Strengthening Communities Initiative | Frequently Asked Questions | Memphis Grants

1. What is the difference between a small grant and a capacity building grant?

a. Small grants of $2,500 are awarded to community/neighborhood organizations only. Faculty do not apply for these grants. SCI Small Grants are for one-time neighborhood development projects that may result in initiation of projects eligible for the larger SCI Capacity Building grants.

b. Capacity Building grants of up to $18,000 are awarded to collaboration efforts between community organizations with valid 501c3 status and tenure-track faculty members for neighborhood based initiatives in one of six areas: economic development, education, health, housing, transportation, or safety. Funds will be divided between the faculty and organization with only up to $6,250 going toward faculty efforts.

2. Do I need a partner to apply for a small grant?

a. No. Community organizations do not need a faculty partner for small grants.

b. Faculty can not apply for small grants.

3. How do I find a partner to apply for capacity building grants?

a. Community Organizations:

i. Submit an Interest form online or at an Interest Meeting. If a match is evident, the Strengthening Communities team will try to connect you but the proactive matchmaking efforts outlined below are strongly encouraged.

ii. When you register for an Interest Meeting or Matchmaking event, mark the box for your information to be shared with potential grant partners. Lists will be distributed at the meetings and to all attendees after the final fall meeting as well. SEE THE FULL CALENDAR OF MEETINGS HERE

iii. Review faculty resumes (CVs) on the University of Memphis website in departments that are relevant for your project needs and contact the department or instructor via their listed contact information in order to see if they would be interested in collaborating for grant applications or service-learning projects.

1. Spamming faculty members and/or departments for interest is NOT an appropriate way to find a partner and is frowned upon. Please only contact faculty members or departments with similar research interests to your project needs.

2. A good place to start is to search majors and departments for programs that offer subjects relevant to your project. Click through from the list to the major of interest and then browse the faculty to carefully select those you contact based on their area of research, courses taught, etc.

a. Click here for a list of undergraduate programs.

b. Click here for a list of graduate programs.

b. Faculty:

i. Submit the Interest form online or at an Interest Meeting. If a match is evident, the Strengthening Communities team will try to connect you but this should not be the only way you seek a match. Proactive matchmaking efforts are outlined below and are strongly encouraged.

ii. Provide authorization for Strengthening Communities team to provide your contact information to interested community organizations when you RSVP for events or email us at strengthencommunities@memphis.edu

4. Can I apply for a grant if I did not attend an interest meeting?

a. No.

b. If you are applying for a small grant, at least one representative of your organization must attend one of the three interest meetings.

c. If you are applying for a capacity building grant, a representative from the community group AND the faculty partner must both attend at least one Interest Meeting (although they do not need to be at the same meeting).

5. If only one of the partners applying for a capacity building grant have attended an Interest Meeting, can we apply?

a. A special Interest Meeting might be scheduled for those in this situation but should not be anticipated. Contact SCI staff at strengthencommunities@memphis.edu to let us know if you are in this situation.

b. It is best to find partners early to avoid this situation.

6. Does Strengthening Communities fund the same types of capacity building projects that have been funded in the past?

a. Strengthening Communities prefers to fund innovative projects that are not mirror images of previously funded projects from earl

ier grant rounds. To review previously funded projects, click here.

b. You may still apply for a capacity building grant for a project similar to one that has been previously funded, however.

7. If I already received a Strengthening Communities grant, when can I reapply?

1. UM faculty partners are eligible to receive one faculty research grant during a five year period. For example, if you received a Faculty Research Grant (FRG) award or Strengthening Communities grant award for July 1, 2006 or later, you are not eligible for this grant round. As such, faculty members may only be listed on one proposal submission for any grant round.
2. Community organizations may not hold more than one Strengthening Communities award at one time. For example, if your organization received a Strengthening Communities grant award for 2011, then your organization is not eligible for the 2012 grant round.

8. How do I submit my grant application?

a. Review the RFP for small and/or capacity building grants and determine which you are prepared to apply for.

b. Once you begin the application online, you will have two weeks to finish it before it is purged from the system.

c. Official applications must be submitted online by noon, January 30, 2012.

9. When will I know if I have been selected to receive a grant?

Funding decisions will be made by the Strengthening Communities Grant Review Committee, made up of representatives from CFGM, UWMS and the UM. All applicants will be notified of the Committee’s funding decisions via email.

What are the best ways to keep up with SCI workshops, matchmaking events and deadlines?

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