Skip to main content
Students

Engineering Student Organization Start-Up Grant

The Engineering Student Organization (ESO) Start-Up Grant provides funding to support the launch of innovative and impactful new ESOs by engineering students. In 24-25, this funding replaces the ESO Project Grant.

Eligibility

A student organization must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Registered Student Organization (RSO)
  • Be registered as an Engineering Student Organization (ESO) in the College of Engineering and follow the ESO criteria
  • Must have been founded less than two years before application submission
  • Must not have not received funding from the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC) or the UW Health Innovation Challenge (HIC) that will be awarded during the ESO Start-Up Grant award cycle

Selection criteria

The grant is intended to support start-up costs for new ESOs only, who then will be expected to create a self-sustaining budget for standard programming. ESOs may apply in multiple quarters so long as they meet eligibility criteria, though priority will be given to first-time applicants. 

Examples of start-up costs could include, but are not limited to: tools and supplies, fees due to parent organizations, booking fees for campus spaces, promotional materials, outreach events, or other costs associated with the ESO’s first project. 

The College of Engineering is particularly interested in awarding funding to projects that meet the following priority selection criteria: 

Impact

  • Application demonstrates how ESO promotes diversity/accessibility within member organization and makes a positive community impact.
  • Application explains how the project engages participants from different disciplines and among different academic levels. 

Feasibility

  • Application outlines a plan for achieving specific goals and outcomes during the award period, which ends 12 months after the quarter in which you applied.
  • Application clearly indicates that grant will not support activities or projects outside of the 12 month award period (see note on extension requests below).

Sustainability

  • Grant will be used for program start-up costs.
  • Application includes plans for the program to be financially self-sustaining in the future.

A completed, updated budget sheet will be required 2 months after the end of the award use period, sent to engrclub@uw.edu. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from using the money within a year, you may send an extension request with documentation to the same email address.

Award amounts

Average award amounts in 2024-25 are expected to be $500-$2,000. 

Application periods and deadlines

QuarterApplication opensDeadline (5:00 p.m. Pacific Time)Notification dateAward use deadline*
Autumn 2024N/AN/AN/AEnd of Autumn Quarter 2025
Winter 2025Jan. 13, 2025Feb. 3, 2025Feb. 24, 2025End of Winter Quarter 2026
Spring 2025N/AN/AN/AEnd of Spring Quarter 2026

*Awarded grant funds are expected to be used only during the award period. 

ESOs may submit an application in multiple application periods. Upon request, the Start-Up Grant Review Committee will provide feedback on applications. 

International travel policy & terms

If your ESO's activities include international travel, accepting this funding from the College of Engineering requires your travel to comply with the

UW Student International Travel Policy

Application instructions

Complete the ESO Start-Up Grant Application at the link below before the application deadline. The application includes the following questions:

  1. Describe your new ESO. What question or problem does this organization seek to address?
  2. What are the specific steps you will take in the next year to address this question or problem?
  3. Review the priority selection criteria for this grant. Please address how your use of the grant funding will meet the criteria.
  4. What is the total amount you are requesting from the College of Engineering ESO Start-Up Grant?
  5. Please provide information about the expected expenses toward which the requested start-up grant will be applied. Do this by filling out the Start-Up Grant ESO Budget Sheet and emailing to engrclub@uw.edu.

Upon request, the Start-Up Grant Review Committee will provide feedback on your application so your ESO understands the award decision. 

2023-24 awardees

Prior to 2024-25, this funding was awarded under the title of ESO Project Grant and did not require ESOs to be newly-established. The following groups have been awarded grants in the 2023-24 academic year:

Autumn Quarter 2023:

Winter Quarter 2024:

Spring Quarter 2024: