Leahy Institute of Rural Partnerships Grant Programs
What We Fund
- Regenerative Agriculture
- Community Schools
- Transit and Housing Solutions
- Remote and Co-Working Practices
- Resilient Energy Systems
- Healthy Ecosystems
- Access to Health Care in Rural Areas
- Policy and Governance
Organizations may apply for the following funding tiers to support partnership efforts:
- Capacity Grants (Up to $10,000) catalyze partnership and project development. This is the entry track for organizations who have a vision for positive rural impact but need support to develop a relationship with University of Vermont partners.
- Partnership Grants (Up to $250,000) fund research projects, stakeholder engagement initiatives, student internships and service-learning experiences, and business plan development for early-stage start-ups and non-profit businesses working to address rural challenges.
Who is Eligible
The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships accepts applications for partnership projects that involve a Community Partner and a University of Vermont partner.
- Community Partners include all organizations that work within the State of Vermont and who are working to impact Vermont’s rural communities. This includes non-profit and for-profit organizations and government entities.
- University of Vermont Partners include any entity at ̽̽ (professor, department, institute, etc.) that provides support or direction to a partnership project alongside a community Partner.
- Applications can be submitted by either partner (Community or ̽̽) and either partner may take the “lead” role in project outcomes and deliverables.
- Capacity Grant applications (see below) do not need a solidified partnership and are intended to catalyze partnership engagement.
How to Apply
̽̽ uses the Applicants will create a user ID and password and will be able to access the Leahy Institute application from the applicant homepage.
Prospective applicants will submit a short Letter of Intent (LOI) in which they will be asked to provide an overview of the project, the goals and outcomes of the endeavor, and the status of a partnership with ̽̽.
Grant Focus: The Whey Forward
In 2024, the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships announced its first round of grants. One of the recipients is Burlington Bio, which is partnering with ̽̽ and Cabot to develop a process that converts liquid byproducts from cheese and milk production into a nutritious food product.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| RFP Posted (LOI's open for submission) | June 24, 2024 |
| LOI submission deadline | September 13, 2024 |
| Invited proposals notified | October 15, 2024 |
| Proposals due | November 15, 2024 |
| Funding announced | December 18, 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to apply for a grant?
This grant is open to all organizations that work within the State of Vermont, and University of Vermont faculty and staff. We will accept applications from nonprofit and for-profit organizations, start-ups, local governments, and ̽̽-affiliated partners.
How do I know how much funding to request for the project?
The best practice for requesting funding is to request the amount that will promote the greatest impact while also considering the organization’s current capacity. Project sustainability past the Capacity/Partnership Grant’s one year period of performance is a major component of proposal evaluation, so it is important to consider what the immediate needs are but not promise too much that the project’s sustainability would come into question.
What project costs are eligible, and which are ineligible?
All costs directly associated with the project are eligible. This includes personnel time, including graduate student and postdoctoral research support, devoted to the funded project. Indirect costs of up to 1% are allowed on modified total direct costs. For questions on specific costs, please contact Daria Jarani, Program Manager at engage̽̽@uvm.edu.
I am a ̽̽ faculty/staff member. How can I communicate to my department my intent to apply for a Leahy Institute Grant?
For our applicants who are ̽̽ Faculty or Staff, please work with your Department Chair, SPA 2.0 representative, and/or Business Manager when considering applying for a Leahy Institute grant. Projects that will be administered by the ̽̽ Partner will need approval through ̽̽Click, as with other federal grants.
For questions on this process, please contact Daria Jarani, Program Manager at engage̽̽@uvm.edu.
What is the Leahy Institute Advisory Board?
The Leahy Institute Advisory Board was created to advise the Institute on its work and to help promote, review, and approve partnership opportunities that will provide nationally scalable economic development solutions.
Full list of board members and their affiliations
How will ̽̽ students be involved in approved partnerships?
The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships prioritizes the cultivation of reciprocal relationships among ̽̽ students and rural communities, in service to Vermont’s economy. Community partners can engage with ̽̽ students through (1) Participation in service-learning courses led by ̽̽ faculty, (2) creating internship positions, (3) micro-internships, (4) semester and summer internships, (5) year-long co-ops, and (6) participation in summer intern cohort workshops. For more information on Student Engagement at ̽̽, please contact Kristen Andrews, Internship Coordinator, at kandrews@uvm.edu.
How can my organization prepare materials for student engagement to include in our application?
Student engagement, including but not limited to internships and service learning, are an important piece of a successful application. If your organization is preparing to host an intern, or would like to get the process started, please include one of the following Student Engagement Attachments when preparing your final proposal:
- Internship job description with a named supervisor
- Service-Learning scope of work for students and an identified faculty instructor
- Micro-internship job description
- Research scope of work with faculty sponsor, and evidence of IRB initiation
What is service-learning, and how is it offered at ̽̽?
Each year, between 80 to 100 community-engaged service-learning courses are offered at ̽̽. Students apply their coursework in real-world settings, and in ways that address priorities identified by community partners. Faculty provide a structure for accountability to the project or service that benefits the community partners and helps students learn from their experience. For more information on Service Learning at ̽̽, please contact Susan Munkres, Director of the Office of Community-Engaged Learning at ̽̽, at smunkres@uvm.edu.
What are the reporting requirements for this grant program?
Funding recipients will be asked to complete two reports over the year-long period of performance: a 6-month report and a final closeout report. It is the Leahy Institute’s intent to keep reporting streamlined and we will attempt to reduce the burden on the awardee wherever we are able.
If I am denied funding for this cycle, what are my next steps?
If your partnership does not receive funding in this first cycle, there will be more opportunities to request support. The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships will host subsequent grant cycles over the coming years with different areas of focus. We will be publicizing future grant cycles in our Office of Engagement newsletter. to receive updates from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships directly to your email inbox.