Past Grant Winners
Resources
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Service-Learning Manual by ILS Advisory Board Curriculum of Service subcommittee
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Michigan SL Course Design Workbook We also have eleven copies of this excellent resource in the Institute office.
Ford Community Corps Partnership
The Institute for Leadership and Service seeks bold and creative ways to use the many resources of University of Detroit 
Mercy to serve our community. The Ford Motor Company Fund has provided financial support to assist the Institute in fostering the strategic partnerships, which form the centerpiece of this new program.
Objectives
The primary goal of this program is to support faculty and students interested in developing a service-learning project to meet the needs of an agency or target population in metropolitan Detroit. The objectives of the program are to:
- Enhance student leadership skills development through practical experiences of serving those in need.
- Broaden students’ classroom learning through direct community engagement.
- Improve the capacity of community-based, human service organizations by creating partnerships between these organizations, Ford Motor Company Fund and Detroit Mercy.
- Increase the students’ awareness of service opportunities in the community and Ford Motor Company Fund’s commitment to community engagement.
- Assist faculty in identifying and using best practices in service learning.
Grant Information
- Financial support is available for faculty who plan to teach a community engage learning course in Winter or Fall Terms of 2024. Check out the awards and requirements below.
- See section entitled "How to Apply" below.
- The proposal will be evaluated by the FCCP oversight committee of the Institute. Please contact theinstitute@udmercy.edu if you have further questions.
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How to Apply
If you are interested in the Ford Community Corps Partnerships, please review the steps outlined below:
- Form your project idea. The Institute, in partnership with Ford, is interested in supporting project proposals that will be implemented during a Community Engaged Learning course. More specifically, we want to support projects in which the students in those courses apply the knowledge gained in that course to help a nonprofit organization. If you are interested and would like assistance of any kind (eg: suggestions for potential nonprofit or community partners, or help specifying deliverables, etc,) just let us know. The Institute staff has identified a list of potential agencies and is happy to assist interested faculty and student leaders develop your proposal in anyway that would be helpful.
2. Review the Evaluation Criteria.
3. Submit a Proposal for Funding for Projects in 2024
- Please contact us via email at hipskijt@udmercy.edu to let us know if you are interested. That way we can keep you up to date with any development regarding the application process.
- Send a one-paragraph narrative explanation of the project, highlighting its goals, impact, and relevance to our community. Additionally, include a proposed budget for the successful execution of the project and identify the course with which the project will be associated.
- Email these to theinstitute@udmercy.edu.
- Rolling Deadlines
- First deadline December 13, 2023 - 11:59pm. We will only consider proposals for projects that take place in the Winter Term of 2024 in the first round.
- Second deadline January 9, 2024 - 11:59pm. Priority will be given to funding Winter 2024 projects. We expect there will be sufficient funding remaining to also consider project planned for Fall 2024.
- If funds remain, we will have another review later in the semester.
- If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Director of Community Engaged Learning at hipskijt@udmercy.edu
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Funding Restrictions
- Funding has to go for expenses and materials that are of use for this project only - not for equipment that will be used well beyond the semester project.
- Projects do not have to employ a student leader, and if they do, the student need not have taken LEAD 4000 as was required for FCCP Explorer grants, however, it is highly recommended that student either have taken LEAD 4000 or takes it concurrently with the project. Email hipskijt@udmercy.edu to obtain a list of students who have taken the prerequisite (LEAD 2000.)
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Examples of Possible Funding
- Funds for materials for presentations, or interactive exercises used in projects, or kits given out as a part of the project. (typical range $100-$500)
- Food for gatherings that are a part of engagement activities in the project. (Typical range $100-$300)
- Printing and copying of materials that will be used in the project. ($10-$200)
- Funding can be used to hire a student leader. FCCP norm is $15/hr for up to $1500 per semester for coordinating the project.
NOTE: The student leader is typically not be enrolled in the community engaged learning course in which the proposal is implemented; rather they usually serve as a teaching assistant and/or project coordinator. Ideally the student leader will have been previously enrolled in the course, or at have some familiarity with the course material.