By Paige Auxier—
All projects that contribute to progress and innovation start as mere seedlings of ideas that can only transform from buds to blossoming realities with the assistance of creativity, ingenuity, and passion on the part of those who first conceptualized them. Beyond this, though, plans and projects often require outward assistance in the form of labor, supplies, and funding to be carried out to their fullest potential, and such resources tend to be difficult to come by, especially for busy students and faculty who have other expenses and responsibilities to attend to.
Luckily, for those part of the Miami University community—whether one is a staff member, department head, organization leader, or individual student—seeking funds to support their ideas for research, projects, or programs, applications for funding are available through the MIAMI Women’s Giving Circle grant program.
The Miami Initiative for Advancing, Mentoring, and Investing in Women, or MIAMI Women, is a university-wide program that aims to support and create opportunities for women in the university’s community. As part of this program, the MIAMI Women’s Giving Circle, a collective group of university alumni, staff, faculty, and friends, gives an annual donation of $1,000, which funds the grant program that supports MIAMI Women’s aforementioned goals by supporting new and existing programs and projects relevant to women on campus.
Grants valued from $2,500 to $20,000 are awarded to chosen applicants following the application and decision-making process. Applications must include the title of the project, the requested amount of funding, the project’s details, metrics used to gauge its success, and the project’s budget. A template for how to format this application can be found on the FAQ page of the grant program’s website. Applicants can also upload a video, up to two minutes in length, that explains why their program is worthy of funding. After applying, the Grants Committee reviews each of the applications and chooses which applicants will move forward as finalists. Those chosen then participate in the Hawk Tank event, which tends to happen at some point in May, during which they give a live three-minute pitch of their program to the MIAMI Women’s Giving Circle members, who then vote on and announce who will be awarded funding.
Grants can and have been awarded to all kinds of projects, programs, and research. However, no funds will be given to projects that aim to generate income for personal or private businesses. Funds are also typically granted to projects that are relevant and impactful to a wide range of Miami community members, including students. According to their website, eligible expenses to be funded by grant rewards include programming, speaker fees, supplies, student workers, and food costs, so long as they don’t require the use of more than 15% of the total grant.
The application period for this upcoming year has yet to be announced; however, interested parties should be on the lookout for specific details on Miami University’s main website. It’s likely, based on past years, that the deadline will fall near the end of February. So, for any member of the Miami University community with a blossoming idea for a new project or program that they think will have a positive impact on the Miami community, you’ll soon have a chance to make your ideas a reality.