Call for Proposals: Advancing Community, Democracy and Dialogue Grants

The Community, Democracy and Dialogue (CDD) working group is now accepting proposals from faculty, staff and students for Advancing Community, Democracy and Dialogue Grants. Proposals for projects taking place during the 2024-25 academic year can be submitted online by Sept. 27.<_o3a_p>

The grants - totaling $150,000 - support grassroots efforts that promote diverse discourse and open dialogue on critical global and domestic social issues. Up to $5,000 per project are available to support activities such as workshops, symposia, brown bag lunches, guest speakers and the development of curriculum or resources.<_o3a_p>

Potential applicants are encouraged to review the grant criteria and meet with Linda Ziegenbein, assistant vice chancellor for strategic outreach & engagement in the Office of Equity and Inclusion for virtual information/workshop sessions. These sessions can help in clarifying questions regarding the application process, to workshop ideas for proposals, to discuss best practices for submitting an effective and complete proposal, or get support in writing proposals.

Grant Criteria

• Applicants must be currently enrolled and/or employed at UMass Amherst.<_o3a_p>
• Proposed projects must benefit members of the UMass community and be implemented at the University.<_o3a_p>
• Proposed projects must address important international and/or domestic issues that are relevant to members of the UMass Amherst campus community.<_o3a_p>
• Proposed projects should encourage open discussion of and dialogue on critical social issues and/or advance ideals of diversity in intellectual discourse.<_o3a_p>
• Proposed projects should be collaborative in approach and practice; i.e., campus partners who will participate in the implementation of the project must be identified.<_o3a_p>
• Where events involve speakers, provision must be made for audience participation and/or question and answer opportunities.<_o3a_p>
• Proposed projects can take place anytime between fall 2024 and the end of the spring 2025 semester.<_o3a_p>
• Student applicants must be affiliated with a registered student organization or have the administrative support of a department to which funds may be transferred.<_o3a_p>
• Personnel costs cannot be funded. <_o3a_p>

Funds will be disbursed by the end of October 2024.<_o3a_p>

More information about the grants, including links to sign up for a grant workshop session or to apply online, can be found at https://www.umass.edu/dialogue/grants. A list of previously funded projects and events can be found at https://www.umass.edu/dialogue/grants/spring-2024-funded-grants-and-events.<_o3a_p>