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Impact Awards

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The purpose of the Nina B. Hollis Research Impact Award (NBHRIA) is to provide seed funding to support research that expands the boundaries of education. The NBHRIA encourages innovative approaches to addressing barriers faced by affected populations in our society to improve their educational outcomes. Proposals may address such areas as academic progress, social/personal growth, school culture and climate, and teacher/leader enhancement.​

NBHRIA seed funding is intended to lead to external funding for the continued advancement of the project goals. NBHRIA funding may support pilot or initial research projects that will be advanced through external funding or research projects that inform innovation development, the implementation and evaluation of which will be funded through external funding.​

 

NBHRIA provides three types of grant funding:

Impact Grant Awards are considered seed funding and are intended to lead to external funding for the continued advancement of the project goals. Proposed projects may vary in scope, with larger-scale projects funded at a maximum level of $10,000 per fiscal year, renewable annually for up to three years total funding, and small-scale projects funded annually at a maximum of $1,500, renewable for up to two years total funding.

Planning Grant Awards in the amount of $1,000 for principal investigators to develop and create a prospectus for new projects to be submitted for Impact Grant funding. The new projects would be competitive for the Nina B. Hollis Research Impact Award (NBHRIA).  Applicants who are awarded a planning grant will receive $250 at the time of the award. The remaining $750 will be awarded if the full NBHRIA is approved for funding in May. 

Mini-Grants Awards provide funding for small-scale projects that support the mission of the Institute. Mini-grant funding (up to $1,500, annually for up to two years) may be used to support special projects that support learning for all students.

Grant awardees are required to submit renewal applications annually. ​

NBHRIA Impact Grant Awards funding may support 

  1.  Pilot or initial research projects that will be advanced through external funding, or
  2. Research projects that inform innovation development, the implementation and evaluation of which will be funded through external funding.

The Principal Investigator must be a Stetson University faculty member. Proposed projects may include co-investigators from Stetson University and/or other higher education institutions or partner organizations. Collaborative projects that are interdisciplinary are highly encouraged.

2024-2025 Impact Grant Awards Funding Cycle

  • Calls for Proposals: October 2023
  • Application Due: March 11, 2024
  • Award Notification: May 1, 2024
  • Funding Cycle: July 1, 2024 thru June 30, 2025
  • Progress Reports: January 15, 2025 and May 15, 2025

Apply

  • November 12, 2023 – Deadline for Planning Grant Applications (See next page)
  • December 1, 2023 – Planning Grant Selection Notification
  • Successful applicants (whose grant applications are accepted) will, at this time, be awarded $250. These individuals will be expected to develop a full proposal for the NBHRIA.
  • March 11, 2024 – Completed proposals due for NBHIER Committee review.
  • May 1, 2024 – Research Impact Award (NBHRIA) Selection Notification
  • All applicants will be notified as to whether their NBHRIA project was selected for funding.
  • Planning Grant applicants will receive the remainder of their grant award ($750) if their completed grant is successfully approved for funding.
  • Funding Cycle: July 1, 2024, thru June 30, 2025

  1. Project goals
  2. Project background and significance, including how the proposed research fits with the Hollis Institute mission and NBHRIA purpose
  3. Project description and implementation plan (timeline)
  4. Project evaluation plan (with specific metrics)
  5. Expected project outcomes and anticipated next phases
  6. Job description for any hired support. Job description writing resource available
  7. IRB Certification (required for at least one PI prior to funding being awarded)
  8. Detailed budget
  9. Project Sustainability Plan
  10. Principal Investigator and research team members, including titles and departmental affiliations, and description of what each person will accomplish, including specific details on how he/she is critical to the project
  11. Append the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Principal Investigator; the CV for Co-Investigator(s) is optional

The maximum proposal length is five pages excluding the cover sheet and any tables and figures (including legends). Number pages consecutively at the bottom right of each page. Include the name of the Principal Investigator at the top right of each page.

The Nina B. Hollis Institute Executive Committee and Steering Committee will review proposals. The Nina B. Hollis Institute Steering Committee includes four Stetson University faculty each from a different department across various schools and colleges, the Director of the Nina B. Hollis Institute, and the Chair of the Stetson University Department of Education.

Because the review committee is not asked to provide extensive written feedback on the applications, detailed reviewer responses will not be provided.