Instructions

To be considered, proposals must be completed in full and submitted using the online application form. Proposals must include the following information, within the space limits described on the online form.

• Applicant name, Cornell ID number, NetID and email address
• Applicant graduation year, college/school, majors(s), minors(s)
• Statement of financial hardship, if applicable
• Project title and start/end dates
• Community partner name, contact person, email, website and location
• Links to relevant the local (e.g., city, county) public health department for applicant and community partner. These will be different if the student and partner are in different locations.
• If applicable, a description of how this project is supporting Black, Indigenous and/or marginalized communities. What is the background/context of the public issue the project is addressing in this community?
• Description of the project and how it meets the community-engaged learning criteria
  • What issue of public concern the project addresses
  • How the applicant found out about the community need
  • How the project advances the applicant’s current personal, academic and career background and goals
• Explanation of how applicant will evaluate the impact and success of the project (i.e., the achievement of objectives specified with the community partner)
• If relevant, description of how this project is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and how applicant plans to mitigate disease transmission risk (e.g., maintaining social distancing, working online only).
• Budget and justification of all expense requests
• A list of any scholarships, grants or other financial resources the applicant has received or applied for that would supplement the costs of the project
• Either a (a) Community Benefits Agreement signed by both the applicant and the community partner or (b) one letter of support from the community partner. This is a strict requirement.

Selection Criteria

Engaged Ambassadors and Einhorn Center staff review and evaluate grant applications using the following criteria:

1. Quality of project, including feasibility, ability of project to meet community-engaged learning criteria, potential for sustainability of the partnership, potential for student learning and potential for positive community impact.
2. Potential for the applicant to develop in civic engagement, defined as the ability to connect academic study to social responsibility, public purpose, democracy and civic life within diverse communities and cultures
3. Potential for the applicant to develop in ethical practice, defined as the practice of examining and communicating independently the connection between one’s actions and beliefs and the well-being of communities and society
4. Potential for the applicant to develop skills in critical reflection, defined as the practice of describing, analyzing, interpreting and articulating your community-engaged learning experience in the context of “serving in place”