IFYC Innovation Grant Application: Building Professional Capacity for Interfaith Engagement

Thank you for your interest in IFYC’s Interfaith Innovation Grants. 

Overview of Building Professional Capacity Interfaith Innovation Grant 
IFYC is offering Building Professional Capacity Grants in the amount of $4,000 to support a select set of campuses as they design initiatives to build capacity for interfaith engagement among faculty and staff. IFYC has identified 9 Leadership Practices critical to developing a campus culture of religious pluralism, among which is staff and faculty capacity (the ability to constructively and competently engage religious diversity and encourage interfaith cooperation on campus). For more information about the Leadership Practices, please see this article in AACU's Liberal Education. 

Application Process:
Campuses will apply for grant funding to support the launch of an initiative that builds professional capacity to engage religious diversity on campus among a large subset of faculty and staff. We encourage campuses to propose initiatives that fit their campus context and align with their existing priorities (current strategic plans, divisional goals, etc.)

Staff and Faculty Capacity Grant applications are due May 15, 2017. Grants will be awarded in July 2017 and grant funds must be spent between August 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Required Materials:
​A completed online application, including uploaded copies of:

• A list of project stakeholders
• A letter from a relevant senior administrator at the institution acknowledging support for the development of this initiative and its ongoing efforts into the future
• The project's budget (itemized) 

A completed Campus Interfaith Inventory is also required  (to be completed via a separate unique campus link; if you have not received your institution's link by March 10, 2017, please contact meganl@ifyc.org).

In the selection process, preference will be given to campuses that:

• Deliberately target a wide audience of professionals for capacity building efforts
• Propose creative ways to advance the Leadership Practices; particularly initiatives that could be adapted to other campus environments
• Include a variety of key stakeholders from diverse areas across campus in the project development and implementation
• Demonstrate achievable, innovative ways to increase long-term commitment to interfaith cooperation within the institution
• Include concrete mechanisms to ensure sustainability beyond the granting term 

Please note that grants are not intended to fund the following:

• Travel (both domestic and international)
• Conference attendance or registration
• The cost of bringing an IFYC staff member to campus through IFYC’s Campus Engagement program
• Infrastructure or furniture

IFYC staff members are available for consultation and feedback during the development of your application. Please contact Megan Lane at meganl@ifyc.org with any questions or to provide feedback on your ideas/materials.