Seed Funds for Gender Inclusion

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Northwestern’s Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) is seeking proposals from staff, faculty, and students for seed funding for group-, unit-, and department-level initiatives to promote gender inclusion at Northwestern.

Seed fund proposals must demonstrate how the project/initiative will foster inclusion, build community, educate stakeholders, or advance gender equity. Interdepartmental and collaborative 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 Northwestern 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 onetime 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) should be applied for in the $500 to $1500 grant pool.

• Larger undertakings (e.g., conferences, speakers with travel expenses) should be applied

for in the $1501 to $3000 amount.

The primary applicant(s) and collaborators must be full-time Northwestern University 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 August 31, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Awardees will be notified of decisions by September 24, 2024.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Project proposals will be submitted through a Smartsheet 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:

o Overview of the proposed project
o Target audience
o Primary goals/outcomes
o Plan for measuring outcomes and defining success
o If/How this project may lead to future efforts to further promote or sustain gender inclusion within the unit/department
o 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 Smartsheet application portal using this link by August 31, 2024, at 5 pm. Any questions regarding the GII Seed Fund should be directed to Michelle Manno at michelle.manno@northwestern.edu or Sarah Brown brown@northwestern.edu. Michelle and Sarah will host open office hours in August for consultations.

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
• Appropriateness of timeline and budget

Apply