The Division of Campus and Community Engagement serves as a catalyst for positive social change by leveraging the university’s intellectual resources to cultivate partnerships that address significant issues across the state. In partnership with Texas Athletics, the LEAD Initiative gives student-athletes the opportunity to engage in impactful collaborations with nonprofit organizations in Texas that serve underrepresented populations with resources in the following areas: education services, recreation activities, basic needs and/or emergency services. The LEAD Initiative provides student-athletes with experience in real-world civic leadership and empowers them to go above and beyond to strengthen communities by building avenues for lasting relationships with the university.

Areas of Impact

Resources Qualifications

Organizations requesting support must provide services to marginalized Texas populations in one or more of the areas listed below.

• Education services: equitable educational support and resources to marginalized students to ensure their success from pre-k to college and beyond.
• Recreation activities: support for extracurricular and/or recreation activities including but not limited to programming in the arts, after school clubs, sports, etc.
• Basic needs: services that assist in creating long-term well-being for those in our community without adequate access to food, clothing, housing, and/or services such as sanitation and healthcare.
• Emergency services: to assist with resolving legal, medical and other expenses that arise due to unprecedented circumstances and/or events.

Guidelines and Processes

Requirements for sponsoring non-profit community organizations

Sponsorship funding may be provided if all the following requirements are met, but it is not guaranteed. Approval of sponsorship is determined at the discretion of the university.

• The non-profit community organization must provide service to marginalized populations in Texas and include programming for marginalized populations in one or more of the following areas:
  • Education services, recreation activities, basic needs and/or emergency services.
• Sponsorship awards are one-time agreements.
• Organizations may only receive funding once per year (September 1-August 31).
• Applicants must complete the online Sponsorship Request Form and include the following documents:
  • Proposal letter describing organization and event
    • Include description of the org’s commitment to serving marginalized populations
    • Provide details of programming/events you are requesting to support
  • Sponsorship packet (if available)
  • Budget spreadsheet (optional)
  • For access to student-athlete volunteers, complete: Student-Athlete Appearance Request Form

Application Review Process

Applications are reviewed biweekly throughout the academic year (September-May).

• Review committee is comprised of student-athletes and DCCE staff.
• Only complete applications are reviewed; please submit all required documents.
• Applications are reviewed in the order they are received.
• Organizations will be notified of application status soon after application is reviewed.

Questions and Contact

For questions regarding LEAD Initiative partnership and sponsorship opportunities, please Amory Krueger, Director for Direct Service + Leadership Programming in the Center for Community Engagement.