Ginsberg Center Community-Driven Engagement Grants for Faculty

Ginsberg Center Community-Driven Engagement Grants  

Our Community-Driven Engagement Grants, co-sponsored by the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning and the College of Literature, Science & the Arts, seek to engage faculty interested in advancing their scholarship while enhancing the capacity of social sector community partners and communities through substantial, reciprocal engagement.

We invite teaching, research, programmatic and other educational proposals focused on advancing equity in Washtenaw County, Detroit, and other Southeast Michigan communities. The Ginsberg Center will provide ongoing consultation to faculty grantees, including supporting the creation of academic and public products to demonstrate how campus-community partnerships contribute both to new academic knowledge and community benefit.

Eligibility

Open to all full time, Ann Arbor campus faculty (tenured and tenure-track, research, and clinical faculty), lecturers, and postdoctoral fellows. For collaborative proposals, the primary applicant must meet these eligibility requirements. Priority consideration may be given to proposals submitted by an applicant who has not received funds during the previous academic year.

Funding

Awards up to $2000, with a portion of our overall funds reserved for LSA constituents, in support of our ongoing partnership with LSA.

For 2023-2024, our funding priorities emphasize projects that:

  • Build the capacity of university-community partnerships matched through the Ginsberg Center matchmaking process
  • Focus on addressing inclusive democracy; reproductive health and justice; and economic and racial disparities
  • Start from community-identified priorities and support local grassroots efforts 
  • Involve community partners as co-researchers or co-teachers
  • Advance the long-term sustainability of university-community partnerships at U-M

 

Deadline & Application Information

Applications are accepted for the following deadlines: August 1st, December 1st, and April 1st. Award notifications are typically issued within 4 weeks following the application deadlines.

 

FAQs

What can funds be used for?

Allowable expenses include: 

  • community partner stipends
  • compensation for community partners serving as co-educators/ co-researchers
  • project-related travel for community partners
  • materials and supplies that enhance or support the partnership
  • pursuit of external funds to sustain and expand the project
  • research support, including technology, software, or data access for community partners
  • funding for graduate students (usually only partial funding). 

Note: A portion of our funds is reserved for LSA constituents, in support of our ongoing partnership with LSA.

 

What are grantee benefits & expectations?

Ginsberg Center (GC) provides grantees with funding, as well as access to ongoing consultation on project design, partnership development, project scoping, assessment of impact, and the production and dissemination of academic and public products. Grantees agree to:

  • Ensure that the project aligns with Ginsberg’s Principles of Community Engagement 
  • Use the funds in the ways outlined in your proposal; submit any substantial changes to the proposed budget to Ginsberg Center for approval
  • Meet with Ginsberg's academic partnership staff for at least 2 consultations during the grant period, one within 3 months of proposal submission or award notification.
  • Communicate the status of the project to Ginsberg at the end of each academic term, including submission of a final grant report and post-award questionnaire.
  • Contribute to Ginsberg Center’s community of teaching, research and scholarship during the grant period by one (or more) of the following:
    • Participate in Ginsberg’s faculty development programming as a presenter or panelist
    • Develop an academic or public product that demonstrates how campus-community partnerships can contribute not only new academic knowledge but also community benefit
    • Share highlights and insights from your completed projects through communication and marketing outlets through Ginsberg Center and our U-M partners
    • Attend at least one Ginsberg Center faculty development workshop, program, or session
    • Other contributions developed in consultation with Ginsberg Center

 

Who can I contact about my application or for consultation about my proposal?

  • Award notifications are typically issued within 4 weeks of application deadlines.
  • Ginsberg’s Academic Partnerships staff are available to consult with grant applicants as they prepare proposals. To request an initial consultation, submit our Support Request Form
  • Contact [email protected] for questions about the fund or the application process.