Local Section Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect (DEIR) Grant

Purpose

To provide up to $3,000 to local sections for embracing and advancing inclusion and equity across ACS and in their communities.

Description

The ACS Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC) encourages applications for DEIR projects and programs that:

• Support interaction with other ACS local sections, ACS divisions, ACS committees, other professional associations, or community groups
• Foster inclusiveness and participation within your local section
  

Naturally, your local section’s interpretation of how to approach the topic may be very different, and LSAC looks forward to a wide array of grant proposals.

Ideas for programs/activities include:

• Speaker Series
• Heritage Days
• Scholarship Matching Funds
• Host/sponsor an activity with Project SEED or ACS Scholars
• Undergraduate Research Support
• Outreach to Underrepresented Communities/Schools
• High School Mentoring
• Diversity Professional Development
• Book Clubs
• Seminar Series
• Training and Workshops

For more ideas and resources, read about ACS's core value of DEIR.

This grant is sponsored by the ACS Committee on Local Section Activities

Additional Guidelines

• Only one proposal per local section may be submitted for review.
• Application deadline September 15, 2024 by 11:59pm ET.
• Proposals will be reviewed by LSAC and local sections will be notified of funding in December.
• A funded project should be completed within 12 months of the award date.
• A final report describing how the funds were used and the impact the project had must be submitted to LSAC within three months of completion of the funded project.
• Funding will be awarded to a section only if it has submitted its most recent annual report.
• Funding will be awarded to a section only if it has submitted a final report for any previous DEIR Grant.

Budget Guidelines 

• Maximum Funding Level: $3,000 
• Funding should foster inclusiveness and participation within your local section. 
• Applications should include specific budget information abotu the event, technology, and/or any materials needed for the proposed event and/or proposed event.

Specific Budget Guidelines

• Local Sections are encouraged to keep food expenses under 20% and venue rental cost under 25% of the total amount requested from the Committee on Local Section Activities. 
  
• Alcohol may be funded if central to the event i.e. tasting at a brewery. 
• Memberships to ACS or discount to membership as part of the event is allowed up to 25% of the total budget. In the case of paying for standard or premium ACS memberships, these should be offered to only a select number of potential new members at an event and offering discounts to more potential members at an event and offering discounts to more potential members may be a better use of funds. 
• Giveaways such as ACS merchandise is permitted by cannot exceed 25% of the total funding request 
• Honoraria or stipends cannot be funded under this grant neither can pass-through donations  to individuals or other organizations.

How to Apply 

The DEIR application form details the requirements, which include: 

• Information and Summary sheet (one page)
• Full description of the project including objectives, plan of action, line-item budget, and evaluation plan (two pages maximum)

Also required are:

• Letter or email of support from the current local section chair (or Executive Committee member if the Chair is Project Coordinator)
• Letters or emails of support from co-sponsoring local sections, divisions, committees, or other community groups, if applicable

Recently Funded Projects 

View this list of recently funded DEIR Grants for an overview of the various activities local sections have planned. 

Contact Information

Email: lsac@acs.org