Design Grant Program

Design Grant Program

Funder: Come to Believe Foundation

Overview:
The Design Grant Program provides funding for universities to explore the CTB two-year college model in depth and begin to consider whether they have the bandwidth to successfully replicate and sustain the model on their campus. This program is designed to catalyze design thinking and institutional innovation in higher education.

Award Amount: Up to $40,000 per institution (funding amount varies by year; 2024-2025 grants were up to $30,000; 2025-2026 grants are up to $40,000)

Geographic Scope: United States

Eligibility:

Four-year colleges and universities interested in exploring the CTB two-year college model

Community-based organizations partnering with higher education institutions (example: Homeboy Industries with Mt. St. Mary's University)

Institutions must be willing to commit leadership time and institutional resources to the exploration process

Recurrence: Annual

Program Duration:
Two-phase process:

Fall Semester: Deep exploration of the CTB two-year college model, understanding model components and how CTB colleges achieve exemplary results

Spring Semester: Customized feasibility study focusing on how the model could be replicated in each unique institutional context

What the Grant Provides:

Funding to support the design and exploration process

Partnership with CTB team including substantive learning and discernment experience

Customized feasibility study tailored to institutional context

Campus visits by CTB team (typically two visits in fall, site visits to existing CTB model colleges like Arrupe College)

Design team support and consultation

Design Team Structure:
Participating institutions form a cross-functional design team including:

Designated project manager

Leadership representation from enrollment, advancement, student life, career services

Leadership from other key departments relevant to the model

Recent and Current Cohorts:

2025-2026 Cohort (3 institutions):

Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ)

St. John Fisher University (Rochester, NY)

University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX)

Sponsor: Carnegie Corporation of New York

2024-2025 Cohort (4 institutions):

Catholic University of America (Washington, DC)

Hollins University (Roanoke, VA)

Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN)

University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI)

Sponsors: Joan Sextro and Mary Kathryn Black

2023-2024 Cohort (7 institutions):

Canisius University (Buffalo, NY)

Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, IN)

University of Portland (Portland, OR)

University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA)

University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)

Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)

Mt. St. Mary's University (Los Angeles, CA) - partnering with Homeboy Industries

CTB Model Focus:
The CTB two-year college model emphasizes:

Academic rigor and support

Community and belonging

High student retention and graduation rates

Affordable postsecondary opportunities for:

- First-generation college students
- Pell-eligible students
- Undocumented students
- Low-wealth background students

Next Steps After Design Grant:
Upon completion of the design grant year, participating institutions can:

Move to planning phase for implementation (pending board approval)

Receive customized support from CTB as they prepare to launch a CTB model college on their campus

Become full partner colleges in the CTB Network

Contact:
info@ctbnetwork.org
P.O. Box 786, New York, NY 10150