2023-24 IR Micro-Grant Program Guidelines

The MI-ACE Women’s Network has long valued the role of the IRs in promoting the mission of the Network at their institutions. Key responsibilities of the IR role include:

• Enlist the support of other women at your institution by assessing needs and facilitating institutional professional development programming that represents the mission of the MI-ACE Women’s Network.
• Establish and/or collaborate with other campus programs/activities focusing on women.
• Educate women at your institution about the Network’s mission and major initiatives.

The Network also realizes that time and financial resources are major challenges for IRs to fulfill their roles. Acknowledging the financial challenge, the MI-ACE Executive Board has again approved a $2,000 micro-grant fund in FY 2023-24 to encourage IRs to hold campus-based programs/activities/events that support the mission of MI-ACE and their role as IRs. Micro-grant awards will range from $250-$500 and are to be used exclusively during 2023-24 (July 2022-June 2024).

MI-ACE Women’s Network Mission
In concert with the American Council on Education’s (ACE’s) Office of Inclusive Excellence Group, the Michigan ACE Women’s Network is committed to improving the general climate and professional environment for women by identifying, developing the leadership of, encouraging, advancing, linking/networking, and supporting women in higher education throughout the state.
 

Application Guidelines

• Proposal must be campus-based and support the mission of MI-ACE (above) and Role of IR.
• The primary target audience of the application must be women faculty and staff at your institution.
• Must be a current paid member of MI-ACE in order to submit application and receive award.
• If applicant has applied and received grants before:
  • A maximum of two awards may be approved for one institution within 5 years.
  • Grants are for new or expanded activities: not for subsidizing regular ongoing activities.
  • If requesting funds for a second time, must demonstrate how the scope of the project is different from the first grant approved or is a substantial expansion of the first project.
  • All requirements were met for the first grant received.
• Exclusion: Scholarships for MI-ACE Senior-Level Leadership Shadow Program and ACE women’s leadership forums (Go to Professional Development page on MI-ACE website for more information).
• Complete the application form.
• Attach program/activity/event budget.
• Application deadline: Friday, November 10, 2023.

The deadline has passed for the 2023-24 applications. 

Required Follow-up Grant Award Report

To ensure accountability as well as feedback from IRs regarding use and amount of funds, a follow-up report is requested within 30 days after conclusion of the program/activity/event including:

• Results of program/activity/event evaluation conducted by IRs, including attendance, whether goals were met, what worked and what didn’t work.
• Expense report including receipts
• Whether grant funds (and matching funds if provided), were sufficient to cover expenses and achieve objectives.

Failure to file a report within 45 days after the conclusion of the funded program/activity/event will result in the award recipients’ ineligibility to receive additional IR micro-grant funding for the following two years.

2019-20 MI-ACE Micro-Grant Recipients

Congratulations to the Institutional Representatives and their college for receiving 2019-20 IR Micro-Grant Awards.

• Oakland University – Half a day in the life of another: a journey of discovery; IRs: Claudia Petrescu and Anita Hicks
• Wayne State University – Wayne Women LEAD: Next Level Career Conversations;  IRs: Christine Jackson and Kathryn Wrench
• University of Michigan - Flint – MI-ACE Women's Network: Building Community through Mentorship and Sponsorship; IRs: Sandy Alberto and Sade Wilson
• Mott Community College – Women's Empowerment Luncheon: MCC Women own the Conversation - Be Empowered, Encouraged, and Inspired; IRs: Sounya Walker and Theresa Stevens-Lock