国产原创

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T.H.R.I.V.E Grant

The T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant supports innovative, community-driven projects led by, and in support of, students听that strengthen connection, collaboration, and belonging across 国产原创.

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Overview

By providing seed funding for initiatives led by, and in support of, students, the T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant helps our community explore new ideas, build meaningful partnerships, and create positive, lasting change at 国产原创 and beyond.

Through this initiative, Student Affairs Belonging and Communities invests in ideas that help ideas 鈥� and people 鈥� thrive, including those that:听

  • Foster dialogue across differences;听
  • Advance opportunities, wellbeing, and access;听
  • Encourage creative, people-centered problem solving;听
  • Strengthen relationships within and beyond the university; and听
  • Inspire sustainable impact aligned with 国产原创鈥檚 mission and values.

Eligibility

Current 国产原创 students and registered student organizations are eligible to apply. All applicants must be 国产原创 students. Each project must include at least two (2) collaborators, and at least one collaborator must serve as the student applicant. Additional collaborators may include staff, faculty, or external community partners, but the project must be led and submitted by a 国产原创 student.

  • Who can apply
    • Current 国产原创 students and registered student organizations in good standing听
      • Faculty and staff can serve as collaborators or partners, but students (either individually or as registered student organizations) must lead and submit the proposal听
      • The partner (staff, faculty, or peer collaborator) must affirm their involvement to ensure appropriate support for the student team.听Community centers, academic departments, or campus partners can collaborate on shared projects.
      • If the project is being听submitted听on behalf of a registered student organization, or one or more of your collaborators is a registered student organization, or campus department, the applicant must听submit听letter(s) of support from organization advisors or unit leaders.听听听
  • Eligible projects include
    • Events or programs that build belonging and community听
    • Research, creative work, or scholarship that advances opportunity, access, and understanding听
    • Collaborative initiatives that strengthen relationships across disciplines or communities听
    • Projects that support wellbeing, mentorship, or connection听

Note:听Applicants must be 国产原创 students or registered student organizations and be able to complete projects within the designated funding cycle. Students or student organizations may collaborate with staff on their project; however, applicants听must听be students.

Funding Details

The T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant offers students seed funding of up to $5,000 per project to support innovative, student-led initiatives that embody 国产原创鈥檚听mission听and the听values听of Student Affairs Belonging and Communities.

Funding may be used for:听

  • Materials, supplies, rentals, or event logistics directly related to a program or initiative, including event catering, programmatic supplies, and space reservations听听
  • Modest stipends or honoraria for guest speakers or collaborators*听
  • Marketing, design, or communication needs*听
  • Professional services offered by university-approved vendors听
  • Research or creative production expenses听
  • Group event or experience tickets (not individual gifts)听听听听
  • Modest travel or partnership-related costs (as applicable)*听

*Expenses that may require special financial procedures听听

Funding may not be used for:听

  • Tuition or salary support
  • Political or partisan activity
  • Long-term operational expenses
  • Projects without a clear 国产原创 or community connection听
  • Direct sponsorship/co-sponsorship/subgranting/ regranting to organizations or individuals听听
  • Donations to charity/non-profit organizations听听
  • Staff and student salaries or other personnel expenses听听
  • Cash Reserves听听
  • Monthly or yearly software subscriptions听听
  • Gift Cards听听
  • Gifts/prizes to students or staff exceeding $70 in value
  • Individual or personal expenses听听
  • Professional development experiences听听
  • Organizational membership dues, or fees
  • Unapproved vendors听听听
  • Expenses for events that exclude populations听听听
  • Speaker expenses outside of honorarium (travel, accommodations, and other fees should be included in speaker fee, and booked by the speaker or their agent)听
  • Alcohol, tobacco products, or other drugs

Reporting requirements:听
Awardees will submit a brief final report summarizing outcomes, reflections, and impact on belonging and collaboration. This includes completion of the听required听expense reporting and project timeline using the听appropriate tools听provided by the review committee.

Focus Areas

Projects supported through the T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant should advance one or more of the following priorities:听

  • Connectedness:听Foster welcoming environments, build bridges across鈥痙ifferences and activate relationships to create meaningful, mutually beneficial experiences where students feel seen, supported and connected.
  • Mutual Respect:听Foster dialogue across differences, promote listening and curiosity, and honor the unique journey and perspective each student brings.
  • Collective Responsibility:听Extend accountability for creating a more welcoming, open campus by collectively removing barriers and expanding opportunities for all individuals and communities to thrive鈥痑t鈥�.鈥�
  • Care:听Center care, celebration and reflection as vital to a thriving student community.
  • Adaptive Growth:听Generate, teach and creatively express knowledge in ways that advance learning and community practice, while embracing change through reflection and continuous learning with our communities, in order to strengthen our systems, skills and shared practices for creativity, community-building, responsiveness and sustainable impact.

Application Process & Timeline

  1. Review eligibility and focus areas.
  2. Download the application materials and budget template.
  3. Prepare a brief (2鈥�3 page) proposal outlining goals, community impact, and timeline.
  4. Submit your proposal online by the deadline noted in the Application Form. Communications regarding funding decisions are outlined in the form.

Grantees will be听required听to听submit听a brief final report, describing outcomes and impact.听

Spring applications are currently closed.

FAQs

  • Who can apply for funding through the T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant?

    Current 国产原创 students and registered student organizations are eligible to apply. All applicants must be 国产原创 students. Each project must include at least two collaborators, and at least one collaborator must serve as the student applicant. Additional collaborators may include staff, faculty or community-based organizations, but the project must be led and submitted by a 国产原创 student.听

    If the project is being submitted on behalf of a registered student organization, or one or more of your collaborators is a registered student organization or campus department, the applicant must submit letter(s) of support from organization advisers or unit leaders.听听听

  • Can external community partners be involved?

    Yes. Projects that include external community partners are welcome as long as a 国产原创 student leads and submits the proposal and the project clearly benefits the 国产原创 community.

  • How much funding can I request?

    Each proposal may request a maximum of $5,000听for projects and听must spend their funding by the end of the term for which they have applied.听Proposals should include a simple, itemized budget outlining how funds will be used.听

  • What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?

    The T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant supports projects that advance belonging, collaboration, and innovation. Eligible projects may include:

    • Events or programs that build belonging and community
    • Research, creative work, or scholarship that advances opportunity, access, and understanding
    • Collaborative initiatives that strengthen relationships across disciplines or communities
    • Projects that support wellbeing, mentorship, dialogue across difference, or connection
  • What types of expenses can the funding cover?

    Funding may support supplies, materials, guest speakers, marketing, or event-related costs. It may not cover tuition, salaries, or political activities.

    (See 鈥淔unding Details鈥� above for the full list of eligible and ineligible expenses.)

  • When are applications due?

    Applications deadlines are available in the application form. Please view the deadline section of the application for key dates.

  • How are projects selected for funding?

    Proposals are reviewed by a committee based on:听

    • Innovation and feasibility听
    • Community engagement and potential for impact听
    • Alignment with 国产原创鈥檚 values of belonging and collaboration听
    • Clear, realistic goals and budget听
  • Can I apply if I鈥檝e received funding from another campus program?

    Yes, but projects must be distinct from those already funded and cannot duplicate funding requests. Applicants should note any additional support in their proposal.

  • When will I know if my project is funded?

    Award notifications will be sent by the grant review committee听following review of proposals.听

  • What happens after I receive funding?

    Awardees will be required to:听

    • Complete the听required听expense reporting and project timeline using the appropriate tools provided by the review committee.听
    • Complete their projects during the designated project period.听
    • Submit a听brief final report听describing outcomes and impact.听There are 4 types of documentation, and grantees will be required to submit听at least 2 out of the听4 types of documentation by the deadlines described in the grantmaking timeline. The 4 documentation types are:
      • Photos or video documentation:听This includes photos and videos taken听during听any and all听parts of the project.听Grant funds may be used to hire photographers or videographers.听听
      • Written听qualitative听assessment:听This听includes听written reviews听about the project from participants听or those who engaged in any听parts听of the project.听This can be feedback received via email,听text message, social media,听survey听responses听or other written media.听听
      • Verbal Qualitative Assessment:听This includes audio or visual听recorded听individual interviews听or focus groups听of participants or those who engaged in any听parts听of the project.听听
      • Quantitative Assessment:听This includes data that quantifies the impact of the project. This can include attendance data, or data collected via survey. (for example: a survey may ask participants to rate their sense of belonging after participating in the project).听听This can also include data collected using other techniques. (Example: a project that focuses on mentoring may quantify the number of times mentees connected with their mentors over the course of the semester or the total number of hours of mentorship mentors provided).听
  • Do I need prior grant experience to apply?

    No. The T.H.R.I.V.E. Grant听is designed to be accessible to all members of the 国产原创 community. Proposals are evaluated based on ideas, goals, and impact鈥攏ot听previous听grant-writing experience.听

  • Can I apply if I receive funding via other sources?

    T.H.R.I.V.E is open to all students and registered student organizations, and does not compete with any available funding from any other source for which students or student organizations are eligible.听

  • Do funds have to be used directly related to 国产原创's campus or community?

    Yes. 国产原创 must benefit from all T.H.R.I.V.E projects, which could be from the relationships, systems, and structures developed by a top-tier collaboration across multiple units/entities on campus.听

Questions? Email: THRIVE@vanderbilt.edu