COVID 19 & Higher Education Community Grants

• Funds must be used during the funding period (August – December 2024)
• There must be an individual or an organization who is identified to be receiving the funds*
• Eligible groups may be made up of current students, staff, faculty, and/or alumni, or members representing a non-profit organization. 
• Groups that are not eligible: For-profit organizations/businesses, Individuals (unless representing a group)

* If you are an individual identified to receive funding on behalf of a group we strongly recommend you seek partnerships with a registered non-profit OR at a college campus who may be able to receive the funds to serve as a fiscal intermediary. If an individual receives the fund directly, this will be considered taxable income and if applicable, may impact benefits. If this is the only option, we recommend consulting with a financial advisor for any potential impact.

We have four distinct categories where community grantees may submit a proposed project or event. Your project can focus on just one or multiple categories. While you are not expected to achieve all of them, the project should fall into at least one of the below categories.

• Category 1: Knowledge Acquisition, Construction, Integration and Application
  • Connecting knowledge
  • Constructing knowledge
  • Relating knowledge to daily life

• Category 2: Intrapersonal Development / Community Building
  • Meaningful relationships
  • Identity development
  • Interdependence
  • Leadership development

• Category 3: Civic Engagement & Disability Rights
  • Activism to address civil rights for people with disabilities
  • Mobilizing disability community
• Category 4: Disability Joy & Love
  • Embodies and promotes a culture of disability joy and love within their activities and initiatives.
  • Creates an environment where individuals with disabilities feel celebrated, valued, and embraced for who they are.
  • Actively fosters and spreads disability joy and love throughout the campus community, promoting a sense of belonging and affirmation.

We will be reviewing each application using a rubric with five different principles. They are summarized below. Please view our Google document with explanations. Excellent applicants will reflect all of the following principles in their application and approach to their work:

• Principle 1: Centering the Most Impacted
• Principle 2: Creating Inclusive Spaces
• Principle 3: Challenging Ableism and All Forms of Oppression
• Principle 4: Community Impact
• Principle 5: COVID-19 Impact

Please see below for some Frequently Asked Questions related to the AAPD COVID-19 & Higher Education Community Grants. If you have any questions, please email education@aapd.com.

Will there be community grants offered for Spring 2025 term?
Yes! We expect the Spring 2025 community grant application to open up in August 2024. Stay tuned!

How does AAPD define disability for the COVID-19 & Higher Education community grant?
AAPD defines disability broadly. This includes people without a formal diagnosis but who experience disability and chronic medical conditions (including Long COVID). AAPD will not request proof of disability as part of the application or community grant process from any member.

What are the differences between these student/faculty/staff organizations or groups?

• College Student Clubs or Entities is meant to designate Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) meaning the university has formally recognized the student group or organization or a student-led office (such as one housed in student life)
• College Campus Group or Entities is meant to designate entities run by employees that are not students (faculty, staff or administration) of the university. This can include Disability Cultural Centers or Staff Affinity Groups. These are groups recognized by their university.
• Unofficial Collective or Group are groups, collectives and/or mutual aid networks that are not formally recognized. Examples include but are not limited to: staff affinity groups not yet recognized by your college, members of online student communities (such as a Discord server), etc.

What is needed from me for the application?
You can preview our entire application in a Google document. We will be requesting two things: 

1. Answering Application Questions: You may submit short-form answers to the questions in video or written format. If you include a video be sure to use a program to create your video that creates automated captions (example: Zoom). If access to Zoom or another program to create a video is a barrier for you, please contact education@aapd.com in advance of the deadline.
2. Event / Project Budget: Breakdown of funding including specific items needed, quantities, and cost will need to be uploaded to this application. Please use the example and resources provided to guide you. This will also include indicating other funding sources. Be sure to check out our Grant Budget Proposal Resources for more tips and templates.

What kinds of groups will be prioritized by this grant?
Priority will be given to:

• Applicants who demonstrate how their project will address issues in higher education created or made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Applicants who are from a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) / Predominantly Black Colleges and Universities (PBCU), Tribal colleges or other minority serving institutions
• Applicants whose demographic makeup within their organization is predominantly BIPOC Disabled people
• Applicants who are from or serve the community and technical college system
• Applicants who demonstrate an understanding of how to ensure their event or project is accessible and inclusive, especially for non-traditional students

How are you evaluating my application?
To get a better understanding of how we are reviewing your application, you can review this holistic rubric, which application reviewers will use to score all applications. Please note that in order to be eligible for the Community Grants, all applications must focus on at least one of the four different project categories listed below

What kinds of events, activities and/or projects can I apply for?
We have four distinct categories where community grantees may submit a proposed project or event. Your project can focus on just one or multiple categories. While you are not expected to address all of them, the project should fall into at least one of the following categories:

Category 1: Knowledge Acquisition, Construction, Integration and Application
Category 2: Intrapersonal Development / Community Building
Category 3: Civic Engagement & Disability Rights
Category 4: Disability Joy & Love

If our group is selected what will I need to do?

• Participate in 30 minute Intake Meeting with AAPD in July and a 30 minute Exit Meeting in November
• Participate in Discord BETA (asynchronous) and/or Synchronous Cohort Monthly Socials on Zoom (1 hour per month)
• Produce an Impact Report for AAPD from your events including event or project data, pictures, and/or testimonials. If you are producing an event in which images or information may not be safe to share with the public. That is OK! We will work with you to find a path forward. We are most committed to ensuring our communities feel safe and centered as part of this process
• Your organization will be featured on the AAPD website

What kinds of support will AAPD provide to my group?
Facilitating monthly community socials and facilitating virtual space on Discord to discuss with other community grantees how your event / project is progressing and to provide support. We will work with each of you at your intake meeting to identify other areas for potential support and will be available to support you should issues hiccups occur.

What does it mean for my project/event to be COVID-conscious and accessible?
Check out our “Creating a COVID-conscious and accessible event” page for more information

What is an event/project “impact” and how can I measure it?
Measuring the impact of events or projects is critical for assessing their effectiveness and ensuring accountability to our community. We have provided a list of examples of ways people can measure their impact, but we welcome creativity and encourage you to use the methodology which works best for you and your group.

Here’s are some examples of how folks can measure impact:

Quantitative Measures:

1. Attendance and Participation: Measure the number of attendees/participants. This can include both actual attendance and online engagement (if applicable), such as views on a livestream or participation in online discussions.
2. Surveys and Feedback: Design surveys to gather quantitative feedback from attendees/participants. Ask questions related to satisfaction, learning outcomes, and behavior change. Quantify responses using rating or likert scales.
3. Pre-Post Assessments: Have participants take a  pre-event and post-event assessment to measure changes in their knowledge, skills, attitudes, or behaviors. Analyze the differences to determine the impact of the event or project.
4. Social Media Metrics: Track metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and reach on social media platforms where the event or project is promoted. These metrics can provide insights into audience engagement and reach.

Qualitative Measures:

1. Participant Testimonials: Collect qualitative feedback from participants through testimonials or interviews. Ask open-ended questions about their experiences, insights gained, and any changes in thought observed as a result of the event or project. Ask questions that may produce specific examples of impact that you can share with us, such as individual success stories or community improvements resulting from the event or project. Use narratives to capture the nuances of the impact.
2. Stakeholder Interviews: Conduct interviews with key stakeholders or community members, such as students, faculty, community partners, or organizational leaders, to gather qualitative insights on the event or project’s impact from their perspectives. We strongly encourage taking time to understand and center the perspectives of multiply-marginalized disabled people. 

I’ve never made a budget proposal before. What should I do?
That is totally okay! Check out our Grant Budget Proposal resources for guidance and templates on building a budget proposal.