All IDEA grant applications are due no less than 30 days in advance of the start date of the proposed programs, initiatives, or activities. Applications must be submitted through the electronic application form below to be considered. All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

All proposals will be reviewed by members of the Inclusive Excellence Council every other week, and applicants will be notified by the Council with the status of the proposal (approval or denial), including any potential requests for additional information as needed. All projects that receive grant funding must be completed by the end of the fiscal year (June 30).

All awarded grant proposals may receive up to $2,500 in funding. Any funding requests beyond $2,500 require cost-sharing with another department or office. Funds can be used for one-time initiatives or as seed funding for new initiatives. Examples of such efforts may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Development of a community-wide training series to promote the development of cultural competence
• Launching a learning community focused on key topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Activities that promote community building and intergroup dialogue and engagement via collaborative approaches with internal and external partners (e.g. book club, speakers, artists, site visits, etc.)

When applying for an IDEA grant, applicants will be asked to outline an itemized budget for how the funds will be used along with any supporting documentation of additional funds from other departments or organizations on campus.

IDEA Grants may be used to fund the following (not an exclusive list):

• Stipends/honoraria for external speakers, consultants, or facilitators
• Relevant materials and services
• Entry fees for external site visits (e.g. museums, theaters, etc.)
• Food costs (up to 50% of funding may be used for this purpose)

IDEA Grants cannot be used to fund the following:

• Personnel costs (e.g., salary/hourly pay for current Bentley University employees or student workers)
• Non-business or non-educational expenses
• Specific professional development expenses (e.g., travel, meals, lodging, membership fees, publication costs, etc.)
• Prize giveaways (e.g. T-shirts, raffle items, etc.)
• Personal hardship
• Any additional funding above and beyond actual costs of programs or initiatives

Proposal applications must include the following information to be considered for review. For further consultation or if you have any questions, please contact Patrick Couillard Hale at phale@bentley.edu.

Part I: Basic Information

• Title of Program, Proposal or Initiative
• Lead Contact Person & Role on Campus
• Name(s) and Contact(s) of additional project member(s)
• Proposal Summary (up to 300 words)

Part II: Detailed Proposal

• What are the anticipated outcomes for the proposed project?
• What is your detailed timeline for planning, implementation and assessment of this project? Consider detailing the following components:
  • Planning logistics and timeline
  • Marketing, outreach and community buy-in
  • Post-activity evaluation (how will you measure the stated outcomes)
• What is the dollar amount you are requesting?
• Please submit a budget that indicates how the requested amount will be allocated and any additional funding sources that have been secured or will be sought after.

Part III: Goals & Criteria

• Reviewing the goals and criteria outlined, please describe how your proposed project, activity or initiative will meet the stated goals and criteria. Please limit this rationale to one page, single-spaced.