COMBS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grassroots Fund Scheme

Opportunities to Apply

• Round 1 (June- August): $4,000 available. (Apply for $500, $1,000, or $2,000).

  • Applications close Friday 31st July, with winners announced late August.

• Round 2 (November- December): $4,000 available. (Apply for $500, $1,000, or $2,000).

  • Applications close early November; winners announced early  December.

• Rolling Round: $2,000 set aside for smaller, immediate needs throughout the year.

Elgibility

 To apply, you must be a current COMBS member and submit a 1-page application (max 600 words).

• Current COMBS member.

• Minimum of 3 COMBS members named as involved in the initiative.

Selection Criteria: 

• Describe the proposed initiative (what it is, who it's for, what the money will be used for).

• Describe how members in the centre are likely to engage with this initiative.

• Outline how the initiative will align with the COMBS EDI Principles and/or COMBS EDI strategic plan objectives (see COMBS Strategic Plan pg 26). 

Successful applicants will:

1. Provide a summary of the benefit to fellow COMBS members and outline what the benefit was. 

2. Be willing to provide feedback and learnings from the initiative (successful or unsuccessful).

3. Be willing to help COMBS turn your project into a success story for the Annual Report (depending on the initiative).

Assessment:

Eligibility Pre-Screen (Pass/Fail)

Before scoring, does the application meet the minimum criteria?

• Applicant is a current COMBS member? (Yes/No)

• Minimum of 3 COMBS members are named/involved? (Yes/No)

• Application on 1 page  (~600 words)? (Yes/No)

Grant applications will be reviewed and assessed by the EDI Committee inline with the COMBS Internal Grants policy.

Examples of initiatives that could be funded under the scheme

These are some examples to prompt applications:

- Casual staff support to generate a white paper for a women's research network action plan (e.g. fund to produce a lobbying / advocacy document) 

- Pride or women’s network formation (e.g. resources to forming a support network)

- Enabling a presentation/seminar / workshop on mental health in research spaces ( e.g. payment to the presenter to enable us to hear their different stories/perspectives)

- Funding to support sharing important cultural celebrations with the COMBS community (e.g. Lunar New Year, Diwali, an Iftar, Rosh Hashanah, Nowruz) 

- Funding to bring an underrepresented group together for sponsorship

- Many more!

Tips for writing the application

• Plan for measuring/capturing the success of the initiative early!

If you have questions, please contact Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Ruth Waterman (ruth.waterman@rmit.edu.au).