California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG)

OVERVIEW:

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $4,500 per academic year (up to $2,250 per semester) to eligible California Dream Act Application (CADAA) students who perform 150 hours per semester of community or volunteer service with a Qualifying Service Organization. Students must apply annually to participate in the DSIG program.

Grant Eligibility:

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have completed and submitted a CADAA for the 2024-25 academic year,
  • Be an active recipient of a Cal Grant B for the 2024-25 academic year
  • If not a Cal Grant B recipient, must have been eligible for a Cal Grant B
  • Have enough financial need
  • Maintain at least half-time enrollment per semester
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, and
  • Volunteer with a university/department or at a qualifying organization/s.

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 or organization on the List of Service Organizations 
  • Qualifying Service Organizations not on the List of Service Organizations may register with CSAC
  • Shall be established for a minimum of two years before the first date on which a participating student begins performing service hours.
  • Service performed must be related to the student’s field of study or serves to further community service or a community need.

DSIG Application Process:

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  1. Download the Application.
  2. Complete Section 1 and 4.
  3. Financial aid will complete Section 2. Please email the Grant Application to studentjobs@palomar.edu.
  4. Have your qualifying organization or department complete Section 3.
  • If service hours are to be completed with more than one Service organization, use the Grant Application Supplementalform to list the additional organizations.
  1. Email the completed form to dsig@csac.ca.gov.
  2. You will be notified via email by CSAC when (and if) you are registered into the program.

 

If registered, you must ensure that you are cleared by the service organization’s office of Human Resources. If you will be volunteering at Palomar College, please visit the Volunteers page for additional requirements. You may begin completing and tracking service hours after you have been cleared.

DSIG Payment Process:

Payment can be requested after completing at least 150 hours of community or volunteer service. Hours must be completed between July 1st to June 30th of the academic year.

Payment Request

  1. Download the Payment Request Form.
  2. Complete Section 1 and 4.
  3. Financial aid will complete Section 2. Please email the Payment Request Form to studentjobs@palomar.edu.
  4. Have your qualifying organization or department complete Section 3.
  5. Email the completed form to dsig@csac.ca.gov.

After submitting your Payment Request, you will be notified via email when payment has been approved and again when the check is ready for pick up. Payments will be sent directly to Palomar College and can take 4-6 weeks. Initial DSIG payment will occur after you have received at least one Cal Grant B payment.

*A new Payment Request Form must be completed to request a second DSIG payment.

Additional Information:

Looking for a volunteer?

Reach out to us for additional information at studentjobs@palomar.edu

Additional Resources

If you have any questions regarding DSIG, please email studentjobs@palomar.edu

Last modified on August 6, 2024