Campus Compact today announced that it has secured $600,000 from the Henry Luce Foundation to provide infrastructure and programming support for our Campus Action Planning for Civic and Community Engagement initiative (CAP). The CAP initiative provides a framework for campuses to develop and actualize an Action Plan that advances campus-community partnerships, integrates civic and community engagement into curricula, and expands opportunities for students, educators, and researchers to address real-world challenges. These Action Plans serve as a blueprint for campuses to meet the moment and intentionally align their practices with their values, ensuring that their public purpose is broadly and deeply integrated into day-to-day work.
Henry Luce Foundation funding will support a major expansion of the CAP initiative, which was first launched in 2016 under the name Civic Action Planning. The expanded initiative will include a revised CAP framework and new tools and support activities to prepare campuses for effective Action Planning. New tools, resources, and supports will include:
- Revised and expanded CAP resources, including a new overall process guide and readiness tool.
- CAP institutes and Call-to-Action events that encourage participation in the CAP initiative and provide support for campuses implementing Action Plans.
- Ongoing campus coaching & support from Campus Compact staff and trained CAP Fellows and Coaches
- Innovation cohort opportunities for campuses to explore innovative strategies in fundraising, messaging, storytelling, and infrastructure. Strategies piloted by this group will then become the foundation for new resources and frameworks.
- Leadership development pathways that support participants’ professional development
"It's more important now than ever before for universities to engage the communities they serve with sincerity, respect, and humility. As higher education comes under attack from governments and politicians, it needs friends and allies among its near neighbors and the broader public. The Luce Foundation is proud to support Campus Compact as it seeks to build and strengthen these relationships--for the benefit of academia and the country as a whole."
Sean Buffington
Vice President of Programs
Henry Luce Foundation
Building the capacity for colleges and universities to tackle complex challenges is a key area of focus in Campus Compact’s 2025-2030 strategic plan. With the additional capacity and infrastructure provided by the Henry Luce Foundation, Campus Action Planning will provide the tools, support, and resources necessary for campuses to create comprehensive plans to realize their public purpose every day.
“Campus Compact’s work has always been about systems change to fulfill the public purposes of higher education. The Campus Action Plan for Civic & Community Engagement project will empower campuses to incorporate community engagement and civic participation holistically, positioning higher education institutions as community assets and connecting economic capacity with community-engaged teaching and learning. We are so grateful for the support of the Henry Luce Foundation in making this work possible.”
Matt Farley
Senior Vice President for Strategy
Campus Compact
Campus Compact will share more information soon about opportunities for fellowships, ways to get your campus involved, and upcoming virtual and in-person events. Contact us at [email protected] for more information, and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list for updates.