Civic Engagement Research Fund

IPCE uses available funding to support research projects on civic engagement. The Institute works to enhance civic engagement through research, public discourse, and education while promoting the use of technology to improve government and advance democracy in the United States.

In particular IPCE is looking to support research that furthers understanding about effective strategies or tools that help:

Citizens better understand the policymaking process;
Citizens become more involved in policy debate or deliberation;
Government become more responsive to citizens;
Government, non profits, and civic institutions use technology to engage and connect citizens with government and/or improve service delivery;
Increase access to technology for populations that have disproportionately lower access than the public at large;
Community development efforts or local community change initiatives use civic engagement to enhance effectiveness or increase the overall impact of programs.

The application process for the Civic Engagement Research Fund Award is now closed.

Awards

Awards are set at a maximum of $20,000 each. Research projects must begin no later than September 1, 2012 and end by May 31, 2013. Researchers are required to submit an interim report, a final report, and commit to present on their work in a future IPCE research forum. Funds may be used for project costs such as the salaries of research assistants; the salaries of project-related staff; project related travel; and project supplies or equipment. No more than $3,000 may be used for equipment related to the project. All award funds must be spent by May 31, 2013. IPCE commitments are contingent upon FY2013 funding availability.

Eligibility

UIC faculty and research staff of centers, Institutes and programs are eligible to apply. Applicants must have pre-approval of their application via signature of their department head.

Criteria

IPCE is interested in strategies or tools for civic engagement that further knowledge and practice in the six areas of focus outlined above. Proposals must explicitly align research with at least one of the six topic areas identified above. In addition applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

relevance to the areas of focus and the mission of the Institute;
the likelihood that the researcher can complete the project prior to May 31, 2013;
the potential for the research to produce new knowledge about civic engagement theory or practice;
the potential for the project to generate practical knowledge or tools that enhance civic engagement in any way;
the involvement of community based organizations, civic groups, or government agencies as partners engaged directly in the project or as consumers/users of the research outcomes or tools; and
the extent to which the research engages UIC students (graduate or undergraduate) either as research assistants or as participants in the project.

The use of technology to enhance civic engagement is also a key focus of the Institute, but having a technology focus is not a necessary requirement for winning an award.

Civic Engagement Research Fund Application

MS Word Fillable Format / PDF Fillable Form Format

All applications must be submitted electronically via email to jhoereth@uic.edu by April 6, 2012. Awards will be announced by May 11, 2012. For fullest consideration, applications must be complete and include the signature of a department head or director if the application is from a research center/Institute.

Your submission email should include the following files as attachments:

Application form. (Below – Print and scan signed copy)
Summary statement of proposed project: 1 page.
Project description, including background, workplan, and expected outcomes or products: 5 pages maximum
Budget in EXCEL spreadsheet
Itemized budget justification: 1 page.
Information critical to evaluation of the proposal such as copies of survey instruments or letters from collaborators may be submitted.
Short vita and list of relevant publications and grants: no more than 2 pages.

Please do not exceed the allowable number of pages.