Funding

Below is a list of awards, fellowships, and funds available to undergraduate art-makers. Each of Yale’s Residential Colleges also offers funding, and students should contact their Head of College offices for information on fellowships and awards.

The Arts Discretionary Fund

The Arts Discretionary Fund (ADF) supports the development of exceptional and imaginative projects that are timely, relevant, and contribute to Yale College students’ artistic knowledge and technical accomplishment. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Creative and Performing Arts Awards

The Creative and Performing Arts (CPA) Awards support on-campus dramatic, musical, dance, video or film productions, literary publications, and visual art exhibitions. Awards are made through the residential colleges and applications are reviewed at the start of each semester.

The Karetsky Fund

The Marc and Melissa Karetsky Family Undergraduate Theater Resource Fund provides funding for undergraduate productions with an emphasis on musical theater outside of curricular programming. The Karetsky Fund automatically covers costs of securing production rights above the $1,000 covered by the Creative and Performing Arts Awards funding.

Undergraduate producers with supplemental requests beyond what is provided by the Creative and Performing Arts awards in areas other than rights may request support by emailing a brief (single page proposal) to Kate Krier, Associate Dean for the Arts in Yale College, and Daisy Abreu, Administrative Coordinator for the Arts in Yale College. Proposals should include a brief overview of the project and a complete budget.

Mellon Program Funds

Mellon Program funds are available for educational programs in the residential colleges, including teaching in the colleges, Mellon Senior Forums, and Undergraduate Research Grants. Each residential college has formal application process to select undergraduates for research awards. Contact your Head of College office for information.

Office of Career Strategy Professional Development Reimbursement

In an effort to support students pursuing careers in the nonprofit, government and the arts sectors, those interviewing for national fellowships, and those planning to attend graduate or professional school, OCS offers a reimbursement program for Yale College Seniors and Juniors to help offset costs associated with career related engagements and travel for interviews/auditions. Each junior/senior can submit reimbursement requests for a total maximum reimbursement of $400 and minimum of $25. Funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. This program can also be used to reimburse travel to an OCS coordinated Consortium Career Fair when other transportation is not provided.

Richter Summer Fellowships

Richter Summer Fellowships are awarded for independent study and research. Applications are due in the spring semester. Contact your Head of College office for information.

Traphagen Alumni Speakers Series

The Traphagen Alumni Speakers Series brings distinguished alumni to campus so that students may enjoy direct access to their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Faculty, Yale College Dean’s Office staff, and registered undergraduate organizations may request funding from the Traphagen Funds. Funding is limited and it is not typically granted for routine, yearly activities.

Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale

Tsai CITY offers several funding streams to support students seeking to launch or advance their creative projects beyond campus and students who are innovatively expanding the boundaries of their creative discipline. These funding opportunities include the Student Ecosystem Fund (on-campus events with innovative impact), the Student Exploration Fund (experimentation), the Student Milestone Fund (catalytic for growth), and Start Up Yale (annual pitch competition; January application). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during the fall and spring semesters and close a few weeks prior to the end of each semester; students may apply multiple times and students who are rejected are encouraged to reapply. Please visit this article for a sampling of creative ventures supported by Tsai CITY.

Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee

Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee (UOFC) distributes funds to registered undergraduate organizations five times per semester for three types of grants: administrative, event, and publications. Be sure to read the committee’s guidelines and forms for applying.

Yale Arts Apprenticeship Program

The Yale Arts Apprenticeship Program is an initiative that connects Yale undergraduates, particularly those on financial aid, with professional arts practitioners of any discipline.

Yale Satire & Comedy Fund

This fund offers grants to support satirical artistic productions and publications on the Yale campus or beyond. For existing groups and publications, eligible projects may include community engagement, partnerships among groups at Yale and beyond, comedic supplements to existing publications or guest artists.  Submissions for revivals or creation of new comedic productions, organizations, or publications will also be considered.  Grants may not be used to replace Creative and Performing Arts (CPA) grants for eligible expenses but may be used for projects that fall outside of CPA-eligible scope or that are larger in scale.

Undergraduates may request support by completing the Yale Satire and Comedy Fund Qualtrics form a minimum of two weeks prior to the project date. Proposals should include a brief overview of the project and a complete budget, outlining other sources of funding, if anticipated. Please direct any questions about this fund to Bryanna Kim, Technical Director in Undergraduate Production.

Yale Schwarzman Center

Yale undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in good standing are eligible to apply for a Yale Schwarzman Center sponsorship. Sponsorship requests are reviewed on a monthly basis and must be completed a minimum of six (6) weeks in advance and within the academic year of the date of the program, project, or event. As a sponsor, the Center may provide support that can be used to cover expenses such as honoraria, travel, accommodations, promotional materials, audiovisual needs, and refreshments. Support generally ranges from $100-$1,000.

Yale Student Grants Database

Yale Student Grants Database is the single best place to search for Yale funding and information about external awards which require application through Yale. The database is searchable by class year, keyword, or eligibility.

Other Funding Sources

Organizations led by undergraduates provide additional opportunities beyond the curriculum for personal development and growth. Click here for some of the College funding sources available to registered student organizations.