On-Campus and Virtual Opportunities
The Faculty and Staff Democracy in Action Fund supports innovative, interactive civic opportunities that engage participants in practicing democracy on campus or in the community. Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Academic Year and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until available funding is exhausted.
The RDL Faculty and Staff Democracy Fellowship supports Rutgers faculty and staff who wish to develop, pilot, or scale innovative projects that strengthen democratic culture, practice, and knowledge. Applications are now closed for the 2026-2027 cohort.
Talking Across Difference is a university-wide initiative meant to equip educators, staff, and students to have productive conversations about difficult and sometimes divisive issues. Applications are now closed for the 2026-2027 cohort.
The Think and Do Tank offers a highly immersive civic learning experience that builds students' capacity for democratic citizenship and problem-solving. Students from across the university and across disciplines come together to work collaboratively to address democratic issues, and they do this important work in partnership with faculty and expert practitioners.
The Digital Content Creator Internship is a paid, credit-eligible program where students create original, viral-ready social media content that inspires young people to become active, informed democratic citizens. Interns collaborate to produce engaging videos, interview community members, and strategize ways to reach disengaged online audiences.
The Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) Democracy Summer Research Fellowships support multi-disciplinary research from Rutgers PhD students that advances our understanding of American democracy.
The Technology and Democracy Research Hub Internship gives Rutgers–New Brunswick undergraduates the opportunity to work alongside academic and policy researchers and contribute to research on technology, social media, and democracy. Applications are now closed for the Fall semester.
Student Democracy in Action Fund
COMING SOON! Dedicated funding for student clubs and organizations who wish to host interactive, democracy-centered events for the Rutgers community.
Each year, the Office of Federal Relations brings the Rutgers Advocacy Corps down to Washington, DC to meet with federal policymakers to advocate for increased investments in federal financial aid. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with Rutgers alumni working in the nation’s capital.
As part of Rutgers University's recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, RDL is partnering with the Office of Undergraduate Education to offer a series of Byrne Seminars that provide students with opportunities to explore the history and ongoing significance of democracy and civic engagement.