Design for Racial Justice Mini Grants

Deadline extended to May 20th

Translations of this page and mail-in applications:

Additional resources, project ideas, and sample application & budgets:

Purpose

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, we strive to create an inclusive, equity-based institution that empowers people to change the world through STEM. We recognize that our political, cultural, and economic systems maintain white supremacy through the control of power and resources. Most museums and scientific practices, including our own, have supported these systems.

We are actively working to undo these systems of inequity. This granting initiative is a part of that work. The Science Museum’s RACE: Are We So Different? exhibition explores how systemic racism exists in healthcare, education, housing, incarceration, wealth, and STEM. For this granting project we encourage individuals and organizations to use our RACE exhibit as a resource to develop and lead racial justice programming that addresses local, community-identified priorities.

Approach

When wide swaths of our local community are engaged, connected, and included in equity work, transformative change becomes possible in ways that may not have seemed possible before.

We recognize the real experts on racial justice work are those with lived experience, fighting for equity on a daily basis, so it is vital for us to combine our existing museum resources with new community-led programming to increase local participation and leadership.

This year’s granting initiative will center Indigenous* youth and support them to use the RACE: Are We So Different? exhibition as a resource for equity work.

*We recognize that this could include many identities—race, gender, sexual orientation, ability—such that a complete list cannot be written. We also recognize the intersectionality of these identities.

Information

What is Design for Racial Justice Mini Grant funding?
The Science Museum of Minnesota’s RACE: Are We So Different? exhibition explores how systemic racism exists in healthcare, education, housing, incarceration, wealth, and STEM. The Science Museum will be providing partnership grants to individuals and/or organizations to develop racial justice projects/programs.

What types of projects will receive funding?
We're looking for projects that expand our community’s understanding and the conversation around race and racism in healthcare, education, housing, incarceration, wealth, and STEM. You can use the content of the RACE: Are We So Different? exhibition as a resource for your project. Your project doesn’t have to be science-heavy: it could include art, a performance, a series of discussions, a podcast, or something we didn’t think to list. Events can be held in any language. 

Audiences reached by the proposed projects must be inclusive of people living in Minnesota, though they may reach people in other areas as well.

*We recognize that this could include many identities—race, gender, sexual orientation, ability—such that a complete list cannot be written. We also recognize the intersectionality of these identities.

How much funding is available?
We have a total of $20,000 to provide mini grants. Individuals and collaborations of two or more individuals can apply for up to a $3,000 mini grant, depending on the size of your project.

Payments will be made through the Science Museum of Minnesota’s accounting department. After grant applicants receive notification that their proposal was chosen to receive funding, we will send a project contract and tax documents to complete and sign. Accounts payable staff will issue checks upon receiving these documents.

What is the timeline?

1. Attend an informational session (optional).

2. Visit the Science Museum’s RACE exhibit (optional). Please contact mabdon@smm.org for more information.

3. Submit a project grant proposal by 5/20/2022 (11:59 p.m. cutoff).

4. Project grant applicants will be notified by 6/7/2022 if their proposal was chosen to receive funding.

5. Grantees will have until 10/28/2022 to complete and provide documentation for their project.

6. Grantees meet (in person or virtual) on 11/18/2022 to celebrate the completion of their projects.

Who decides how proposals will be chosen?
A team from the Science Museum’s Access & Equity Department, along with members of our Advisory Council, will evaluate all proposals. Science Museum staff will make the final determination of grant recipients, including the input and recommendations of the Advisory Council.

How will proposals be evaluated?
Projects should:

  • Support/invite participants to learn about, process, and/or take action on dismantling systemic racism

  • Connect with one of the following systems: healthcare, education, housing, incarceration, wealth, and/or STEM

Proposals will be evaluated by the advisory group and museum staff on the following criteria:

  • Potential impact

  • Accessibility of project to its participants

  • Feasibility or how likely will it be successfully completed with the resources requested and other parameters

How do I apply?
Apply for Design for Racial Justice Mini Grant funding in one of the following ways:

  • Fill out an online application by 5/20/2022

  • Download a mail-in application. Print and fill out the application. Mail to “Michelle Abdon, Science Museum of MN, 120 West Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102” by 5/20/2022

  • Record a video application answering the application prompts and email it to mabdon@smm.org by 5/20/2022

First time writing a grant proposal?
We are here to help! If you have any questions regarding the Design for Racial Justice Mini Grant initiative, need assistance in drafting your proposal, or would like to send us a draft of your proposal prior to the deadline to review and provide feedback, please contact us:

Michelle Abdon, mabdon@smm.org

Robby Callahan Schreiber, rschreiber@smm.org