Grant Program for Projects on Multicultural Activities

ASHA has had a long-standing commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and recognizes the importance of acknowledging and appropriately responding to cultural and linguistic influences across the discipline. This grant program provides support for the infusion of multiculturalism into our clinical, educational, and professional programs; and the activities of allied/related associations and organizations.

Submit Your Application

• When are applications due?
• Who is eligible?
• What kinds of projects will be funded?
• How much money is available and how will it be dispersed?
• Who evaluates the grant proposals?
• How will the grant proposals be rated?
• What is the application process?

When are applications due?

Applications must be submitted by May 3, 2021. Proposals receiving funding will be announced by August 1, 2021.

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. An ASHA member must serve as project director.

What kinds of projects will be funded?

Proposals must include one or more of the following dimensions of diversity: age, disability, ethnicity, gender expression/gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. There is particular interest in proposals that respond to ASHA's Strategic Pathway to Excellence Strategic Objective 6: Increase Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) within the Association and the discipline and/or Strategic Objective 8: Increase Members' Cultural Competence.

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 15 months of initiation of the project; and
• describe the future of the project after ASHA funding has ended.

Grant funds are intended to support activities directly related to the project as set forth in the proposal. Grant funds are not intended for fund raising, governmental lobbying, awards ceremonies, equipment or supplies that are not primarily required for the project, or travel expenses that are not directly related to project completion.

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.

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 $15,000. 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 upon receipt of the signed agreement letter. The balance of the funding will be provided upon receipt of an Interim Report which must be submitted by December 10, 2021. A Final Report, which includes a project summary and final budget, is required of all awardees and must be completed by December 2, 2022. 

Who evaluates the grant proposals?

The Review Panel will consist of members of the Multicultural Issues Board (MIB). Members of the Review 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 be excluded from reviewing a specific proposal due to conflict of interest or when the panel's ratings do not provide a clear-cut decision on a specific proposal.

How will the grant proposals be rated?

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

Proposals will then be ranked according to the average number of points awarded and any additional comments made by members of the Review Panel. In addition to the Review Panel's numerical ratings and critical comments, funding decisions are made with consideration given to factors such as the project's similarity to previously funded projects, overlap with other Association efforts, area(s) of practice, timeliness, projected impact, anticipated return on investment, and ability to respond to members' needs.

What is the application process?

1. Develop a project proposal that includes:
   
   • an abstract (200 words or less)
   • a detailed project narrative (2,000 words or less) that describes
     • 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 this project including meeting stated objectives, quantifiable outcomes, impact, a client/patient/consumer feedback component, if appropriate; and
     • a plan for dissemination, including how others—i.e., individuals, programs, associations or organizations—will access, be informed of, benefit from, replicate, etc. the project results.

     NOTE: The 2,000 word count refers to the project narrative and includes any charts, graphs, footnotes, and attachments. The word count does not include the abstract, budget justification, or the letter of support.

2. Complete the Budget Form including any information that supports fund allocation.  
3. Obtain one letter of support. The letter should be written by someone who can attest to the project director's capability in completing the project.
4. Submit the complete proposal.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to:
Karen Beverly-Ducker
kbeverlyducker@asha.org