Funding & Scholarships
Please see below for Funding and Scholarship Opportunities
- Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement- Students
The Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement is an endowment supporting students who are completing internships in positions of service in Iowa. Awards up to $2,000 (undergraduate students) and up to $3,000 (graduate students) will be given and approximately $10,000 total is awarded annually.
To date, over 100 UNI students have received Koob funding for nonprofit internships in Iowa. Koob interns have partnered with many Cedar Valley organizations, such as the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights, the Grout Museum, Junior Achievement and several of the Cedar Valley’s schools and hospitals.
The impact of Koob internships extends across Iowa, stretching as far east as Scott County and as far west as Montgomery County.
Check out our:
To apply, visit the Instructions/Application Process Page By Clicking Here.
- Veridian Community Engagement Fellowship- Faculty/Staff
Fellowships Sponsored by: Veridian Credit Union
The purpose of this fellowship is to encourage faculty to engage with community partners to better the community in a manner that also enhances their teaching and scholarship. Community engagement is defined as the collaboration of the university with the public sector for the mutual benefit of all. This engagement is not simply service or membership, but it is the combination of meeting a community need through teaching and/or scholarship. The proposed engagement work must take place within Veridian's field of membership and with a nonprofit organization to receive the fellowship.
2025/2026 application submission: All funds for 25/26 will be directed toward UNI's Day of Service. Invitations to apply for funding will be sent after submission of a Volunteer Opportunity for Day of Service, April 8, 2026. Click here to learn more about UNI's Day of Service and to register service projects/ volunteer opportunities.
For questions, please contact Julianne Gassman at gassman@uni.edu or 273-5435
Check out our Veridian Fellowship Impact Report, an overview of Veridian fellowship recipients from 2006-2018!
- McElroy Youth Leadership Funds- Faculty/Staff
The purpose of the endowed McElroy Youth Leadership Fund is to support UNI faculty, staff and students that engage with the community to provide programs, resources, research, and services to youth in the Cedar Valley.
Please Note: All funds for 25/26 will be directed toward UNI's Day of Service
Invitations to apply for funding will be sent after submission of a Volunteer Opportunity for Day of Service, April 8, 2026. Click here to learn more about UNI's Day of Service and to register service projects/ volunteer opportunities.
- Wilson College of Business Students Nonprofit Internship Fund- Students
The Wilson College of Business Scholarship for Social Engagement was created to remove the financial impediment of unpaid internships and encourage students to become socially engaged. The scholarship is available to UNIBusiness students who complete an internship with a non-profit organization. See below for full eligibility requirements; applications will be accepted on a continuing basis.
Wilson College of Business Students Nonprofit Internship Fund
Funds Distributed
Through Koob, Veridian, and McElroy Fund for Youth Development, the Office of Community Engagement has disbursed over $50,000 during the 23/24 academic year. These funds supported a variety of programs, projects, and students from across campus.
Fighting Summer Learning Loss
Camp Activ8 is a new summer learning program with a special focus on improving literacy through engaging activities like geocaching, science experiments, art projects, hip hop literacy and more. To read about this Veridian funded project click below.