2025 Carignan Fund for Community Programs

The Harward Center for Community Partnerships is honored to steward the James W. Carignan ’61 and Sally Larson Carignan ’62 Fund for Community Programs, named after the former Dean of the College and his wife, whose commitment to community engagement and civic leadership left an indelible mark at Bates and the Lewiston-Auburn area. Established in 2007, the “Carignan Fund” offers small grants to local organizations who work on a variety of initiatives that address community needs. Grants are evaluated and awarded by a trained group of Bates students who have experience working or volunteering in the Lewiston-Auburn community.

In response to the changing landscape in which many of our community partners operate, in 2025 the Fund will provide targeted grants to Lewiston-based community organizations that provide housing or transitional support services to recent refugees, asylum seekers, and their families. Organizations whose core mission and resources are dedicated to this work will be invited to apply for one-time grant funds of up to $4,000.

Grant funds may be used to support existing, emerging, or new programs that are directly relevant to the call above, including program personnel who staff those programs. Proposals will be evaluated based on alignment with the call above and potential for positive community impact. Applications will be evaluated and selected by a committee of trained Bates College students.

Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025. 

For more information about the Carignan Fund program, contact Jenna Dela Cruz Vendil (jvendil@bates.edu) at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships.