OME Grant Application

 

OME grants support Fulbright Association chapter projects that:

1.       creatively utilize chapter and national Association resources to increase involvement with the Fulbright Program;

2.       strengthen the Fulbright network of alumni and visiting Fulbrighters in support of the Fulbright Program;

3.       enrich the exchange experiences of visiting Fulbrighters.

 

Proposals are invited for up to three different types of programs, events and activities. Chapters may apply for funds to conduct any or all of the following categories of. programs

Outreach programs to expose underserved U.S. geographic areas and populations to Fulbright Program purposes and benefits (Please see the list of underserved geographic areas and populations on page XXXXX.)

Mentoring programs involving chapter members either professionally or personally in mentoring visiting Fulbrighters in the United States and/or newly returned U.S. Fulbright student alumni. 
Enrichment programs to expose visiting Fulbright students, scholars, and teachers to unique aspects of the chapter’s local community, state, or region. 

 

1)     Proposals may be submitted by Fulbright Association affiliated chapters and groups in the process of becoming affiliated. 

 

2)     Preference will be given to projects involving a series of activities. Please also describe in the proposal narrative non-grant-funded programs the chapter plans to organize throughout the year to explain the context in which the proposed grant activities will occur.

 

3)     If the chapter has applied to other funding sources to support the activities in this proposal, please list pending applications, including amounts requested and organizations contacted

 

4)     The committee will look for evidence of support and collaboration with other organizations such as local cultural institutions, community groups, colleges and universities, and/or businesses, media, etc. Proposals must include evidence of cost-sharing, cash and/or in-kind contributions. Cost-sharing is defined as actual monetary contributions provided in support of the proposal, or in-kind contributions, which include prorated volunteered staff time, discounted costs, and speaker fees and office and meeting space rental costs that are reduced or waived. Cost-sharing may be contributed by the chapter or by other organizations/institutions. Please contact the national office to receive an estimate of the national Association’s cost share for event publicity, etc.

 

Volunteer hours contributed are also a form of cost-sharing and a valuable resource. The budget summary form asks for the number of volunteer hours that each grant activity will require. Chapters that have grant projects funded will be expected to keep track of volunteer hours and report on actual figures.

 

5)     Proposals must include letters of support from all cooperating organizations whose contributions or inputs will be provided to implement the project. Such letters must be signed by an official of the organization who is authorized to commit the institution to provide the support described. Please also provide the web address of the cooperating organization(s).

 

6)     Proposals should include the chapter’s most recent bank statement.

 

7)     While chapters are encouraged to invite elected officials in their chapter area to attend programs, all events funded by the Fulbright OME Grant Program must be strictly nonpartisan.

 

8)     If the chapter has received Fulbright OME Grant Program funding for the previous year, you must submit a report on that funding by July 15, 2010, in order to be eligible for funding in the new fiscal year.

 

Use the budget summary form to include information on the following costs:

·       Travel/transportation

·       Meals (cost per meal for visiting Fulbrighter x number of visiting Fulbrighters attending)

·       Tickets/ fees (cost per ticket for visiting Fulbrighter x number of visiting Fulbrighters attending)

·       Lodging (room rate per night per visiting Fulbrighter x number of visiting Fulbrighters attending)

·       Facility fees (rental and/or security, janitorial, other venue-related costs)

·       Honoraria (Please note that OME grant funds may not be used to pay honoraria to U.S. Fulbright alumni who should be approached to contribute their time as speakers. Their contribution may be included as cost-sharing in your proposal

·       Administrative costs (please be specific and detailed)

o   Postage

o   Telephone

o   Materials and Supplies

·       Other (please describe)

A brief budget narrative must also be attached to explain how you arrived at the figures in the budget such as the per oerson costs for meals, etc, administrative costs, and venue costs. (i.e., visiting Fulbrighters, U.S. alumnus/a--Fulbright Association member, U.S. alumnus/a--Fulbright Association nonmember, guests),

Grant monies may not be spent on the following: institutional overhead expenses, international travel or extensive local travel, alcoholic beverages, gifts (friendship gifts, tote bags, pins, etc.), and nonexpendable items or equipment such as furniture, office equipment or computers.

 

Fulbright OME grant funds may not be used to provide honoraria to U.S. Fulbright alumni. Other speaker fees may not exceed $200 in grant funds per event. 

 

Outreach programs should be designed to demonstrate to underserved U.S. geographic areas and populations the value, purposes, and benefits of the Fulbright Program for U.S. citizens, and to increase their awareness of and interest in Fulbright grant opportunities. Please note that some enrichment programs that have the potential for a “ripple effect” may be funded under this Outreach Category. Activities might include:

·      Speakers bureau to serve local educational, cultural, civic, religious, professional, and other community groups

·      Global classroom activities serving K-12 students, teachers, and communities

·      Group public service activities for visiting Fulbrighters and U.S. alumni

·      Media outreach to promote Fulbright Program accomplishments, profiles, and opportunities

·      Activities with Fulbright Program advisers or Fulbright Program Campus representatives on campuses and/or study abroad offices to publicize the Fulbright Program

·      Assistance to potential Fulbright applicants through outreach programs, seminars, and other means

 

Chapters receiving funds for outreach activities must coordinate these efforts with the Department of State and its program agencies (Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), the Institute of International Education (IIE), Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, and the Fulbright Association national office.

 

Mentoring activities may involve chapter members mentoring visiting Fulbrighters during their stay in the United States, either professionally or personally. Chapters might also mentor U.S. Fulbright student alumni when they return to the United States upon completion of their grant. Activities might include:

·      Job shadowing/internships /job fairs

·      Community service activities in which alumni introduce visiting Fulbrighters to an organization they volunteer with, and accompany them on volunteer assignments

·      Industry/occupational briefings

·      Networking strategies for visiting Fulbrighters and U.S. student alumni

·      Development of a Young Alumni Group within the chapter

 

Enrichment programs should be designed to include opportunities for visiting Fulbrighters to learn about, and interact with, minority (racial, ethnic, religious, etc.) groups and to understand the contributions of these groups to the community and to the United States. Planned activities must offer exposure to something unique to the local community, state, or region. Activities must be those that visiting Fulbrighters could not easily do on their own, such as a “behind the scenes” event or tour. Programs should bring visiting Fulbrighters into contact with a variety of local institutions, both civic and cultural, with U.S. alumni, and with other local community resources throughout the year. Activities might include:

·       Visit to a local historical site , attendance at an arts performance featuring a Fulbright alumnus/a, or a lecture provided by a U.S. Fulbright alumnus/a on a relevant topic

·       Attendance at a sporting event that includes a visit with the players/coaches/management

·       Participation in a local festival or holiday event at a local house of worship

·       Tours/activities (architectural, historical, cultural, etc.) that emphasize the diversity of a city/town/community and its history

Visiting Fulbright scholars and students in the New York City area are already served by Department of State-funded enrichment programming. Proposals from the New York metropolitan area should not duplicate programs already in place and need to show collaborative efforts with existing enrichment programs.

 

 

·       Notify the Fulbright Association national office of your intent to apply as soon as your decision is reached.

 

·       Complete Application and Budget Summary Form.

 

·       Write a narrative addressing how your program will meet the stipulations set forth in the guidelines and criteria for the Fulbright Outreach, Mentoring, and Enrichment (OME) Grant Program.

 

·       Write a brief budget narrative to describe the costs presented in the budget summary form.

 

·       Gather supporting documents, e.g., letters of endorsement and/or support, web site addresses for proposed site visits, etc.

 

·       Send electronically via Email or mail three (3) copies of your proposal to the Fulbright Association national office at 1100 G Street NW, Suite 525, Washington, DC 20005 by July 15, 2010. Application packages must be collated, stapled and presented in the following order: 1) Application, 2) Narrative, 3) Budget Summary Form, 4) Budget Narrative, and 5) Supporting documents. 

 

·       If the chapter received a Fulbright Outreach, Mentoring, and Enrichment (OME) Grant for the 2009-2010 period, please note that final grant reports are also due on July 15, 2010. Proposals for 2010-2011 will not be considered without the previous year’s final grant report.

 

·       Proposal deadline for the Fulbright Outreach, Mentoring, and Enrichment Grant Program is July 15, 2010.

 

·       Successful applicants will be notified by August 15, 2010.