The best projects start with actual community needs, not abstract theories. They center community voice and leadership from day one. We care about what can be accomplished within our cycle structure, not pie-in-the-sky ideas that never materialize. Your project should have measurable impact - even if modest at first - and include a plan for continuing after your time with us ends. The path to support is straightforward: we'll fund you up to $500 after completing the Design Phase and up to $1,000 during the Build Phase, tied to specific milestones and outcomes. 

Support can come in the form of (but not limited to): 

This isn't a program with constant supervision. We trust you to drive your own project forward. Support comes through regular group feedback sessions where you'll share progress and get perspective from fellow Corps members and our team. 

You'll be part of a cohort facing similar challenges, creating a natural learning community. We provide basic digital tools and templates to help you organize your work, plus limited access to physical meeting space at ASU locations when needed (and depending on your location). 

The self-guided resources we offer draw on The Difference Engine's experience with community engagement and project management, giving you just enough structure without slowing you down with bureaucracy. Our philosophy is simple: you already know how to create change - we're just removing obstacles and adding momentum and support.

We take a practical approach to evaluation. Your progress will be assessed through quarterly self-evaluations where you reflect on your own journey, group feedback sessions that provide outside perspective, achievement of concrete project milestones, and direct input from community partners. 

This isn't about judgment, but about identifying what's working and what needs adjustment. For project impact, we look at four dimensions that tell the real story: 

We value qualitative insights as much as numbers, capturing the human stories that statistics miss. Throughout the process, we'll also be evaluating the DifferenceCorps program itself, using your feedback to make it better for future cohorts.

Successful Corps members (based on the above criteria) will have the opportunity to showcase their work at either our annual gathering (early March) in front of hundreds of members of our community, civil society, potential funders, journalists and policymakers.