Helping community colleges kick their tobacco-free campus efforts into gear

To help community colleges join the growing movement-of adopting tobacco-free policies, Truth Initiative is opening two new round of grants to community colleges that do not currently have smoke-free policies in place to protect students, faculty and staff on their campuses.

Community colleges can apply for a $10,000 grant by submitting a proposal between March 1 and April 29. Applicants who miss the initial deadline can apply for a $7,500 grant by submitting an application before July 15. In addition to the financial support, awardees will receive technical assistance through webinars, learning communities, and one-on-one consultations facilitated by Truth Initiative. 

College campuses are critical partners for preventing young adults from starting tobacco use, helping tobacco users quit, and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. Ninety-nine percent of smokers start before age 27. Support for 100 percent smoke-free and tobacco-free policies on college campuses has skyrocketed in recent years. The number of college and universities with 100 percent smoke or tobacco-free policies tripled from 446 campuses in 2010 to 1,475 campuses in 2016. Much of that progress has been achieved at four-year universities.

Community colleges in the US serve almost half  – 45 percent – of the undergraduate students in the U.S. With enrollment of more than 12 million students, community colleges serve as a gateway to postsecondary education for many people of color, low-income, and first-generation college students. Many of these populations suffer disproportionately from tobacco use and its secondhand smoke consequences.

To address this need, Truth Initiative has already awarded $274,730 in grants to 54 public community colleges in 25 states across the country to support efforts to advocate for, adopt, and implement a 100% smoke-free or tobacco-free college policy.  Those campuses serve 586,386 students and touch nearly 45,000 faculty and staff.

Community colleges that have already received grants from Truth Initiative will not be eligible to apply for additional funding.

Interested grant applicants may watch a 30 minute informational webinar.

All applications must be submitted using Truth Initiative’s online application system.

Download the instructions and templates below:

            Grant Guidelines

Application Templates and Samples:

            Project Work Plan Template

            Budget Template

            Budget Narrative Sample

If you have a question, please contact Truth Initiative by phone at 202-454-5555 or email [email protected].