STEM Initiative invites applications for mini-grant funding

COLUMBIA, Mo.–The Missouri Girls Collaborative STEM Initiative, part of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP), invites applications for its mini-grant funding opportunity.

Mini-grants will be awarded to girl-serving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused programs to support collaboration and further school-aged girls’ interest in STEM. Mini-grants are a small amount of seed funding and are not intended to fully fund entire projects. The maximum mini-grant award is $1,000.

Programs from K-12 education, higher education, community agencies and businesses are encouraged to apply. Mini-grant applicants must represent at least two programs from different organizations, at least one of which must be based in Missouri. All programs collaborating on the mini-grant must register in the NGCP Program Directory, which is fast and easy and can be done through the NGCP website at www.ngcproject.org.

Applications should be submitted by the end of the business day on March 20, 2013. Awards will be announced on April 26, 2013, and projects can be implemented through March 2014. In March 2014, recipients will present their projects at the Missouri Girls Collaborative STEM Initiative Collaboration Conference.

“The Missouri Girls Collaborative STEM Initiative brings together organizations committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Sarah Chappelow, state lead of the Initiative. “Mini-grants are the perfect opportunity for programs to jump-start new activities to get girls interested in STEM careers.”

The Missouri Girls Collaborative STEM Initiative is one of 28 regional collaboratives serving 38 states. The Missouri AfterSchool Network, part of the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development, is the convening organization.

For more information, including application instructions and ideas for collaborative projects, visit the NGCP website: www.ngcproject.org.

Please contact Sarah Chappelow with any questions about the mini-grant application process at [email protected] or 573-882-9665.