1. Purpose of the EPICS in IEEE Grant

The EPICS in IEEE grant funds service-learning engineering projects in which student teams apply engineering design to solve real community problems. Projects focus on community impact and student learning, not research for its own sake.

👥 2. Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Any IEEE member

• IEEE Student Branches

• IEEE Young Professionals

• IEEE Sections

• Faculty and teachers

• HKN Chapters

Team requirements:

• At least one IEEE member on the team

• A community partner (non-profit or NGO)

• Involvement of students in a meaningful engineering role

💰 3. Funding Scope

Typical grant features based on recent calls:

• Up to $10,000 USD per project in materials, supplies, and local travel

• Funding is typically distributed via the local IEEE Section

• Mentorship and project support are provided by the EPICS committee

Non-eligible expenses:

• International or excessive travel

• Honorariums/stipends

• Research equipment or capital equipment (e.g., laptops)

• Overhead or indirect costs

• Incentives/prizes

• Services (e.g., phone/internet unless not reasonably available)

🧩 4. Project Criteria

To be competitive, a proposal must demonstrate:

• Clear engineering design process involvement for students

• A well-defined problem in a community setting

• Strong alignment with community needs and partner mission

• A viable technical solution, including a detailed plan and budget

• A team structure with role definitions

• Assessment and impact measures

Projects are aligned with EPICS core pillars:

• Access and Abilities

• Education and Outreach

• Environment

• Human Services

📆 5. Submission Timeline

Grant cycles and dates vary year-to-year; a recent cycle used these milestones:

• Open proposal period: 1 Mar – 1 May 2026

• Review: May–July 2026

• Announcement: August 2026

• Final report due: ~1 year after funding ($\approx$ Aug 2027)

Always check the current call for proposals on epics.ieee.org for updated dates and deadlines.

📝 6. Proposal Components

A compelling EPICS in IEEE proposal typically includes:

📍 Core Elements

• Problem summary & justification

• Community partner description with letter of commitment

• Solution description with a technical plan

• Budget & budget justification

• Timeline and key milestones

• Student learning outcomes

• Impact evaluation plan

🧠 Administrative Info

• Team contact information

• IEEE membership and affiliations

• Community partner details

• All required attachments (budget template, letters)

🛠 7. Grant Management and Reporting

If awarded:

• Quarterly progress reports throughout the project

• Final report within one month of project completion

• Photos and evidence of community impact

This reporting helps ensure accountability and documents student learning and project outcomes.

💡 8. Project Process (Pre-Submission)

Before and after submission, teams generally follow this workflow:

1. Identify a community challenge

2. Assemble team (students + IEEE member + partner)

3. Engage with the community partner

4. Draft solution concepts and budget

5. Submit application via the Foundant grant system

6. Implement solution if funded

7. Reflect, assess, and report outcomes

📚 9. Support & Training Resources

EPICS in IEEE encourages use of training materials to strengthen proposals, including:

• EPICS in IEEE Project Training Course

• Past approved project examples

• Virtual workshops to prepare competitive proposals

📧 10. Key Contacts and Submission

• Proposal portal: EPICS in IEEE Grant Management System (Foundant)

• Questions: epicsinieee@ieee.org