FAQ's

“Accelerate equity in innovation nationally, to disrupt racial inequality and intergenerational inequity in Latinx, Black, APIDA, and Indigenous communities; By harnessing the CSU's collective impact, HSI and eHSI (emerging HSI) network, cross-sector industry, and P-20 educational partners, we will transform institutions to activate diverse leaders and students empowered by technology. Our students will become the innovators and creators of the future.”

No, applicants may not apply an indirect cost rate to this grant proposal.

No, these grants do not require cost-sharing or matching funds.

• The primary purpose of CSU HSI Community Grants is to fund direct services and programming, including integrating technology and professional development activities in alignment with the six programming focus areas and goals. Direct services and programming may engage:
  • Pre-college students, college students and their families in program activities and services.
  • CSU staff, faculty, university leaders, and P-20 educators in professional development activities.
  • Alumni and partners (P-20 education, community and industry) to enhance programming delivery and outcomes.

• Yes, CSU HSI Community Grants are funded by a gift from Apple. You may leverage this support to enhance a program funded by an existing grant or institutional resources.
  • For example, the purpose of CSU HSI Community Grants is aligned with six programming focus areas. We recognize that many of the populations to be served might have basic needs related to transportation, housing, food insecurity and well-being. We encourage you to leverage GI 2025 funds or other grant funds established to respond to these areas of student need.
  • For example, your institution might have an HSI-STEM grant that allows for purchasing lab equipment, construction, and remodeling of labs and teaching and learning spaces, etc. However, it might be the case that you cannot fund inclusive fellowships to engage undocumented students in STEM programming; provide transportation or meals at whole-family outreach events; or fund T-shirts or other items to foster a sense of belonging in your program.
• We encourage you to leverage existing grant and institutional resources to complement areas that CSU HSI Grants do not fund. You may leverage CSU HSI Grants to supplement or enhance existing programming if you have constraints due to federal or state funding limitations.

• Yes, an applicant can submit a proposal requesting grant funding + Apple Technology Award. Requesting an Apple Technology Award does not count against your grant request. These are two separate awards.
• Alternatively, an applicant may also submit a proposal either for grant funding or for an Apple Technology Award.

As required in reporting processes, the following race and ethnicity questions/data will need to be collected throughout the grant: Indigenous, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, White, Other, Two or more races, and Prefer not to disclose. Data on gender include female, male and nonbinary. Data on socioeconomic status or those considered low income. Finally, we will ask that you collect data for any underserved student populations (see definition below) to be served by the proposal.

In alignment with the U.S. Department of Education, we embrace a broad definition for the term underserved student as a student in postsecondary education in one or more of the following subgroups: (a) A student living in poverty or served by schools with high concentrations of students living in poverty; (b) A student of color; (c) An English learner; (d) A disconnected youth; (e) A technologically unconnected youth; (f) A migrant student; (g) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity; (h) A student without documentation of immigrant status; (i) A student who is the first in their family to attend postsecondary education; (j) A student enrolling in or seeking to enroll in postsecondary education for the first time at the age of 20 or older; (k) A student who is working full-time while enrolled in postsecondary education; (l) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant; and (m) An adult student in need of improving their basic skills or an adult student with limited English proficiency.

For the purposes of these grants, post-traditional students are defined as follows: The post-traditional student is the majority and more likely to enroll in a two-year college, delay enrollment, be older, need academic support, work 30 hours or more while enrolled, live off campus, be a student of color, serve as caretaker for children or other family members, be very worried about debt (that influences college plans) and struggle with having the time and finances to complete a degree.

Funds awarded as part of this grant may not be counted toward your individual campus fundraising efforts. However, if your institution receives an Apple Technology Award, the market value of the award can be counted as an in-kind donation toward your individual campus fundraising efforts.

Funds awarded as part of this grant may not be counted toward your individual campus fundraising efforts. However, if your institution receives an Apple Technology Award, the market value of the award can be counted as an in-kind donation toward your individual campus fundraising efforts.

The total grant and/or technology award will default to the primary application or institution. The primary institution may subcontract grant and technology awards to other CSU campuses and non-CSU partners.

Yes, a single institution may submit and receive more than one award, and as a result, the full amount across all awards will be awarded to the primary institution, in the case of Consortium and Multi-Campus proposals.

We suggest that you limit your proposal to ten pages and use a 12-point font.

Generally, as an external grant, your proposal should budget actual salaries and benefits for participating faculty and staff. If you have a specific question, please contact program administrators at  .

Coding Club
You might want to request hardware, including a cart of iPad or Mac devices, an Apple TV, and a case of Sphero Robots. You might also need monetary support for program management, faculty stipend, or other related fees.

Podcasting Program 
You might need Mac and iPad devices, Beats headphones, and software (GarageBand and Logic Pro) to record and edit audio. In addition, you might request monetary support for peripherals such as microphones, booms, and sound isolation materials for an audio production studio.

Production studio
You might need a few high-end Mac devices, Studio Displays, and professional video software (Final Cut Pro) for the editing bays. In addition, you might need a monetary donation for additional hardware such as tripods, lights, microphones, backdrops, etc. Other monetary requests might include curriculum development, faculty stipend, etc.

STEAM Lab
You might need a cart of iPad or Mac devices, an Apple TV, and a Sphero Bolt Powerpack (robots). In addition, you might need a monetary donation for 3D printers, webcams, and other peripherals to build out the space. You might also need monetary support for program management, etc.

All Apple technology and accessories will come with Apple's standard limited warranty that is set forth in the documentation that accompanies any Apple Product. Some products will also receive 3 years of AppleCare coverage.

While the primary applicant is required to be a CSU campus federally designated as an HSI, the applicant is allowed to identify partners as needed in the proposal.

No, but we encourage you to complete the intent to apply by July 31st so we can prepare for the technical assistance sessions. We would also like for you to identify a contact person for your institution, to receive important updates, including the release of the technical assistance calendar and CSU HSI Community Grants landing page.

• Grant funding can be used to fund costs that are necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient oversight and implementation of direct services and programming, as follows:
  • Personnel & Fringe Benefits: Salaries for project staff and other personnel (i.e., faculty re-assigned to the project, students & professional staff), and fringe benefits.
  • Travel: Costs associated with implementing the program, including access to professional development (registration fees) to carry out the work. Other travel costs related to P-20 student participation (and their families) if outreach-related activities or field trips to campus.
  • Minor Equipment: Costs associated with leveraging non-Apple technology to transform teaching and learning spaces, including projectors, monitors, and other digital equipment needed for livestreaming, connectivity, and leveraging interactive science technology such as AI, AR/VR, embedded QR code technology, and geolocated augmented reality. Other small equipment needed to enhance learning in STEAM educational pathways, or STEAM P-20 educational toolkits, or outreach activities.
  • Supplies: Items needed to implement programming and services, including non-Apple technology, materials, printing, promotional and branding supplies, business meals for outreach programming or related professional development sessions, and consumable supplies for STEAM-related activities.
  • Contractual: Services to be provided by external consultants or program partners. This may include consultants needed for facilitation, content development, translation service (written and verbal), specialized expertise (website development, app development, or other applications), database creation, evaluation, data visualization of student equity analytics and infographics, videography and editing, etc.
  • Other:
    1. Other forms of student compensation, such as student stipends, inclusive fellowships (insert link) (available to all students), paid internships and research experiences.
    2. Rental fees, speaker fees.
    3. Subscriptions for mobile tech applications needed for programming, access to software and licenses for creating, including Canva, Adobe, iStock Photos, etc.
    4. Tech repair costs if not covered by Apple Warranty.

• The list below is not an exhaustive list of unallowable costs and activities. The intention is to guide programming and budget development. Please contact program administrators at  if you are unsure whether an activity and associated costs are allowable.
  • General office furniture and equipment
  • Direct scholarships
  • Direct cash aid
  • Bad debt
  • Construction & major renovations
  • Purchase of major scientific equipment
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Entertainment costs
  • Public relations costs
  • Lobbying and fundraising costs
  • Resale of Apple products, technology and accessories provided to institutions. All products shall be solely for grant recipient's end-use and/or P-20 education and community partners.