2025–26 Grant Impact
$23,570
4,400
104
"On behalf of the Carver College of Medicine Office of Medical Student Affairs, I want to sincerely thank you for providing funds that allowed our staff to celebrate their efforts over the past academic year.
With your support, we were able to enjoy lunch from Jimmy John’s and participate in team-building activities featuring a Cornhole tournament and a photo challenge! It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize our team’s hard work and strengthen our connections."
Purpose of the Grant
The Staff Appreciation Grant provides financial support to departments and units looking to recognize and appreciate their staff through small events, team-building activities, or recognition items. The program is designed to foster a positive work environment through localized appreciation efforts.
Appreciation is the acknowledgment and recognition of the contributions, efforts, value, or achievements of individuals or groups.
Funding is available only for Professional & Scientific (P&S) employees and employees represented by the Merit Supervisory Exempt/Confidential Committee (MSE/C). Faculty and union-represented employees are not eligible. See Understanding Staff Council Representation for more information.
At a Glance
Award: $10 per eligible staff member, up to $300
Application Period: October 1–23, 2026
Funds Must Be Used By: June 30, 2027
Office of Community Engagement
The photo highlights the Office of Community Engagement’s annual end-of-semester potluck, which was enhanced through a Staff Appreciation Grant. The grant provided Panera soups, creating an opportunity for colleagues to connect, share a meal, and celebrate the strong sense of community that supports their work.
Eligibility & Timing
- Each department/unit is eligible to receive only one grant per fiscal year.
- Departments/units that received a Staff Appreciation Grant in the previous fiscal year are not eligible.
- Funding is available only for eligible P&S and MSE/C employees.
- Applications open October 1, 2026, and close October 23, 2026.
- Funding decisions will be communicated by December 1, 2026.
- Funds will be transferred on or after December 18, 2026.
- Grant funds must be used by June 30, 2027.
Funding Guidelines
Grants provide up to $10 per eligible staff member, up to a maximum of $300 per department/unit.
- Example: 10 eligible staff = up to $100; 30+ eligible staff = up to $300.
- Staff Appreciation Grant funds are intended for staff recognition, appreciation, and morale-building activities and may not be used for routine operational or business expenses.
- Multiple Staff Appreciation Grants may not be combined or pooled to fund the same event/activity.
Funds may be used for:
- Team-building activities
- Staff appreciation events
- Recognition items
- Meals or food for an event
Application Requirements
Applications must provide enough information to be evaluated, including:
- Description of the proposed activity, who will benefit, and how it will recognize and appreciate staff.
- How the activity will be accessible to the intended staff group.
- Itemized budget and total estimated cost.
- Event/activity date and location, if applicable.
- Other funding sources, if applicable.
- Authorized financial approver.
- MFK for fund transfer.
- For shared MFKs, identification of the specific department/unit/team the grant will support.
Incomplete and/or incorrect applications may not be considered for funding.
Post-Event Reporting Requirement
To help assess the impact of these grants and inform future improvements, recipients will be required to submit a short post-event report including:
- An attendance list
- Event photos
- A brief summary describing how the activity was received by staff and supported staff appreciation
How Applications Are Reviewed
Applications will first undergo a basic eligibility review. Applications that do not meet program eligibility requirements will not advance to scoring.
Impact & Engagement
How well the proposal demonstrates meaningful staff recognition and supports morale, engagement, or team cohesion.
Feasibility & Planning
Whether the proposed activity is realistic, sufficiently planned, and achievable.
Accessibility & Fairness
How accessible the proposed activity is to the intended staff group.
Budget Efficiency
Whether the requested funding is reasonable, clearly explained, and directly supports staff appreciation.
Applicants are encouraged to provide enough detail for reviewers to evaluate the proposal in each of these areas.
Important Dates
- Application Opens: October 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: October 23, 2026
- Funding Decision Notification: By December 1, 2026
- Fund Transfers: On or after December 18, 2026
- Grant Funds Must Be Used By: June 30, 2027
Limited Funds Available
Funding is limited, and submission of an application does not guarantee an award.
Previous Staff Appreciation Grant recipients have used funding in a variety of ways to recognize staff and strengthen their teams.
Photos: UI Health Care Finance and Accounting Services team members using Staff Appreciation Grant funds to support the Ronald McDonald House.
“Our team used the Staff Appreciation Grant to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, and it was such a meaningful experience. It gave us a chance to give back to our community while bonding outside of work. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to support a cause we care about. Thank you to Staff Council for making it possible!”
UI Campus Event Ideas
Offerings from UI Recreational Services.
UI Pentacrest Museums: Tours and Game Nights
Various UI Athletics spaces for rental
Walking / “Destination” Events
Discover Your University tours
Community Event Ideas
Local and state parks
Golf/Mini golf
Laser Tag
Game night/Escape rooms
Cooking/drink mixing classes
Picnics
Dinner events/Happy Hour
Speaker
Sporting events within Iowa (i.e. Kernels, Xtreme Arena)
Movie theater / movie nights
Organized group excursions
Fitness challenges offered outside of the University of Iowa as a part of wellness or campus recreation.
Activities Not Eligible for Funding
Events in this list will NOT be approved for a Staff Appreciation Grant.
Open water sports (jet skis, boating, etc...)
Hatchet throwing
Paintball
Bungee jumping
Sky diving
Mountaineering
Paragliding
Scuba Diving
Professional Sports Events – NBA, MLB, NFL, etc.
Sponsored by the University of Iowa Staff Council
University Policy: Please review the University Guidelines for Cash Awards and Gift Certificates and the Rewards and Recognition Programs rules for permitted uses of funding.
Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? We’d love to hear from you. 📧 Contact us at staff-council@uiowa.edu.