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Grant Program for Projects on Multicultural Activities

Request for Proposals 2008-2009

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recognizes the value of supporting the infusion of multiculturalism into our clinical, educational, and professional programs; and the activities of allied/related associations and organizations. For the thirteenth consecutive year, ASHA has allocated funding for projects on multicultural activities with a maximum of $18,000 awarded for a single grant. It is expected that the average individual award given will be between $7,000 and $10,000. Applications must be postmarked by April 4, 2008. Proposals receiving funding will be announced by July, 2008.

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Who is eligible?

This RFP competition is open to clinical and/or school-based speech, language, and hearing programs; university programs, state associations, allied and related professional organizations, and ASHA's Special Interest Divisions. An ASHA member must serve as project director.

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What kinds of projects will be funded?

Proposals must have a multicultural focus. Multicultural is defined to include issues dealing with race, ethnicity, language, gender or gender identification, age, sexual orientation, and disability. There is particular interest in, but not limited to, proposals that respond to one or more of ASHA's Strategic Initiatives from ASHA's Strategic Pathway to Excellence

Projects must:

  • be compatible with ASHA's mission and vision,
  • have a clear high-quality plan for meeting its objectives,
  • be completed, including evaluation, within 12 months of initiation of the project,
  • be adaptable by other clinical and/or school-based programs, university programs, state associations, and associated and related professional organizations for their own use, and
  • describe what will happen to the project once ASHA funding has ended.

Grants will not be awarded for fund raising, governmental lobbying, or awards ceremonies.

Please Note: ASHA retains the first right of refusal for marketing and/or future dissemination of any products developed from or during the funded project.

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How much money is available and how will it be dispersed?

It is expected that the average individual award will be $7,000 to $10,000. Individual awards will not exceed $18,000. The exact number of grant awards will depend on the nature, quality, and number of proposals received. If no proposals meet a minimum level of quality, no grants will be awarded.

One-half of the funding will be provided at the start of the project. The balance will be provided upon receipt of an interim report which must be submitted by January 2009. A final report is required of all awardees and must be completed by October 2009.

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Who evaluates the grant proposals?

The Review Panel will consist of representatives from the Multicultural Issues Board, National Office staff, and various multicultural constituency groups; and will consist of at least 6 but no more than 7 individuals. Members of the panel will exclude themselves from reviewing proposals where a conflict of interest may exist.

A staff member from the ASHA Office of Multicultural Affairs will coordinate the review panel. The coordinator's evaluation of a proposal will be considered only when a panel member must exclude himself/herself from reviewing a specific proposal or when the panel's ratings do not provide a clear-cut decision on a specific proposal.

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How will the grant proposals be rated?

Each reviewer will assign up to 100 points to each proposal as follows:

Need for the project, including degree of impact 0-15 points

Consistency with the objectives of the grant program and ASHA's mission and vision

0-10 points
Plan of operation 0-20 points

Evaluation plan

0-15 points
Replicability by other programs, associations, or organizations 0-20 points
Budget/Cost effectiveness/Justification 0-20 points

Proposals will then be ranked according to the average number of points awarded and any additional comments made by the reviewers.

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What is the application process?

1. Complete the Application Form [PDF].

2. In no more than 5 typed, double spaced pages, describe:

  • the need for the project, including degree of impact;
  • project objectives and how they are consistent with those of the grant program;
  • a plan to meet project objectives that includes specific activities, a time line for their accomplishment, the person(s) responsible for executing the plan, and a description of what will happen to the project once ASHA funding has ended;
  • a means for evaluating the project's effectiveness including meeting stated objectives, quantifiable outcomes, and impact; and
  • how others (individuals, programs, associations, or organizations) will benefit from the project including replication of the project and dissemination of results.

3. Complete the Budget Form [PDF] that includes the amount of and justification for requested funds.

4. Attach one letter of endorsement of the project. The letter should come from someone who can attest to the project director's capability in completing the project.

5. Submit the complete packet (application form, project proposal, budget form, and letter of endorsement).  Applications received via fax will not be accepted. The complete application packet should be sent to:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Attn: Karen Beverly-Ducker
2200 Research Boulevard #345
Rockville, MD 20850-3289

or

via e-mail at OMAGrants@asha.org

Proposals must be postmarked by April 4, 2008.

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ASHA's Mission

ASHA: Empowering and supporting speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists by:

  • Adovocating on behalf of persons with communication and related disorders
  • Advancing communication science
  • Promoting effective communication

ASHA's Vision

ASHA: Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.

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This page was updated on: 2/6/2008.

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