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GII Seed Grants

Gender Inclusive Initiative (GII) Seed Funds    

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 

Â鶹´«Ã½’s Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) is seeking proposals from staff and faculty for seed funding for unit- and department-level initiatives to promote gender inclusion on Â鶹´«Ã½’s campuses.  

Seed fund proposals must demonstrate how the project/initiative will foster inclusion, build community, educate stakeholders, or advance gender equity within the unit. Interdepartmental proposals are welcome.  

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Seed funding may be used to support the development or expansion of projects, initiatives, and programs that seek to enhance gender inclusion at Â鶹´«Ã½ in one of the following categories: climate; health; systems and policies; facilities. 

We are particularly interested in proposals that have the potential for high impact with a one-time or one-year application. Example projects include, but are not limited to: 

  • Faculty or staff training (climate) 
  • Guest speaker honorarium or travel (climate) 
  • Conference or institute attendance that builds skills in gender equity/inclusion with plans of impact back to campus (climate) 
  • Changing signage, letterhead, or other materials (facilities) 
  • Trans-centered social gatherings (climate) 
  • Gender affirming literature and resources (climate) 
  • Launching a new co-curricular program or series for students (climate) 
  • Campus based conference or symposium (climate) 
  • Departmental/unit field trips to relevant cultural events (climate) 
  • Technology to support gender equity/inclusion (systems and policies; health; climate) 

Seed funds are available in two categories: 

  • Smaller projects (e.g., community building events, local speakers, or smaller facility improvements such as signage) should be applied for in the $500 to $2500 grant pool.  
  • Larger undertakings (e.g., conferences, multiple speakers with travel expenses, or deeper renovations to space or materials) should be applied for in the $2501 to $5000 amount.  

The primary applicant(s) and collaborators must be full-time Â鶹´«Ã½ staff or faculty members, but proposals may also involve student organizations at the graduate or undergraduate level for which the staff or faculty serves as an advisor.  

Each grant proposal must either be submitted by or have the accompanying signature of a person with budget approval status within the unit or department. The Gender Inclusive Initiatives Advisory Council will review all proposals. 

DEADLINE 

The deadline for proposal submission is July 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Awardees will be notified of decisions by September 15, 2023. Brief post-grant reports will be due via Qualtrics by August 15, 2024 (more detailed information will be provided to awardees). 

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES 

Project proposals will be submitted through a Qualtrics application portal. The application will require the following: 

  • Title/Working title of Project, Initiative, or Program  
  • Names of applicants, including a designated contact, and unit or departmental affiliation  
  • Project narrative (no more than 500 words) including: 
  • Overview of the proposed project  
  • Target audience  
  • Primary goals/outcomes  
  • Plan for measuring outcomes and defining success 
  • If/How this project may lead to future efforts to further promote or sustain gender inclusion within the unit/department 
  • Expected timeline for completion 
  • Budget amount requested  
  • Budget justification (rationale of expenses) 
  • Name and contact information for budget manager (if not applicant) 

SUBMISSION DETAILS 

Applications should be submitted through the Qualtrics application portal using by July 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. Any questions regarding the GII Seed Fund should be directed to Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Michelle Manno, at michelle.manno@northwestern.edu or Women’s Center Director, Sarah Brown, at brown@northwestern.edu.   

REVIEW CRITERIA 

Proposals will be reviewed by the GII Advisory Council on the following dimensions: 

  • Rationale for interest/involvement in GII seed fund  
  • Fit of proposed project with focus of seed funds 
  • Potential innovations, contributions and likely impact of seed funding 
  • For larger (up to $5k) fund requests, degree of sustainability  
  • Appropriateness of timeline and budget