Requesting and Dispersing Money
What do I do if I don't know the exact amount of my expenses?
Do your best to give us an accurate budget and do not give us a range for your grant request (such as “$140-$160 dollars”); we will award you the lower value if you do. Round up your approximation -- it is better to overestimate your budget than underestimate.
If I don't use the maximum grant amount allowed, am I allowed to submit additional applications for other ventures?
Students may only apply for one leadership grant per semester, but are welcome to reapply in future semesters and/or seek alternative avenues of funding.
What goods or services can I not use a BLI Grant for?
We are unable to fund: Gifts/Gift Cards or Cash Payments, Political Campaign Activities, Staff Salaries, llegal Activities, For-Profit Activities, Charitable donations to organizations outside the University, Alcohol/Tobacco Products, and/or Religious Exercise.
- Equipment purchases require written confirmation of plan for storage/shared usage
- Projects requiring travel overseas must be registered with CGIS and secure travel insurance
- For more on the University's funding policies, contact the Center for Campus Involvement at 734-763-5900 or (uminvolvement@umich.edu)
- If you have any further questions about what constitutes a gift, email (BLIgrants@umich.edu)
How can I collect my grant reward?
Rewards can be received in two ways: 1) award through the Office of Financial Aid to your student account or 2) by shortcode for a relevant University of Michigan student organization (SOAS). No other alternative methods will be provided*.
- Awards processed through the University's financial aid system will be processed as REFUND ONLY
- Awards can only be distributed to current undergraduate students
* Applicants with extenuating financial aid packages will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis
Grants Process
What is the rolling submission process for BLI Grants?
Leadership Grants are continuously evaluated throughout the semester in the order that they are received. There is a set amount of funding available, so we recommend applying early in the cycle. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their grant within 10-15 business days of their submission.
When can I collect my grant reward?
If approved, you will receive your grant award an additional 5-10 business days after the initial notification of the status of your grant. Please contact us if you have not received your funding within 10 business days of the notification of your grant award.
I am in a time crunch - I applied for a Grant and because of deadlines I need to have the funds sooner than the grants will be processed. What do I do?
Email Shea Ankers (ankerss@umich.edu) and (BLIGrants@umich.edu) if you are looking for special accommodations for the processing of your grant.
Deliverables
I was awarded funding by the BLI! What is this final blog that is part of the grant process?
You must submit a final blog and pictures to the BLI staff within 10 days of your project’s completion.
There are no length parameters to this writing; the blog post should be an engaging recount of your experience executing your project. These blog posts will be uploaded to the BLI website underneath the Student Voices blog, so be sure to construct something that you would feel comfortable presenting to your peers! You can include the following: a summary of your project, how well it followed your original goals, how challenges were dealt with, newly developed leadership skills (using the BLI Habits as context), and any potential next-steps. You are also encouraged to include pictures and media to augment your writing.
Please submit via PDF attachment to: https://forms.gle/tWn8vakN1uu3cz2p9
What happens if I am awarded a Grant, but I do not write the required blog post on time?
Failure to write the required reflection/blog post will be noted and will affect your eligibility to apply for future BLI experiences and opportunities.
- Projects concluding after the end of the semester are still responsible for submitting a blog post
- Graduating seniors must submit their blog posts before graduation
Example Grant
Who can I speak with if I am new to grant writing have questions about how to write a grant application?
Here is an example of a grant to review and an outline of funding guidelines, please contact (BLIgrants@umich.edu) with all of your questions!