MindSET Grant

Background

The MindSET grant was established in 2009 by the Executive Council to provide awards to chapters to develop their MindSET programs. The maximum grant will be $1,000. If multiple chapters propose a joint project, the maximum grant will be $1,000/chapter. There is no limit to the number of grants that a chapter is awarded during the year, so do not feel pressured to apply for a year’s worth of grant money immediately.

Requirements

Note that this grant is specifically for the chapter’s proposed K-12 MindSET program. Projects that primarily benefit the chapter’s college or university are ineligible. Proposals for grants should be judged by the National Management Committee using the guidelines below and forwarded to the Executive Council for approval:

• 1. Establishment of a MindSET Chapter Implementation Team (CIT).

  2. Consistency of project emphasis with MindSET goals and objectives, including service to society, with a focus on increasing knowledge related to engineering and the STEM disciplines.

  3. Measurable impact of the project on the local K-12 community is an important factor.

  4. Involvement of a reasonable portion of the active membership of the chapter in the project.

Written proposals must include:

• • A description of the project, brief school district information, service it will provide, and other pertinent background information.

  • An outline of previous activity by the chapter in this area, if any.

  • Mathematics and engineering learning goals of each student activity module. (These goals should be synchronized with the K12 students’ curriculum.)

  • Duration, activities, and time schedule of the project.

  • An itemized budget request. (This is very important and must be as specific as possible!) Separate one-time/reusable costs, large supply (e.g. getting a large box of popsicle sticks useful for multiple events), and non-reusable/recurring costs.

  • The approximate number of members participating, the name of the person to be responsible as project director, and the name of a TBP local contact who will assist with meeting MindSET requirements.

  • Number and grade levels of students to be impacted by the project.

Proposals should be as concise as possible in meeting these requirements. The chapter president must sign the proposal. If the proposal is for the following school year, the incoming president must also sign it. The presidents of all chapters must sign proposals for joint projects. A chapter may submit more than one proposal. There is no particular deadline for the receipt of proposals.

Please note that the MindSET National Management Committee may be contacted for assistance in developing your MindSET draft proposal.

Download the Grant Request Form to apply.

Grant Review

Chapters submitting proposals will be notified no later than two weeks after a decision by the Executive Council. Grant payments will be made for individual or group projects to chapters on a schedule appropriate to the project budget.

MindSET Status Reports

Each chapter receiving a grant should prepare a final report on its completed project within one month of completion, but no more than one year after receiving the grant. The report should be submitted to the National Management Committee and describe the project work accomplished and account for use of the grant. Engineering modules designed as a part of this grant must comply with design and formatting guidelines provided by MindSET, and must be submitted for review and inclusion in the MindSET Module Bank. In addition, chapters are required to submit photographs of MindSET activities with their reports.

Contact Information

Management Hierarchy

Chapters: Please contact your local RMC before contacting the NMC.

• • National Management Committee (NMC): TBPMindSET@tbp.org

    • • Coordinator (HQ): Dylan Lane, 1–800-Tau-Beta, Dylan@tbp.org

  • Regional Management Committee (RMC) — contact first

    • • Northeast region (Districts 1, 2, 3, 7): TBPMindSETR1@tbp.org

      • South Central region (Districts 4, 5, 6, 8): TBPMindSETR2@tbp.org

      • Central region (Districts 9, 10, 11, 13): TBPMindSETR3@tbp.org

      • Western region (Districts 12, 14, 15, 16): TBPMindSETR4@tbp.org

Sample MindSET Grants

The following successful Grant Request Forms and Proposals have been edited to remove names and contact information.

• • NH-A

    • • Grant Request Form and Proposal

  • MI-G

    • • Grant Request Form

      • Grant Proposal