Catalyst Award Seed Grant

Supported campus wide, the Catalyst Award Seed Grants are targeted toward creative projects with immediate impact implications for enhancing the diversity goals of The Iowa Promise. Preference will be given to collaborative grants that support projects and programs that advance cross-cultural understanding, strengthen positive inter-group relations, and promote a more welcoming learning, living and working environment. 

Activities are encouraged that cross curricular, co-curricular and/or extra-curricular domains. Funds are designed to provide seed money for start-up projects or programs that have potential sustainability as well as short-term projects that demonstrate significance and impact.  This seed grant program is not designed for long-term support of on-going programs.  Ordinarily, awards will not be made to support bringing speakers to campus (see below).

GUIDELINES:
Applications will be accepted that conform to these guidelines:

1. Submitted in paper or electric form by the application deadline;

2. Submitted by faculty, staff or students who are currently enrolled or employed by The University of Iowa;

3. Demonstrate collaboration between at least two groups, departments, or organizations;

4. Awardees must agree to administer program evaluations which will be appended to a brief final report;

5. All publicity and advertising must acknowledge the Catalyst Award Seed Grant funding source;

6. No more than 10% of allocated funds may be used for food without prior approval;

7. Restrictions: Funds are restricted in the following manner:

1. May not support speakers unless tied to a training or workshop;

2. Activities must be held on The University of Iowa campus;

3. May not be used for newsletters, journals, newspapers; and

4. May not be used for student stipends.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Projects will be evaluated based on the following:

• Programming that focus on creating a warm and welcoming campus climate

• Activities that enable sustainable efforts in the campus climate

• Evidence of collaboration across groups, departments or organizations

• Quality and breadth of impact as well as sustainability

• Potential to engage large numbers of the community or those not already involved in diversity efforts

• Measurable impact on the diversity goals of The University of Iowa

• Programming must be completed by Feb. 28, 2009

REVIEW:
Proposals will be examined by the Catalyst Award Seed Grant Committee.  Members are charged with reviewing projects and recommending levels of funding.  In cases where there is a conflict of interest, committee members will recuse themselves from the discussion and voting.  Applications are to be submitted by February 4, 2008. Recipients will be notified by February 15, 2008 and will receive funding when the project occurs.  Funds must be expended by February 28, 2009.  A list of proposals funded by the Catalyst Award Seed Grant will be available on the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity website.

ELIGIBILITY
Available to University of Iowa faculty, staff, students and administrators, this grant will distribute $500 to $1000 sums that will be distributed and monitored by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.  Since the grants are rather limited, it is important that funds be targeted toward creative projects with efforts that support the diversity goal of The Iowa Promise or complement existing diversity efforts on campus.

Proposal Cover Sheet