Creating Whole Communities Extension Faculty Innovation Fund

Extension Faculty Innovation Fund

The goal of the Extension Faculty Innovation Fund (EFIF) is to enable MU Extension Community Development (CD) faculty to innovate and strengthen their work through small dollar capacity-building grants and facilitated partnerships with MU System academic resources. 

The EFIF will support new research-based pilot projects, evidence-based improvements on existing programs, engaging partners/stakeholders/researchers for community development field-building, or other innovative community development-focused initiatives. 

In order to provide CD faculty with support to ensure projects are research-based, the UMSL Community Innovation and Action Center (CIAC) will provide every project grantee with a 2 hour deep-dive individualized virtual workshop to support their research component. Topics may include data collection needs, literature review, dissemination and implementation plan, connections to additional system resources. 

Team-based applications are encouraged. 

EFIF Grant Details:

  • Project Grant Amount: Up to $5000 
  • Rolling deadline until funds are expended. 
  • Funds must be fully spent one year from award date.
  • Project activity report required upon project completion.
  • Grant awards will be decided by Creating Whole Communities leadership advisory team grant review committee. 
  • Grant application considerations:
    • Project must be based in academic research 
    • Project must clearly fall within the CD focus of “Building Civic Capacity for Thriving Communities” and one or more of the 4 buckets of CD focus: Belonging, Contribution, Leadership, Vitality

APPLICATION

  1. Proposal Summary/Abstract Cover Page (Limited to 300 words)
    • Summarize the objectives and significance for which funding is sought.
  2. Proposal narrative (Limited to two double-spaced pages not including references, 12 pt. font). Please include the following:
    • Implementation plan and timeline
    • Team members
    • How does the proposed project use research to inform practice?
    • How does the proposed project support community development field building?
    • How does the project relate to the new CD focus of “Building Civic Capacity for Thriving Communities” and the sub categories of Belonging, Contribution, Leadership and Vitality?
    • If building off of an existing MU Extension project, how will funds strengthen and scale what works?
    • How are you collaborating with MU Extension or MU System partners?
  3. Budget (itemized budget on page 3). Examples of acceptable expenses include:
    • Translation/Interpretation support
    • Graduate Assistant Support
    • External Evaluation Support
    • Travel
    • Food for a partnership summit
    • Graphic Design
    • Video production
    • Participant scholarships/stipends
    • Faculty time

Not acceptable Expenses:
Ongoing program costs

BUDGET 

Salaries, wages, and benefits

Include the dollar amount, justification and details for any of the following in a line item budget:

  • Faculty
  • Partner Faculty Support
  • Research Assistants
  • Other

Non-salary project support

Include the dollar amount, justification and details for any of the following in a line item budget:

  • Travel
  • Contractual
  • Supplies
  • Partner/participant compensation
  • Equipment
  • Other 

Total grant request $ __________     

Submit a PDF copy of the application and budget to Tasnim Haq: tfhktb@umsl.edu.