Student leaders, below you will find the details of this program, tips for developing and pitching an idea, and how to apply.
THE PLAN: Your group can receive grants for the fall semester to invest in areas of content creation, audience engagement, and/or revenue generation. In the spring, the Student Media Board approved up to $4,000 per semester for this program. Your idea, if chosen, could garner up to $1,000 to support the launch of your innovative solution. Here are some more details:
• One grant is designated for in-depth or investigative journalism ideas.
• One grant is designated for ideas that involve diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Collaboration is highly encouraged. This can be among Student Media Partners or it can be with other student organizations or groups. The majority of the outcome has to benefit your group or Student Media.
• Not all grant applications will be awarded. The maximum award per Media Partner, per semester, is $1,000. If you need more funding, you’ll have to show other possible funding sources. Collaborative ideas that involve two or more Media Partners may receive more funding (for example, if two Student Media groups pitch a collaborative idea, they could be eligible for up to $2,000).
• Grantees MUST submit a written report by the end of the semester summarizing how the funds were used and the outcomes of the effort. Failure to do so could hurt the group’s future chances at funding.
• A three-person committee will review the grant applications and have final say over the awards.
TO APPLY: Fill out this Google form.
DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS: 11:59 p.m. Jan. 22, 2023
AWARDS ANNOUNCED: by Jan. 30, 2023
Tips on developing an idea and writing the grant:
LAUNCHNET KENT has a some great resources. Check them out.
STEP ONE: Identify an opportunity
Some people call these problems or challenges. For us, these are opportunities to build, improve, invent, and innovate. Look around Student Media in the areas of content creation, audience engagement, revenue generation and/or collaboration. This could be focused on your specific area or span across multiple (or all) media partners. PRO TIP: Stay focused and remember that these ideas can be focused solutions to small problems or opportunities.
STEP TWO: Develop a solution
Work alone or collaborate in teams to develop an idea to solve this problem. Brainstorm, discuss, research, blue sky. PRO TIP: Find collaborators who are not involved in Student Media but who might be media consumers or might be involved in entrepreneurship, business, art, or other disciplines.
STEP THREE: Build the idea and pitch
Look at the grant form. Be clear about your idea, don’t worry about getting too deep into the weeds. Focus on the idea, the audience, the budget needed to get this idea off the ground.
STEP FOUR: Edit your proposal
Edit, edit, edit. Show your idea to a couple of people who haven’t heard this yet. Let them give you feedback. This will improve your pitch. Give it to somebody to make sure you grammar and style are clean and consistent. You don’t want to be overlooked because of sloppy writing. PRO TIP: Read your grant proposal backward, from last line to first line. This will help you focus on just the grammar, not the larger ideas.
STEP FIVE: Submit your grant application
Don’t forget this part! You have until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 22, 2023 to submit your pitch. No changes to submitted applications will be accepted after the deadline.