This grant is available to faculty and staff researchers from schools and colleges that are not yet participating in the Engaged College Initiative. Therefore, single applicants from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning; College of Human Ecology; Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; and School of Industrial and Labor Relations are not eligible for this grant and should apply for community-engaged learning funding directly through their college. However, applicants from existing Engaged Colleges may apply when in collaboration with individuals from another college (e.g. ILR/CAS, CALS/JCB, etc. joint proposals).

Proposals with single principal investigators may be submitted by active researchers and scholars, including faculty of any rank, academic staff and researchers and scholars appointed in centers, institutes, programs, extension divisions, museums and laboratories at Cornell. Applicants with or without established community-engaged research or scholarship experience in their field of study are eligible.

Applications that involve multiple researchers/scholars, junior faculty participants and collaboration across units and disciplines are strongly encouraged.

There are two categories of Engaged Research Grants that support community-engaged research programs: 

1. Seed grants ($5,000 maximum over 1 year, non-renewable) – used to build relationships, knowledge and mutually beneficial plans that lay the groundwork for community-engaged research programs.
2. Project grants ($30,000 maximum over 2 years, non-renewable) – used to expand, deepen, assess or improve existing community-engaged research programs toward richer integration, better sustainability and deeper impact.

A common path of funding would be to apply for a Seed grant to start a new community-engaged research program and, if it shows promise, subsequently apply for a Project grant to expand the same program.   

An Engaged Research Grant can support the following expenses. All applicable costs must be described with a strong rationale and justification in the grant application.

Undergraduate student support:

• Travel, meals and lodging associated with research conducted off campus;
• Direct costs incurred by students while conducting research;
• Participation in conferences, workshops;
• Costs of publication;
• Systems that support the student research experience (software, enrollment in online training, etc.);
• Applicants must specify how they intend to structure the participation of undergraduate students, for example a) independent study/research for credit, b) honors theses c) volunteering, or d) paid student employment with/without federal work-study support;
• While this mechanism prioritizes the involvement of undergraduates, the inclusion of graduate students in a mentorship or supervisory role may be appropriate. Funding to support graduate student involvement will be considered with proper justification.

Research and/or staff support:

• Partial salary coverage for non-T/non-TT faculty or researchers involved in student mentorship and partner collaborations;
• Functions that are essential to the operation and execution of the proposed research opportunities.

Community partner support:

• Expenses incurred by community partners that are directly related to their participation in the research experience and that support community partner capacity to effectively partner in and maximize the benefit of community-engaged research.

The following expenses cannot be funded by an Engaged Research Grant:

• Overhead and indirect costs (IDC);
• Tuition;
• Salary for T/TT faculty team members;
• Post-graduation wages or travel costs for students;
• External consultant fees or salary for consultants;
• Capital projects;
• Equipment over $5,000 (refer to Appendix B in the University’s Capital Assets policy), unless properly justified as being critical to the sustainability of the research.

Any funds remaining at the end of the approved grant period will be returned to the Einhorn Center. Grants are not renewable. For Project grants, one no-cost extension with justification will be considered under exceptional circumstances. To be considered, Project grantees must consult with the Einhorn Center at least one month before their funding period is completed.

1. For both grant categories, participating undergraduates will join at least one student-focused training to receive guidance on community-engaged research methodologies, principles and practices, and they will present their findings in a public forum.
2. Project grant recipients must submit a progress report by the 11th month of the funding period, prior to a progress consultation with the Einhorn Center.
3. For both grant categories, a final report will be due one month after the funding period is completed.
4. Annual progress reports for Project grants and final reports for both grant categories will:
   • be submitted online using the provided reporting template; 
   • describe the student experience, including how they met proposed learning goals; how community partners contributed to the student research experience; and findings from student evaluations;
   • describe the community partner experience, including how the achievement of the research benefited the community partner; and community partner feedback on their experience with the community-engaged research program and this partnership;
   • summarize how the funding supported scholarly publications, success with other grant applications, reports that incorporate student contributions and community impact, and presentations made by students supported by the program. Provide links, electronic copies and digital images when applicable; 
   • provide financial reporting.
5. For Project grants, one no-cost extension with justification will be considered under exceptional circumstances. To be considered, grantees must consult with the Einhorn Center at least one month before their funding period is completed.