Future Maker Strategy Grants

The Future Maker Strategy Grants offer opportunities for Lehigh Department Chairs, Program Directors, and Center and Institute Directors (up to $20K one time funds), and Lehigh community members (up to $10K one time funds), to receive grants that support projects aligned with the goals or initiatives of the Inspiring the Future Makers strategic plan.  Review of submissions for both programs will begin on December 10th and will be supported with a funding date of January 2024. Funds should be spent within the 2024 calendar year and are not intended to be renewable.

Chairs and Directors Future Maker Grants (read more and apply through InfoReady)

Campus Community Future Maker Grants (read more and apply through InfoReady)

Chairs and Directors Future Maker Grants

As part of Lehigh’s strategic plan “Inspiring the Future Makers” we are providing opportunities for Lehigh Department Chairs, Program Directors and Center and Institute Directors to receive grants of up to $20,000 (one time) to support projects that align with the goals or initiatives of the strategic plan. Collaborations across two or more units (departments, centers, programs) may request support of up to $30,000. We expect that three to five projects will be supported with a funding date of January 2024. Funds should be spent within the 2024 calendar year and are not intended to be renewable. 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the likelihood that the project would significantly advance a goal or initiative of the university strategic plan. While projects in any area related to the strategic plan will be considered, projects in specific areas will be given preference. These areas include:

• Investing to expand graduate or professional program enrollments.

• Supporting student retention and/or closing gaps in retention (by race/ethnicity, family income, first generation status, gender, etc.).

• Supporting faculty to revise courses or curriculum to incorporate LUDI principles.

Project proposals will be reviewed by the strategic plan initiative leads who will recommend projects to the Provost for funding. Deans will be consulted by the Provost during the review. Evaluation criteria will include:

• Is the goal of the project well aligned with the university strategic plan?

• Is the scale and scope of the project feasible given the resources provided?

• Will the broad impact of the project be long-lasting?

• If successful, could the approach be implemented by other departments/programs/centers?

• Is the department or center committing available resources to this effort? 

To apply, chairs and directors should submit a document of no more than two pages that includes:

1. A description of individuals/departments/centers/offices involved in the project.

2. A statement indicating what initiative or goal of the strategic plan the project is designed to advance.

3. A description of what actions are proposed and how the requested funding would be used. 

4. A statement indicating why these actions cannot be taken without the requested support. 

5. A description of what would constitute success of the project. 

6. A timeline. 

7. An itemized budget.

The submission is rolling; we will begin reviewing applications on December 10th. Unless the proposer requests otherwise, proposals may be made public after the reviews are completed. 

Campus Community Future Maker Grants

As part of Lehigh’s strategic plan “Inspiring the Future Makers” we are providing opportunities for members of the Lehigh community to receive grants of up to $10,000 (one time) to support projects that align with the goals or initiatives of the strategic plan. We expect that five to ten projects will be supported with a funding date of January 2024. Funds should be spent within the 2024 calendar year and are not intended to be renewable. 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the likelihood that the project would significantly advance one or more goals or initiatives of the university strategic plan. While projects in any area related to the strategic plan will be considered, projects in specific areas will be given priority. These areas include:

• Supporting student retention and/or closing gaps in retention (by race/ethnicity, family income, first generation status, gender).

• Improving a specific administrative process or function that affects many members of the Lehigh community.

• Improving access to data, analysis or information that improves decision making.

• Enhancing utilization of the mountaintop campus.

Project proposals will be reviewed by the strategic plan initiative leads who will recommend projects to the Provost for funding. Deans and/or relevant VPs will be consulted by the Provost during the review. Evaluation criteria will include:

• Is the goal of the project well aligned with the university strategic plan?

• Is the scale and scope of the project feasible given the resources provided?

• Will the broad impact of the project be long-lasting?

To apply, faculty, staff or students should submit a document of not more than one page that includes:

1. A description of individuals/departments/centers/offices involved in the project.

2. A statement indicating what initiative or goal of the strategic plan the project is designed to advance.

3. A description of what actions are proposed and how the requested funding would be used. 

4. A statement indicating what could constitute success of the project. 

5. A timeline.

6. An itemized budget.

The submission is rolling; we will begin reviewing applications on December 10th. Unless the proposer requests otherwise, proposals may be made public after the reviews are completed.