Rutgers Health-IDEA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy Innovation Grants

DEADLINE: MAY 23, 2025

The mission of the Rutgers Health-IDEA innovation grants is to support action-oriented projects that promote an inclusive, diverse, and cohesive culture at Rutgers Health and that show meaningful and measurable results. As we invest in broader institutional efforts to advance an inclusive culture, the Rutgers Health -IDEA grants offer a way for innovative grassroots efforts to join in our larger strategy. We invite projects that encourage conversations and connections across our differences to create opportunities for belonging and to strengthen a sense of community.

The goals of the Rutgers Health-IDEA innovation grant program are:

1. To fund research and scholarly activities that seek innovative approaches to diversity, equity, advocacy, and inclusion.
2. To promote the development of initiatives and programs that foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for the success of the larger Rutgers Health community.

Grant submissions should align with the Rutgers beloved community and build upon Rutgers Health strategic priorities, which impact the communities we serve.

Project topics may include:

• Climate, culture, and Community building
• Access, advocacy, and equity
• Training, learning, and development
• Systems, policies, and processes

Highest consideration will be given to projects that:

• Involve collaboration (across units, communities, and/or by faculty/staff/learner/unit makeup)
• Promote cross-campus, intergroup, and partnership approaches to support community-building.
• Have the potential for a significant impact (e.g., sustainable, replicable, and/or far-reaching)
• Include outcomes that are impactful, meaningful, clearly outlined, and measurable.

Eligibility and Timeline

Faculty, students, trainees, and staff across Rutgers Health are eligible to apply.  RH student organizations, departments, and staff units are also encouraged to apply. Grants will range from $1,000 to $10,000.  We expect to select up to 3-5 grants within the $1,000-2,500 range, 1-2 grants in the $2,500-$5,000 range, and 1 grant in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Funds are considered one-time funds and must be used by the end of the fiscal year in which they are disbursed. Awardees may reapply for subsequent funding cycles if they can demonstrate how it will significantly evolve and further the project.

• Proposal submission opening: April 17, 2025
• Proposal submission deadline: May 23, 2025
• Notification of Awardees: July 2025
• Distribution of Funds: August 2025
• Final Presentation Due: March 2025

Grant awardee requirements:

Applications must be completed online to be considered. Letters of support are not required but may be included if they significantly enhance the application. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.

As a condition of receiving the grant funds, awardees are required to assist in sharing their experience with the Rutgers Health community, for example, through Rutger Health newsletters, publications, and/or websites. Awardees are also expected to attend the Rutgers Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium to present their findings and complete a standardized final report submitted by the deadline to the Office of Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion – Limit to 1000 words and include:

1. Program goals and objectives: What was the need? How was the identified need addressed, and how effective was the project?
2. Project evaluation, outcomes, and impact: Describe how the project’s effectiveness and its success were determined and evaluated.
3. Sustainability: How will the program continue? Describe future plans to continue, extend, or modify this program.
4. Appendices:
   1. List any publications about the project through presentations, articles, press releases or other products created, such as websites, course materials or modules etc.
   2. Final budget: Financial record to include all direct expenditures and receipts.

Grants should not be used to fund:

• Activities that take place entirely off-campus and have no obvious benefit to the Rutgers Health community.
• Previous expenditures, personnel expenses such as salaries, personal expenses

To apply, please complete the online application here.