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Northern Illinois
University Foundation
2007 Venture Grants
Background
The Northern Illinois University Foundation’s mission is to increase private support to advance excellence at the University. One of the many avenues open to the Foundation in achieving this goal is the Grants Program. This program represents the longest-standing, continuous activity of the Foundation -- to support faculty in their pursuit of excellence in research, teaching, and outreach to the larger community. The stature of the university as a whole rests on these pursuits.
Rationale
At its inception, the Foundation’s Grants Program was one of a very few sources of funding for faculty. However, the university now has a number of grant programs each with a distinct focus that complement the Foundation’s efforts. At this juncture in its own development, the Foundation seeks to define more clearly the identity of its grant making. In order to use its modest grant funds to best advantage, the Foundation should not duplicate other available university grants. Moreover, linking the Foundation grants program more closely to the strategic goals of the Foundation inevitably strengthens the stature of the university as a whole.
Guidelines
Since the budget for the Grants Program derives solely from private funds, it seems appropriate that these funds should be seen as a venture fund, an investment in the imagination, intellect, and dedication of NIU’s faculty and students. Therefore, the Foundation will use these funds to support activities that might not be funded in other ways. It will support projects that are innovative, that are interdisciplinary, and that require collaboration within the university and community outreach. It will support projects that are, in other words, venturesome—in increasing awareness of NIU’s stature/image in research, teaching, learning and outreach. Special attention will be given to projects that are sustainable and may have the ability to attract private gifts to further build the proposed initiative.
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Important Features
| One kind of grant |
Venture Grants are the only grants program offered by
the NIU Foundation |
| Single Grant Cycle |
Venture Grants proposals are received once each year with proposals due to the NIU Foundation Office on Feburary 2, 2007
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| Range of Funding: |
Grants will range from a minimum of $5000 to a maximum of $20,000, for a total of $55,000 |
| Priorities: |
Innovation, including effective/imaginative use of new technology; interdisciplinary focus, collaboration, community outreach, sustainability, image enhancement and donor appeal |
| Some Restrictions |
Venture Grants will not support faculty/staff salary or benefits; curriculum development, basic day-to-day operational expenses; costs for capital projects such as space renovation etc., or basic infrastructure. |
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