IDEA Grants Program:
Innovation, Diversity, Equity, and Achievement

Established by the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity, the University of Minnesota IDEA (Innovation, Diversity, Equity, and Achievement) Grants Program seeks to infuse equity and diversity into every aspect of the University’s work and operations by funding creative yet pragmatic proposals for projects that address issues of institutional equity and diversity.

View a list of recent IDEA Grants recipients and projects.

IDEA Grants Rationale

The process of re-imagining the University’s work on equity and diversity requires a willingness to develop and implement new ways of thinking and operating. While the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity embraces its leadership role in guiding the advancement of equity and diversity, this work cannot be accomplished by a single office. Instead, we must move forward together across University departments, units, colleges, and campuses. We also know that individual academic and administrative units have specific needs, concerns, strengths, and capabilities. To address these varying needs and concerns, the University IDEA Grants Program has been established to provide financial support for innovation and achievement in advancing equity and diversity.

IDEA Grants Criteria

IDEA Grants are designed to support innovative and transformative projects, programming, events, and research that support underrepresented and marginalized students, faculty, staff, and communities. A potential IDEA Grants project should have as its outcome:

• creating a positive and inclusive institutional climate, and/or
• addressing student access, development, and success, and/or
• improving faculty and staff diversity, retention, and advancement, and/or
• supporting curricular transformation and pedagogical change

Individuals and units who are considering projects for IDEA Grants application should view their projects with the following questions in mind:

1. What institutional need or gap regarding equity and diversity does the project address?
2. How does this initiative support the University’s strategic positioning goals?
3. What are the project objectives? What is the time frame for achieving the objectives and how will objectives be achieved within the time frame and funds available?
4. How does this project differ from (or creatively build upon) existing programs or initiatives?
5. How will the project encourage collaboration across offices and units?
6. Has the applicant committed matching funds or in-kind contributions toward the project? What other funds are being sought to fund the project?

IDEA Grants Eligibility, Funding, and Reporting

All academic and administrative units across the University’s campuses are eligible to apply for IDEA Grants. Offices, units and programs within the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity are not eligible. Grant awards will depend upon the scope and breadth of the project, but will typically range from $1,000–$5,000.

Funded projects must begin within 60 days of award notification. Upon project completion, awardees must submit a summary report evaluating the project’s outcomes, including project benefits and recommended improvements. This report is to be submitted to the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity within 60 days of the project’s conclusion.

Application Procedures and Timeline

IDEA Grants applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the calendar year, with application review and selection occuring once per quarter by the the IDEA Grants Selection Committee. The quarterly deadlines for applications are December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30. The selection committee will notify applicants of their status within 45 days of the close of each funding cycle.

A completed IDEA Grants application includes the following materials:

1. IDEA Grants Application (available for download as a Word document or a PDF)
2. A project proposal, which specifically addresses the six questions listed above in no more than 1000 words
3. A letter of support from the unit/department head(s) from all units involved in the proposed project

Applicants may submit materials either electronically to Naomi Farabee at fara0020@umn.edu, or by campus mail to the IDEA Grants Selection Committee, Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity, 432 Morrill Hall, mail code 0264.

For More Information

Contact the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity at 612-624-0594 or oed@umn.edu if you need further assistance or information about the IDEA Grants program.