BreakingGround Grant Application

The BreakingGround initiative awards grants of up to $2,500 to UMBC faculty, staff, and students to implement educational and community-building courses and programs that foster civic agency: the capacity to initiate and make meaningful contributions to social change.

CRITERIA
This application must be connected to a UMBC office, department or recognized student organization. Proposals should reflect BreakingGround values and help to position participants make meaningful contributions to the campus and/or surrounding community.

IF YOUR PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTED YOU MUST AGREE TO:

Cooperate with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life to create assessments and photographic and/or video records of your project, as well as written reflections/blog posts.
Manage funds strategically and appropriately to support the work you propose.
Complete a BreakingGround Grant evaluation report.

PROPOSAL DEADLINES
Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.

HELP WITH DEVELOPING YOUR PROPOSAL
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is available to help applicants at all stages of their proposal writing process. The Center can help applicants with brainstorming (for those who are early in their planning process) and refining proposal drafts. If you are interested in getting further support, please email the Center at civiclife@umbc.edu.

APPLICATION REVIEW
Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff will be in touch with you to discuss your status and the next steps in the grant selection process.

QUESTIONS?
Please contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu.

What title would you like to give your grant application?

Does your grant involve or connect with an academic course?

Yes
No

What is the course number and title?

If the course number is not available, please share what level the course is and how it relates to the department's curriculum.

How much funding are you requesting?

Provide the main applicant's first and last name.

Provide the main applicant's email address.

Provide the main applicant's campus role.

Faculty
Staff
Undergraduate Student
Graduate Student

Provide the first and last names, email addresses, and campus roles of any additional applicants.

What is your department/organization name?

The department/organization that will receive and manage the awarded funds. If you are not affiliated with a department/organization, please respond to this question with "N/A," and complete the remainder of this form. Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff will be in touch with you.

What is your department/organization chartstring number?

If you are allocated a grant, the funds will be transferred to this chartstring number. If you do not know your chartstring number, enter a "I don't know" in this field and Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff will be in touch with you.

If applicable, what is the PC Bus Unit associated with this request?

If you do not know the PC Bus Unit or do not know whether there is a PC Bus Unit, enter "I don't know" in this field and Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff will be in touch with you.

If applicable, what is the Activity Code associated with this request?

If you do not know the Activity Code or do not know whether there is an Activity Code, enter "I don't know" in this field and Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff will be in touch with you.

Provide a brief description that highlights your goals.
If you are applying to build on a previous BreakingGround grant, please briefly describe what the original grant was and how this new grant will support new aspects or elements of the work. A version of this description will be posted on the Center for Democracy and Civic Life website if you are awarded grant funds.

Describe how your grant will develop some or all of the civic capacities listed here.

How will you assess progress toward your expected outcomes?

Check all sites where participants will be working.

UMBC Main Campus
UMBC Shady Grove Campus
Off-Campus

Provide an off-campus site name and address/neighborhood.

Over what period of time will you implement the course or project?

How did you determine the need for this course/project and who will benefit?

Will students be involved in your project?

Yes
No

In what capacity will students be involved in your project?

How will you encourage participants to remain involved with the topic of your project or course?

Describe how participants will reflect on their experiences. Please share any questions, activities, or assignments you are planning to use.

How will UMBC participants and community partners be involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the course/project?

Please download, complete, and upload the following budget form: Budget Form.

If you are selected for the BreakingGround grant, we will promote your course/project on the Center for Democracy and Civic Life website. How else do you plan to share/promote your work to UMBC and/or the surrounding community?

If applicable, list any websites or publications that you will be using to promote your course/project.

If you have an additional document you wish to submit with your proposal, please upload it here.