The Diversity Challenge Grant
The Diversity Challenge Grant is funded by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The goal of the grant program is to enhance diversity efforts on the part of all campus constituencies.
The Diversity Challenge Grant is administered by a selection committee chaired by the Reginald C. Wells Graduate Fellow for Multicultural Affairs. The committee awards monthly mini-grants of up to $500 for each selected program. All student clubs, organizations, and University departments are encouraged to apply for this grant.
Grant applications can be obtained in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Suite 222 Student Activities Center. For additional information, please contact Nadege K. Waithe, Reginald C. Wells Graduate Fellow for Multicultural Affairs, at 632-7320 or by e-mail: nwaithe@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.
Click here to download a grant application.
"Multiculturalism is the mastery of knowledge and skills to feel comfortable and to communicate effectively with people of any culture and in any cross-cultural situation." (Frederick Jefferson, Jr., 1989). Diversity refers to all differences among any characteristic or attribute that differentiates or make a distinction between a people. Examples include: race/ethnicity, gender, age, language, physical characteristics, disability, sexual orientation, economic status, parental status, education, geographic origin, profession, lifestyle, religion, position in the hierarchy, and any other difference.
The Diversity Challenge Grant is based on the University’s mission to further promote diversity and cross-cultural learning within our unique campus setting.
Program Goal: The Diversity Challenge Grant was developed to promote cross-cultural exchange among the campus community; including students, faculty and staff at all levels. Its purpose is also to build interaction among diverse groups through creative and collaborative programming.
Program Scope: To provide mini-grants of up to $500 each month to assist groups in sponsoring innovative programs that promote diversity, and build positive and effective relationships among all campus students, faculty, and staff within the community we live.
Program Funding: The Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs contributes funding in the form of mini-grants. Grant applications will be reviewed and awarded by a Grant Selection Committee comprised of Student Life and Academic Affairs representatives, and student leaders. All programs must be in accordance with the University's equal opportunity policies before funding will be approved.
Selection Criteria: The following criteria will be used to determine the program(s) selected for grant support:
The program supports and promotes multiculturalism at Stony Brook by providing opportunities for participants to increased their knowledge and skills so that they feel comfortable and can to communicate effectively with people of different cultures and in any cross-cultural situation.
Proposed programs must be co-sponsored by a minimum of three different groups, of which two must be student organizations recognized by the Department of Student Union and Activities). The two student organizations must also be of culturally different backgrounds, which may include special interest groups related to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
The program must actively involve each group in all phases of the event planning process from conception to implementation.
All events must be open to the entire campus community (students, staff/administration and faculty).
Consideration will be given to programs that demonstrate successful in the following areas:
Timeline for program implementation
Budget development
Publicity & promotions plan
The program did not receive grant funding during the previous academic year.
Program Evaluation: All recipients of the Diversity Challenge Grant must submit a post-event evaluation of the program to the Grants Selection Committee. A Program Evaluation Form will be provided.
Applying for the Diversity Challenge Grant
A schedule of the application deadlines to apply for the grant and a list of last year’s award recipients is below. Funding support for any one program is up to $500. Due to the increased number of applications and the competitive nature of the award selection process, consideration will only be given to program proposals that did not receive funding in the previous academic year.
Please review the timetable below for the submission and award of the grant funds for 2007-2008 academic year. The grant application material should be reviewed carefully. Applications for funding must be received in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Suite 222 Student Activities Center, by the deadline noted in order to be considered for funding.
Grant applications can be obtained in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Should you have questions or concerns, please contact Nadege K. Waithe, Reginald C. Wells Graduate Fellow for Multicultural Affairs, at 632-9967 or nwaithe@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.
Program Date |
Application Deadline |
Response to Application |
October 2007 |
Monday, 09/24/2007 |
Friday, 09/28/2007 |
November 2007 |
Monday, 10/22/2007 |
Friday, 10/26/2007 |
December 2007/January 2008 |
Monday, 11/12/2007 |
Friday, 11/16/2007 |
March 2008 |
Monday, 02/18/2008 |
Friday, 02/22/2008 |
April 2008 |
Monday, 03/24/2008 |
Friday, 03/28/2008 |
* All applications are due no later than 12 Noon on the deadline dates set above. Late applications will not be considered.
Grant Writing Workshops
The Grant Selection Committee offers a workshop in Grant Writing that is designed to assist applicants in preparing their submissions. The workshop will be held from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the UNITI Cultural Center located in Suite 135 of the Stony Brook Union (First Floor) three times during the academic year:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Wednesday, February 18, 2008
Applicants should choose one of these dates to attend a workshop. To register, please contact Nadege K. Waithe at 632-7320 or send an email to: nwaithe@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.
2006-2007 Diversity Challenge Grant Awarded Programs:
6th Annual Festival of Lights – An intercultural program about the major religious celebrations during the Holiday Season, including Chanukah, Christmas, Ramadan & Eid-ul-Fitr, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Rohatsu, and Bodhi Day.
New Perspectives featuring guest speaker Carl Safina– A program to raise awareness and educate the campus community about eco-feminism, environmental racism, social injustice and global warming.
“El Enemigo Comun” featuring guest speaker Simon Sedillo – A speech presentation on the current non-violent resistance of the people in Oxaca, Mexico and the work of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oxaca (APPO) in creating an alternate community to violence.
Journey Around the World: 3rd Annual Multicultural Show & Food Tasting – A multicultural program about Stony Brook’s rich diversity expressed through speech presentations, dance, fashion, song, and a multi-ethnic food tasting.
Annual LASO Banquet – Hosted by the Latin American Students Organization (LASO), this program supported their Adopt-A-Family Program and featured Latin American through food, performances, and various speakers.
1st Annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Informational Symposium – A symposium featuring guest speaker and AIDS survivor Rae Lewis-Thornton, presented to increase awareness, participation, and support for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment among African Americans.
Grant Writing Tips
Assess your needs. Determine what kind of grant you are applying for, and make sure your program fits the criteria of the particular grant.
Find out when the grant application is due. Be sure to have your application IN ON TIME. All applications are due on their due date by 12 Noon. There are no exceptions. Early applications are welcomed.
Design a funding plan and identify the kinds of funds you need.
Assign research and writing tasks.
Develop a draft of the funding request for critique and review (the review can be done by members involved with the planning of the program, or your faculty advisor). The purpose is to catch any mistakes, misspellings, missing information, typing errors, etc.
Be sure to follow the directions and read the criteria carefully; even after the critiqued review for one last check.
Polish your document to a high luster. Make sure your application is neat, legible, and easy to read.
Submit your request and hope for the best.
Follow up with funders and team members.
Source: Browning, B. 2001. Grant Writing for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc.