysis, and coalition building.  Proposals that directly address racial equity and social justice will be prioritized.

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Application Process

Applications Open Now! Deadline to Apply March 31st, 2025.

• To get feedback on your application before applying. CONTACT US HERE

Grant recipients may receive an award between $500-$5,000.  Multiple grants will be given annually to an individual or group (undergraduates only) who submits a winning proposal.

Please view the drop-down menu below to access application information:

 

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Meet the 2024 Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant Recipients

Students Indigo Araya and Nichole Champion have been awarded the 2024 Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant for their transformative projects that promote social justice and community well-being. This year’s recipients are tackling issues of transgender rights in Costa Rica and holistic wellness in Portland.

“Trans and Non-binary Anti-discrimination Training Project: Facilitadores Trans Sensibilizando Servicios Públicos en Costa Rica” by Indigo Araya

Place of project: Costa Rica

Major: Hispanic Studies/ Ethnic Studies

Graduation Year: 2024

Índigo Araya R ’24 has designed a practical program to combat discrimination against transgender and non-binary individuals in Costa Rica. Through a partnership with the activist group No-Binarie Costa Rica, the project will train transgender facilitators to lead anti-discrimination workshops for employees in public services like hospitals, government offices, and universities.

The core goals are to raise awareness of the urgent need for gender-affirmative care, create employment opportunities for the transgender community, and build allyship with public institutions. A facilitation training camp will bring together 15 transgender participants to develop skills in public speaking, conflict resolution, and transgender rights advocacy. These newly trained facilitators will then be deployed to conduct educational workshops across Costa Rica.

“This project tackles the ignorance and lack of humanness issue that creates physical, linguistic and ongoing state-protected discrimination towards trans people by connecting trained trans and/or non-binary facilitators with employees in people-facing jobs working directly with the same population they will learn from,” Araya R explained. By directly involving the transgender community as educators, the program addresses employment barriers while furthering queer rights through grassroots activism.

Full Report Here

 “Holistic Wellness Initiative for Inquiry for Justice” by Nichole Champion

Place of Project: Portland, OR

Major: Psychology

Graduation Year: 2025

Closer to our campus, Nichole Champion is spearheading the Holistic Wellness Initiative to support underserved high school students in Portland during the Inquiry for Justice summer program at Portland State University. This humane approach merges social justice learning with mindfulness, yoga, art therapy, and other holistic wellness practices.

“Engaging in the work of combating systemic oppression and advocating for social justice can be draining, emotionally challenging, and stressful.” Champion noted. “I aim to provide workshops and activities that support students in navigating these emotions (…) as they learn about and become advocates for social justice.”

Partnering with community organizations like Forge Hot Yoga and the Lewis & Clark Graduate Art Therapy program, the initiative will offer workshops on topics like food justice, mental health awareness, and environmentally-based mindfulness experiences. By fostering personal growth alongside academic learning, the program nurtures a generation of resilient leaders equipped to tackle systemic oppression.

Full Report Here

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Past Nielson Social Change Innovation Grant Recipients