California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program

Overview

California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program
Overview for Students

The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) Program encourages California Dream Act Applicant (CADAA) students with a Cal Grant A award that met Cal Grant B eligibility or a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service.  The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $4,500 per academic year (up to $2,250 per semester or up to $1,500 per quarter) to 1,667 eligible students. The grant will be available to the student for up to 8 semesters or up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant A or B award. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress and complete any necessary verification for their Cal Grant award.

CA Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program One Page Brochure

CA Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program Tri-fold Brochure

Eligible students must apply annually, attend a qualifying institution, have sufficient unmet financial need, and complete service hours in that academic year (July 1 through June 30). Semester students shall perform service hours in 150-hour increments and quarter students shall complete service hours in 100-hour increments. Students can volunteer with any of the organization(s) on the List of Service Organizations or with any organization not on the list if it meets the criteria for a qualifying service organization. Organizations not on the List of Service Organizations can complete and submit the Service Organization Registration form found on the DSIG Forms webpage.

List of Service Organizations


Grant Application and Payment Request Forms

Step 1: Apply for the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant ProgramApplication period for the new academic year opens July 1. Applications will be accepted through the end of the academic year, June 30, or until all 1,667 awards are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Step 2: Request payment from the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program


DSIG Forms

All forms for the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program can be found on the DSIG Forms webpage.


DSIG FAQ

For more information please see our Frequently Asked Questions:

DSIG FAQ for Students


What is an Eligible Student?

  • Completed and submitted California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for that academic year.
  • Is an active recipient of a Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B award. Cal Grant A recipients must have met Cal Grant B eligibility.
  • Demonstrate enough financial need (determined by CSAC or the institution).
  • Enrolled in a qualifying institution.

What is a qualifying institution?

Any school on the Cal Grant Eligible Schools list on the CSAC website.

What is a qualifying community or volunteer service organization?

  • A nonprofit as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Any federal, state, or local government entity.
  • Any school on the Cal Grant Eligible Schools list on the CSAC website.

Organization shall have been established for a minimum of two years before the first date on which a participating student begins performing service hours to qualify for this program.

Community or volunteer service performed by the participating student is not advocacy of a political, social, or religious nature.

Community or volunteer service is related to the participating student’s field of study or is in furtherance of community service or a community need.

Organizations not on the List of Service Organizations, can complete and submit the Service Organization Registration form found on the DSIG Forms webpage.


For more information, please contact:

California Student Aid Commission
California Dream Act Service Incentive Program
dsig@csac.ca.gov