ONGOING CONNECTIONS GRANT
Investing in valuable connections
We offer funding renewals to teams that:
- Are active members of the SHIFT Learning Community;
- Require additional support to continue advancing their previously funded project and building their capacity for systemic change;
- Work closely with Concordia on their community-based project or are in the process of developing meaningful partnerships.
Program overview
The Ongoing Connections Grant (OCG) is a fund dedicated exclusively to active members of the Learning Community who have previously received funding from SHIFT. Through the OCG, we recognize the long-term nature of most social change projects and commit to maintaining ongoing supportive relationships with the projects we fund. Our hope is that through sustained engagement we can continue to expand the socially transformative potential of this work while building additional beneficial connections between these projects and Concordia.
This program offers additional financial support, a grant of $5,000 or $10,000 annually, to project teams whose work continues to align with SHIFT’s values and priorities.
All eligible projects will be assessed through our participatory selection process and funding will be awarded to the projects that remain aligned with the selection criteria.
Eligibility requirements
Only projects previously funded by SHIFT and active members of the Learning Community are eligible to apply for the OCG.
In addition:
- Projects submitted for an OCG must be linked to the socially transformative project that previously received funding from SHIFT;
- Teams must be meaningfully collaborating with a Concordia unit, department or student group on their project or must be able to demonstrate that they are actively pursuing potential connections that are still in development;
- Teams must have completed the previous project for which they received SHIFT funding and accomplished all of the corresponding deliverables
- In exceptional circumstances, where unforeseeable factors prevent a team from completing their project with the resources they originally requested, teams can discuss with their SHIFT point person about the possibility of applying for additional funds to complete their original project.
- Project teams can receive a grant of $5,000 or $10,000 per application and per year.
Value exchange
Project commitments (What does SHIFT expect?)
In the spirit of collaboration and reciprocity, and in lieu of traditional reporting requirements, we ask the teams we support to contribute in-kind to the SHIFT community.
As an OCG recipient, your team commits to:
- Participate in at least one Learning Community event
- Share an output from your project that could be useful to other members of the SHIFT community
- Offer four hours of coaching or support to another SHIFT-funded project
- Make a presentation about your project, transferable learnings, and next steps at an event for the broader SHIFT community, upon invitation.
Application process
Recognizing that eligible projects have previously passed through a selection jury and have an ongoing relationship with SHIFT, the OCG application process prioritizes opportunities for learning and exchange among SHIFT community members.
To apply, teams submit a simple form, which will be complemented by input from their SHIFT point person. Applicants are then invited to join a live conversation with a jury composed of three to five individuals, including members of other SHIFT-funded projects.
Rather than being dense and formal, the application and selection processes are designed to generate opportunities for different projects to learn about each other’s work and to provide constructive feedback. While all applications are assessed for their ongoing alignment with the SHIFT selection criteria, they are not compared nor in competition with each other.
Applications for the OCG are received on a rolling basis throughout the year and are reviewed after each of the following cut-off dates:
- Sunday, October 30, 2022
- Sunday, April 23, 2023
To acknowledge the value of their time and investment in the SHIFT community through the OCG application process, unsuccessful applicants will receive an honorarium.
Support for applicants
To assist you in the application process, we encourage you to consult your SHIFT point person.
- Contact your SHIFT point person
- Book an appointment during our office hours: every Tuesday afternoon & Thursday morning
Calendar
Events
Notices
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March 22, 2023
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December 19, 2022
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October 20, 2022
