Relationship Building Grant

Relationship Building Grant

For a word doc version of the application, email tfhktb@umsystem.edu.

The Creating Whole Communities Faculty Fellowship research grants require that projects are focused on building strong place-based communities. Before submitting a proposal for the CWC research grants, please check for project applicability. For the Relationship Building Grant, CWC will support proposals in which the university-community relationship has potential to foster a stronger place-based community. For the Research and Implementation Grant, CWC will support partnerships between UMSL faculty and Missouri communities for the benefit of community building practice and/or public policy in the context of a particular neighborhood/municipality or in multiple neighborhood/municipalities. Use the checklist below to ensure that your project has a place-based focus required by the program. Scroll to see grant description and requirements.

PROJECT APPLICABILITY CHECKLIST

  1. Is your project place-based/focused on community building?
    • Is it focused on a geographic place or jurisdiction, such as a neighborhood (for example, Dutchtown), municipality (for example, Jennings), block (for example, 5700 block of Cabanne), a small town (for example, Salem, Missouri)?
    • Is it focused on helping that place to function better, to be stronger, gain a deeper understanding, to thrive in some way?
    • Does it address the wellbeing of people within that place, not just the organization you’re partnering with?
    • Is it focused on research that could lead to geographic places functioning better through policy or leadership development?

      Qualifying examples:
      ✓ Research on leadership qualities in mayors
      ✓ Research on youth participation in neighborhood councils
      ✓ Research on housing quality and impacts on college matriculation rates in Normandy–partner is the Community Association of Normandy

      Disqualifying examples:
      x Research on leadership qualities of non-profit CEOS
      x Research on youth participation in food bank volunteerism
      x Research on housing quality and impacts on college matriculation rates – partner is the Scholarship Foundation

  2. Are you partnering with a place-based organization?

    The CWC grants require a partnership with a community partner that is a place-based entity which is one whose efforts focus on serving a particular neighborhood, region, block, municipality, etc. The organization addresses the needs and strengths of their own communities. Some examples of place-based organizations are provided below:

    ✓ Neighborhood Associations
    ✓ Beyond Housing
    ✓ Block Units
    ✓ University City School District
    ✓ Community Development Corporations
    ✓ Missouri Municipal League

    If you are seeking a place-based entity, we recommend starting with the STL Neighborhood Organizations Map for St. Louis-metro based projects. CWC has connections with many of these entities and can assist with facilitating a connection. 

  3. Does your project focus on a topical area in community building? Examples include but are not limited to:

    ✓ Local Government
    ✓ Environmental Sustainability
    ✓ Civic vitality
    ✓ Community ownership or pride
    ✓ Civic leadership or capacity
    ✓ Community resources
    ✓ Civic participation
    ✓ Community engagement
    ✓ Economic development or vitality
    ✓ Housing or real estate development
    ✓ Revitalization
    ✓ Concentrated law enforcement consequences
    ✓ Belonging

If your project addresses these three points in the affirmative, then your project will likely apply to the CWC Faculty Fellowship program. To view proposals funded by CWC in the past, visit: Past CWC Research Proposals.

For questions, please reach out to Tasnim Haq at tfhktb@umsl.edu.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Relationship Building Grant

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Phase I (abstract): TBA
Phase II (full proposal): TBA

Please submit applications and questions to Tasnim Haq: tfhktb@umsl.edu

BACKGROUND, VALUES, AND PURPOSE
Creating Whole Communities (CWC) brings together the University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Missouri Extension, and resident leaders around the state to focus on strengthening our communities. CWC grant opportunities intentionally connect University researchers and community partners in applied, community-based participatory research that contributes to evidence-based policy and practice in the field of community development.

Research conducted through the Creating Whole Communities Faculty Fellows Program will comprise of two grant opportunities: "Relationship Building" and "Research and Implementation." Both opportunities will require participation from faculty and community partners and will carry the aim to jointly pursue tangible community impact post-research.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING GRANT
Faculty and community partners will engage in a relationship building process with the aim that this will lead to a trustworthy partnership, long-term collaboration, and achievement of community-desired goals. Through this process, both parties will explore interests, create an understanding of expectations, and identify mutual benefits and goals. Both parties are expected to participate in multiple relationship building strategies to build the relationship. Examples of these strategies are mentioned below.

CWC seeks to support strong partnerships between UMSL faculty and St. Louis communities for the benefit of community building practice and policy. Relationship-building grants will be given to partnerships focused on:

  • Community building and public policy issues in a particular neighborhood/municipality, and/or
  • Community building and public policy issues that could be applied more broadly to multiple neighborhoods

REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARDEES

  • Two or more relationship-building activities, such as:
    • Community meetings or dinner events
    • Community strategy sessions
    • Regularly scheduled conversations
    • Faculty/University opportunities to volunteer with community organization
  • Production of a reflection brief with a plan for moving forward, which could include joint development of a critical research question if applicable.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS

Eligibility and General Guidelines:

  • Eligible university applicants are a) full-time tenure-track, tenured faculty, non-tenured track faculty or b. UMSL Doctoral students who have completed all coursework except for dissertation research.
  • University applicants must have an identified community partner who agrees to collaborate on the requirements and goals of the grant.

Funding Guidelines:

  • The CWC Research Committee and Leadership Team will fund proposals up to $1,000. The Committee will consider the appropriateness of the budget and may recommend an award less than the requested amount.
  • Funds must be expended within six months of the allocation date. Awardees will receive allocation of funds in November 2025.
  • Sufficient detail of budget items must be provided to allow the committee to evaluate the appropriateness of the allocation. For example, please specify why specific software is needed and justify this if similar software is available through the university.
  • Equipment and supply purchases must conform to university guidelines (e.g. technology purchases must be approved by UMSL IT department, gift cards must be purchased through ShowME, etc.). CWC staff will work with fellows to ensure purchases comply with these guidelines.
  • Travel expenses must conform to the same regulations as all other university travel.  For information: View University Travel Policies.
  • Funds may be requested for research assistants, equipment, supplies, and summer salary support for faculty.
  • Funds will not be awarded for research leaves, sabbatical leaves, or for teaching buy-outs.
  • Faculty Fellow applicants may include support for postdoctoral associates.
  • The community portion of the funds may be used for a variety of purposes including compensation for time on the project.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION:

The proposal will be evaluated on the following:

  • Could this university-community relationship eventually grow into something with community development / place-based impact?
    Would the proposed activity allow for meaningful relationship-building?

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

A one-page reflection brief will be required in addition to budget documentation. All final documents to Tasnim Haq: tfhktb@umsl.edu

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Phase I (abstract): TBA
Phase II (full proposal): TBA

The Faculty Fellowship program requires two phases of submission for each grant.

PHASE I
The Phase I submission functions as an initial review to evaluate the applicability of the proposed project for the Faculty Fellows program. Applicants will be informed if their project aligns with the program criteria and can move forward with applying for the full proposal (Phase II). If there lacks alignment, applicants will receive feedback within 1-2 weeks to refine their proposal. Phase I entails submitting a concise abstract of no more than 250 words, outlining the project's key components for the Relationship Building Grant (see pages 3-5) and addressing all criteria listed in the project applicability checklist (see page 1-2).

The Phase I (abstract) submission must be emailed to Tasnim Haq at tfhktb@umsystem.edu, by TBA.

The Phase II directions will be sent upon approval of the Phase I abstract.