Student Initiative Grants
Request for Proposals - Ginsberg Student Initiatives Grants
Made possible by the Ron and Eileen Weiser Fund, the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning invites proposals from University of Michigan student organizations for initiatives that will advance the Center's mission to engage students, faculty, and community members in learning together through community service and civic participation in a diverse democratic society.
Ginsberg Center goals relevant to these grants are:
- Build student capacity for learning and leadership through community service, civic participation, and educational efforts.
- Build the capacity of communities through partnerships with the University which contribute to community quality of life and enhance student learning
- Increase the institutional capacity of the University of Michigan for student civic and multicultural learning.
Click here to review summaries of the projects funded for 2011-12, or see the link to the right for additional higlights from recent years.
Eligibility
Undergraduate and graduate student organizations registered with SOAR and recognized by the University are eligible to apply for funds. Previous Ginsberg Center awardees may apply, but priority will be given to groups who have not received prior Ginsberg Center funding; repeat funding will only be considered if the proposed project is different than the one previously funded.
SOAR registration is accomplished by a simple application available here.
Funding cycles
Ginsberg Student Initiatives Grants will have 2 funding cycles in 2011-12. For all cycles, funded project expenses must fall within the time period detailed below.
| Cycle | Call for Proposals announced: | Proposals due to Ginsberg.grants by 5:00 P.M.: | Funding decisions announced: | Funded project expenses between: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 12 | August 30 | October 1 | October 15 | 9.1.12 - 3.15.13 |
| W 13 | December 2 | January 14 | January 31 | 1.1.13 - 9.15.13 |
| no spring cycle for 2013 |
Grants
Student groups may apply for funding in amounts up to $1,000. Funds may be used for project costs such as hosting, printing, copying, materials, supplies, vehicle leasing, guest speaker honoraria, and community partner support. We do not fund t-shirts, fund-raisers, or plane fares.
Some grant proposals we receive are really requests for Ginsberg Center co-sponsorship. If you seek funds for a community-based project or initiative, please click here for the form to apply for grant funding. If you seek funds for a campus event -- a dinner, symposium, lecture, etc. - please do not use the Student Initiatives Grant proposal. Ginsberg is not currently able to offer funding support to student organizations for on-campus events. If you're unsure whether your project would qualify, contact the Student Initiatives office at Ginsberg.Student.Initiatives@umich.edu.
Because the Ginsberg Center is not only a funding partner but also a capacity-building partner, a Ginsberg Center staff member will meet with you throughout your project to discuss issues and to problem-solve. We also will provide a complimentary copy of our publication, "I Like My Service Well Done!: Resources for Incorporating Education into Co-Curricular Service and Social Action Programs," which is a compilation of readings and activities useful for building student organizations' service and learning capacities.
Application procedure
Student organization applicants should submit the application cover sheet and accompanying proposal template. Click here for the application cover sheet and proposal templates.
Funding requirements
Grantees are responsible for:
- Insuring that the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning is acknowledged in all possible ways as a supporter of the project (e.g., on printed flyers, in introductions of guest speakers, on web pages, etc.).
- Meeting with the Ginsberg Center's Student Initiatives staff regularly to discuss the project
- Attending at least one Ginsberg Center Learning from the Community Workshop
- Documenting all expenses
- Submitting a final report using the Ginsberg Center Final Report Template (35K Word file) within one month of completion of the funded project.
Failure to comply with these requirements will be grounds for forfeiture of the grant funds and ineligibility for future Ginsberg Center grants.
Submissions
Applicants must submit the complete proposal by 5:00 p.m. on the indicated proposal deadline date in the funding cycles chart above.
E-mail an electronic copy to: ginsberg.grants@umich.edu,
Timeline and review
Each application will be given prompt attention by Ginsberg Center staff and if it falls within the submission guidelines and all parts of the application and grant proposal template are completed, it will be reviewed by a committee of stakeholders, including students, Ginsberg staff, and community members. Decisions will be announced by an e-mail to the contact person by 11 P.M. on the announcement date detailed in the funding cycles chart above.
Proposal assistance
Proposals may be more competitive when they are developed with assistance of Ginsberg Center staff. Please contact us at Ginsberg.Student.Initiatives@umich.edu for more information.
