Funding up to $1,000
Open to current Humanities Lab students
Extending impact and expanding reach
Applications close
March 5 (extended deadline)
Apply for a mini-grant
Are you a student who's currently enrolled in a Humanities Lab course? Apply for an Amplifier Student Mini-Grant from Seize the Moment at Arizona State University!
Amplifier Mini-Grants provide Humanities Lab students with up to $1,000 to increase their outcome's impact and reach by producing podcasts or videos, organizing public events, and more. Applying is easy. The deadline has been extended to March 5th.
To apply for a mini-grant, read the guidelines below. Once you've read the guidelines, work with your team to submit your application.
If you have any questions, you can read our FAQ, view past mini-grants, or contact Seize the Moment Initiative Coordinator Bri Noonan at blnoonan@asu.edu
Guidelines, funding, applications, and more
Guidelines
Amplify, v: gen. to make large; in space, amount, capacity, importance, or representation . . . to enlarge or extend in space or capacity . . . to augment in volume or amount . . . to increase the strength of (an electrical current, signal, etc) . . . (Oxford English Dictionary)
Amplifier Mini-Grants offer current students in the Humanities Lab up to $1,000 to advance their outcomes by deepening community engagement, extending impact, and expanding reach.
As part of the Seize the Moment initiative at Arizona State University, we're looking for outcomes that address an intersecting health, social, or environmental problem through a transdisciplinary collaboration that is based in the arts or humanities.
Within our larger commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, we also prioritize outcomes that serve or center marginalized communities, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
Past mini-grants
In the past, students have used Amplifier mini-grants to record podcasts exploring sustainable food systems, produce documentary films interviewing local chefs and professors about storytelling and food sovereignty, organize talks and panels deconstructing racial representations in video games, stage art performances and installations imagining corporations posing as local farmers, print informational brochures addressing hesitancy and barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine among immigrant communities, and more.
Amplifier mini-grants are made possible through Seize the Moment, an initiative of the Humanities Lab, ASU Leonardo, and the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. For more information, visit Seize the Moment's website at http://humanities.lab.asu.edu/seize-the-moment.
Funding
Funding for Amplifier Mini-Grants is intended to help students reach wider audiences, engage with the public, and produce media, documents, and other assets and materials that extend the lifespan of outcomes for longer-term, more sustainable impacts in the community.
Allowable expenses
Each student group can request up to $1,000 to support their outcome. While your budget will vary depending on your needs, examples of allowable expenses include:
- Consultants: Honoraria for speakers at public events, individuals appearing in podcasts or films, or other forms of consultant compensation for community members.
- Media production: Recording or editing services for podcasts, films, or other audio or video productions.
- Public events: Venue or equipment rentals, ASL interpretation, live-streaming, photography, or other costs associated with organizing events.
- Supplies and materials: Supplies and materials necessary for performances, installations, or projects.
- Printing: Posters, fliers, postcards, brochures, booklets, zines, or other costs associated with printed materials.
- Please note: if you are printing materials, you must use ASU Print Lab
- Other professional services: Graphic design, closed captioning, translations, or other professional services.
While the maximum request for any mini-grant is $1,000, we recommend between $250 and $500. That being said, you are welcome and encouraged to submit any request up the maximum. Submit the budget that works best for you.
Prohibited expenses
Amplifier mini-grants *cannot* be used for any of the following purchases:
- No equipment: No cameras, microphones, recorders, tables, chairs, or any other equipment.
- No licenses: No websites, softwares, licenses, or other recurring fees for access to digital platforms or applications.
- No food: No catering, prepared food, beverages, or bottled water
- No transportation: No reimbursement for driving, mileage, parking, gas or other forms of travel.
- No ASU Print Anywhere: No printing at the library through ASU Print Anywhere. You must use ASU Print Lab.
- No payments to classmates or individuals teaching the course: If considering paying anyone with ASU’s network who attends ASU, works for ASU, etc.consult Bri Noonan first at blnoonan@asu.edu.
If you are looking to borrow cameras, microphones, or other recording equipment, you can contact the ASU Makerspace in Hayden Library or Learning Support Services in the School of International Letters and Cultures. If you are looking to borrow tables, chairs, or other equipment for an event at ASU, we'll obtain the equipment for you. We'll also connect you with other resources and platforms depending on your needs.
Applying
To apply for a Seize the Moment Amplifier mini-grant, all you'll need to do is work with your team to answer a series of short questions about what your outcome is, what you would use funding for, and how it will serve the larger community. In 200 words or less for each response, your team will:
- Identify the problem: Identify a complex problem that intersects with health, environmental, and social issues
- Present your outcome: Describe how you are addressing the problem through an interdisciplinary collaboration that is based in the arts or humanities.
- Justify your funding: Provide a brief narrative that explains what you are requesting funding for and how it will amplify your outcome's impact.
- Provide a plan: Identify the concrete tasks you'll need to accomplish to make your project a success.
Generally speaking, you and your team should plan on spending between two and six hours to complete the application.
Additional materials
Besides answering the questions, you'll also need to provide:
- An itemized budget detailing your expenses
- Supporting documentation (such as links or quotes) for all expenses except honoraria
- Contact information for any speakers or other service providers (just names and email address)
- Additional information for events including dates, times, venues, and set-up
- Brief biographies for each member of your team
More information about creating a budget is provided in the next tab.
Budgets
To prepare your budget, use our budget template to provide an itemized list of all expenses in a spreadsheet.
If you are purchasing supplies, printing materials, or obtaining any kind of professional service, you must include some form of documentation (typically a link to a webpage or a quote). For consultants make sure to fill out the Consultant Request Form. Don't forget to include tax and shipping, and make sure you haven't included any prohibited expenses.
Please note: you cannot make any changes to your budget once you submit. All budgets should be finalized before you submit.
Budget reviews
We will be reviewing budgets for all applications. If your team is awarded funding we will meet with you for a brief meeting to confirm your budget for upload via Canvas.
To request additional assistance once your budget has been uploaded please contact Seize the Moment Initiative Coordinator Bri Noonan at blnoonan@asu.edu.
Submitting
Applications are accepted online through Question Pro, a cloud-based form and survey platform. While you should be able to save your progress in the form, we recommend that you prepare your application in a separate document to save a back-up and collaborate with your team. Then, you can copy and paste your responses into the form once you're ready to submit.
Please note: while you and your team will work together to complete the application, one student will need to submit the application on behalf of their team.
Word documents, fillable .pdfs, or printed forms are available upon request. Applications will not be accepted through other digital or physical channels barring accessibility.
Spring 2023 applications close March 5th.
Applications for mini-grants are about halfway through the semester:
- Fall: Oct 3
- Spring: Deadline has been extended to March 5th
Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application period has closed. No late applications will be accepted. If you have extenuating circumstances or need to request an extension, please contact Public Engagement Coordinator Bri Noonan at blnoonan@asu.edu.
Judged by committee
Applications will be evaluated by committee on the basis of their fit within the grant guidelines, the strength of their response to each question, and their representation in regard to the larger scholarly and creative field. Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision via email two weeks after the application period has closed. Please check your inbox accordingly.
Receiving the mini-grant
Student teams whose projects are selected to receive the mini-grant will work directly with the Humanities Lab to purchase materials and process transactions. Funding should be spent by the end of the semester. Once the semester is over, students may also be asked to complete a written narrative or participate in an interview reflecting on their experience (parts of which may be used for marketing, promotional, and development purposes).
A final note
In offering these mini-grants, our goal is to create an equitable, accessible process that extends the educational experience of the Labs, giving each student an idea of what it would be like to apply for larger, more competitive grants. While we wish that we were able to support all of the outcomes, there are many students who are applying, our funding is limited, and we will not be able to accept all of the applications.
As such, it is extremely important that funding should not make or break your project, and that you do not design your project around the funding request. Instead, we encourage you to think of it as a boost or supplement, something that can be added on or quickly implemented during the final stages to enhance impact, outcome, and reach.
Finally, we want to make it clear that Amplifier mini-grants are completely optional. As a student, we know you have other commitments and responsibilities that might keep you from taking on this extra work. That's okay! We want this to be an empowering, uplifting experience—something you can get excited about, that allows you to dream a little bit bigger, that opens up possibility—and the last thing we want to do is create any additional tension, pressure, or stress. Rest assured: your grade is in no ways affected by whether or not you apply for funding, let alone receive it.
If you have any questions about Amplifier mini-grants or would like to discuss things further, please feel free to check in with your faculty members or reach out to Seize the Moment Initiative Coordinator Bri Noonan at 480.965.4262 or blnoonan@asu.edu
Read the FAQ
Are there certain items you can't fund?
Yes. There are many items or expenses we can't fund, including equipment, food, mileage, and more. For a list of prohibited expenses, read the mini-grant guidelines. You can also request a review of your budget by our team.
Can I book my own venues?
No. While we encourage you to reach out to venues to check rates and availability before submitting, you cannot complete any paperwork or agreements for your outcome. The Humanities Lab and Seize the Moment will book your venue on behalf of you and your team.
Can I make my own purchases?
No. While you and your team should identify expenses and provide all supporting documentation as part of your itemized budget, you cannot make any purchases or process any transactions for your outcome. The Humanities Lab and Seize the Moment will administer funding and make purchases on behalf of you and your team. More information about making purchases will be provided at the appropriate time to selected teams.
Do I need to request the maximum funding?
No. You can request any amount up to the maximum ($1,000). Generally speaking, we recommend between $250 and $750, as it's somewhat easier for us to fund smaller grants than large ones. That being said, it all depends on your outcome. Submit the budget that works best for you.
How do I apply?
To apply for a mini-grant, read the mini-grant guidelines. Then, begin working your responses to the application questions in a separate document with your team. Once you're ready to submit, you'll complete an online form, the link for which is located on the guidelines page. For more information about applying, read the mini-grant guidelines.
How do I create a design?
To create a design, you'll need an application like Canva or Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign. If your design is relatively simple or mostly text, you may also be able to get away with Microsoft Powerpoint or Word. (As a student, you have free access to Adobe software, which you can request at http://links.asu.edu/adobestudent.)
While you can create a good design without any previous experience, we recommend reaching out to the ASU Makerspace in Hayden Library to receive training and connect with resources. You're also welcome to use your mini-grant to obtain professional design services from an independent contractor or company.
How do I create a podcast?
To create a podcast, you'll need recording equipment, an application like Audacity or Garage Band, a hosting platform such as Anchor or Podbean.
You'll also need recording releases for anyone appearing in the podcast.
While you can create a good podcast using your personal computer, without any previous experience, we recommend reaching out to the ASU Makerspace in Hayden Library or Learning Support Services in the School of International Letters and Cultures to borrow equipment, receive training, and connect with resources. You're also welcome to use your mini-grant to obtain professional recording, editing, or production services from an independent contractor or company.
How do I create a video?
Great question! To make a video, you'll need recording equipment and an application such as Lightworks, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere. (As a student, you have free access to Adobe software, which you can request at http://links.asu.edu/adobestudent.)
You'll also need recording releases for anyone appearing in the video, with additional paperwork if you're filming on campus at Arizona State University.
Unless you own your own cameras or have previous experience, we recommend reaching out to the ASU Makerspace in Hayden Library or Learning Support Services in the School of International Letters and Cultures to borrow equipment, receive training, and connect with resources. You're also welcome to use your mini-grant to obtain professional recording, editing, or production services from an independent contractor or company.
How do I create an itemized budget?
To create an itemized budget, use our budget template and fill in the information in each row accordingly. For more information about budgets, read the mini-grant guidelines. You can also request a review of your budget by our team.
How do I create printed materials?
To create printed materials, you'll need print specifications and a quote. (While you'll also need a design, this is addressed in a separate FAQ.) For print specifications, you'll need to know the size of your product, the quantity or print run (how many copies you'd like printed), whether you're printing one-sided or two-sided and in color or black and white, what kind of paper you'd like to use, and any finishing (such as folding or binding). Then, once you know your specifications, you can visit ASU Print Lab and submit a quote, which typically takes between two and three business days to receive. Once you receive the quote, include it in your budget and upload it with your application.
If your application has been approved, your next steps are:
Step one:
• Request approval for your print design from your instructors
Step two:
• Submit your teams design, print quote & faculty approval to Bri and Maureen for purchasing. We will work with the ASU Print Lab to get your item ordered.
REMINDER: Allow two weeks for printing to take place!
How do I organize a public event?
To organize a public event, you'll need to know the date, time, location, mode, and other details for the event you'd like to organize, which you'll submit as part of your application. You'll also need names and email addresses for your speakers. Assuming you and your team are selected to receive a mini-grant, the Humanities Lab and Seize the Moment will then work with you and your team to complete paperwork, create registration portals, and organize the event.
How do I receive funding?
Teams who are selected to receive an Amplifier Student Mini-Grant will have funding administered on their behalf by the Humanities Lab and Seize the Moment. As a student, you should not be making any purchases or processing any transactions for your outcome. The Humanities Lab and Seize the moment will make all purchases and process all transactions for you and your team. More information about funding will be provided at the appropriate time to selected teams.