Awards and Funding
Award Opportunities
The Taylor Center offers two funding opportunities to support Tulane students passionate about creating positive change in the world. The Changemaker Catalyst and Alvarez Spark Awards accept applications in the fall and spring semesters. If you are a Tulane student ready to take the next step in your changemaker journey, we encourage you to review the detailed guidelines and apply! The deadline for Taylor Awards are November 15 and April 1 each academic year.
The Changemaker Catalyst Award
The Changemaker Catalyst Award is open to all Tulane undergraduate and graduate students seeking to deepen their understanding of a pressing social or environmental challenge. Funds can be used to support a variety of learning experiences, such as:
- Internships or volunteer opportunities with organizations working on the issue
- In-depth field immersion experiences to gain first-hand knowledge
- Attending conferences, workshops or programs to build changemaking skills
- Conducting academic research to study the issue through a changemaking lens
Students can receive up to $2,000 over the course of their studies. The application requires a resume, short essay, budget, and acknowledgement of award requirements. By engaging in these learning experiences, you will enhance your understanding of the root causes and current solutions landscape of the issues you care about, preparing you for a career as a changemaker. Students that receive the award are expected to document and share their reflections and lessons learned with the Taylor community.
The Victor C. Alvarez Spark Innovation Award
The Victor C. Alvarez Spark Innovation Award is designed for Tulane undergraduate and graduate students who are already working on a social venture idea and need funding to test and advance their concept. Students can apply for up to $2,500 per academic year to move their ideas forward. Eligible expenses may include:
- Determining the legal structure of the venture
- Developing and testing marketing materials
- Prototyping a product or service
- Running a pilot to validate the model
To apply, students submit a resume, mentor reference, project proposal, budget, and acknowledgement of award requirements. The proposal must outline the problem and current solutions landscape, the student's idea and goals for the funding, and a plan for measuring progress and capturing learnings. Students the receive the award are expected to document and share their reflections and lessons learned with the Taylor community.
Both awards have a strong emphasis on learning - whether testing assumptions and refining an idea or building contextual knowledge to inform future changemaking work. No matter what stage you are at in your changemaking path, the Taylor Center is here to support you in gaining the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to translate your passion into real-world impact.
Social Entrepreneurship Professorships
SE Professorships at the Taylor Center support Tulane faculty working at the intersection of their academic expertise and social change. The professorship provides funding and opportunities to advance interdisciplinary scholarship, teaching, and engagement that addresses pressing social and environmental challenges. Participating faculty can collaborate with the Taylor Center staff and faculty during their 5-year term to:
- Develop new courses in social entrepreneurship and changemaking
- Convene cross-disciplinary roundtables and symposia
- Publish research and thought leadership in social innovation
- Deepen their skills in social innovation and design thinking
Eligibility is open to all full-time Tulane faculty demonstrating a strong record of accomplishment, interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, and desire to engage with student and community changemakers. Professors receive up to $12,000.00 annually (for a total of five years) to support their work with funds available for course development, buyouts, research, summer salary, and other activities. Participating faculty gain a platform to promote their work, inspire others, forge new connections, and access a global network of changemaking scholars and practitioners.
The Taylor Center is committed to supporting faculty in pushing the boundaries of knowledge and practice to create a more just and sustainable world. Faculty that are selected are asked to participate in some Taylor Center activities during their professorship, such as selecting student award recipients and serving on hiring and reappointment committees.
Applications will open fall 2025.