Application Process

The Application Process

Complete the online application form. 

In addition to basic applicant information, the application form requires responses to the questions outlined below. The review process is competitive and funding decisions are final.

Proposal questions

• Notable recent accomplishments
  Without including your name, list your five most recent scholarly or creative accomplishments. List actual (not pending) accomplishments. Remove your name from all citations. If this project reflects a significant change in the direction of your research relative to these accomplishments, please describe the change. Limited to 250 words.

• Proposal goals and context
  A summary of your proposal's goals and context for a lay audience. Limited to 250 words.

• Keywords
  Up to five keywords applicable to the proposal.

• Details on how any previously awarded Imagine Fund awards have been used
  Limited to 250 words. Special note for previous recipients: After submitting your application, you will automatically be asked to upload documentation or links representing the work supported by the most recent award. This may be in the form that best represents the nature of your work: documents, images, links to video or audio, public announcements, reviews, etc. (This documentation is required by the Imagine Fund. It will not be reviewed by the committee as part of your application for this award cycle).

• Total budget requested and detailed budget
  Budgets must list all funds (external and internal) available and all expenses. Include justification or rationale for any budget items where need is not self-evident. If including travel in your budget, be specific and use the University per-diem rate. Limited to 500 words.

• Details on any additional sources of funding that have been committed, such as grants-in-aid, start-up funds, faculty development or research funds, etc.
  Limited to 250 words.

• Project time frame
  Is this a project that anticipates additional funding in future years? A proposal should include plans to use the current funds and further the project without relying on subsequent awards from the Imagine Fund. Limited to 250 words.

Note: If applicants have more than $5,000 in research funds available to them to cover these expenses, the Imagine Fund will give their applications a lower priority. Support for work to be supported by the annual $5,000 awards must not be similarly supported by University of Minnesota (not including Imagine Fund grants) or external funds.

Tips for crafting a strong proposal

Crafting a strong proposal is a key step in winning an Imagine Fund Annual Award. The Imagine Fund Advisory Committee will review many proposals, most of which involve research outside each committee member’s area of expertise. Here are a few tips to help you craft a proposal so that it can be evaluated quickly, accurately, and fairly.

1. Be sure to write for a non-specialist. Keep your application’s purpose clear and simple.

2. Your budget matters. Be sure you have thought through all your budget items. The budget should be detailed and realistic. Include justification or rationale for any budget items where need is not self-evident. Explain how they relate to the proposed project. If including travel in your budget, be specific and use the University per diem rate.

3. Do not include your name or links to sources that clearly identify you in the body of your proposal. (Titles of publications, however, are appropriate.)

4. Be both innovative and consistent with the aims of the Imagine Fund. Keep in mind that the Imagine Fund supports arts, design, and the humanities. So, if your project relies on methods that are quantitative, ethnographic, or experimental, be sure to specify how the project furthers work in the arts, design, and humanities.

5. Examples can be found here.

Helpful hints

• Given the length limitations for each question, it may help to prepare your answers in advance of visiting the application page. Your prepared responses may be copied and pasted into the application form. The Google form will save your response and allow you to return to the application.

• Applications must be submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the published deadline date.

• For questions, contact the Dean's Office at ummvcaa@morris.umn.edu.