Call for Proposals
The Wilmington Partnership invites University of Delaware faculty and staff to apply for a Wilmington Partnership Mini-Grant, to foster and support mutually beneficial community-engaged research in collaboration with community organizations and/or individuals in Wilmington, DE. The Wilmington Partnership Mini-Grant effort is funded by the UD Community Engagement Initiative.
The Wilmington Partnership will accept proposals through March 20, 2026.
Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by April 24, 2026.
Mini-Grant Purpose
The Wilmington Partnership’s mission is to support and facilitate community engaged research through mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations, communities, and individuals in the City of Wilmington. The mini-grants program advances this mission through financial support of innovative, reciprocal and community engaged projects.
Small Grants for Wilmington projects
Learn more about the Wilmington Partnership mini-grant awardees for 2024-25.
Eligibility Requirements
Grants are limited to UD faculty and staff.
What is the process to apply for a Mini-Grant?
Please see the Mini-Grant application guidelines and rubric (below). Once completed, please submit your application along with any additional attachments/supporting documents to Dr. Ann M. Aviles at amaviles@udel.edu. Please include “Wilmington Partnership Application” in the subject line of the email.
For what amount can I apply?
The maximum amount awarded for any Wilmington Mini-Grant is $5,000.
Due to limited resources, the Wilmington Partnership may not be able to fund all requests. Applicants are encouraged to seek matching support from their own departments or other organizations
Proposals are primarily evaluated relative to:
- The extent to which the proposed grant is consistent with the Wilmington Partnership mission.
- The extent to which the proposed project advances equity and community engagement, specifically improving materials conditions and outcomes for historically marginalized communities in Wilmington.
- The extent to which an equity issue in Wilmington is addressed via a community engagement process.
- The extent to which the project meets the expressed needs of community organizations, and/or individuals impacted by the issue under investigation.
- The extent to which the project meets the needs of both UD and community partners; specifically, projects must address the needs of the community, simultaneously employing rigorous theoretical, methodological and/or evidence-based intervention approaches.
View the Grant Application Evaluation Rubric (pdf) >
All proposals must include the following information
- Project description and significance.
- Clear description of mutually beneficial partnership, including past, current and/or future roles of university and community partners.
- Clear description outlining how the project advances community engagement and equity for Wilmington partners/communities (including letter/s of support from community partner/s).
- Proposal clearly outlines research methodology that is in alignment with community-engaged research principles, practices, and/or outcomes.
- Clear description of the metrics/measures to be used for evaluation of project’s efficacy and/or impact.
- Clear description of dissemination plan and next steps that are in alignment with community-engaged practices and principles.
- Clear budget and timeline in alignment with project goals, phases, etc.
What are the responsibilities of grant recipients?
- Collaborate with community partners in developing your proposal.
- Submit a letter of support from the community partner documenting their expressed need for the proposed research project, and the benefits of the research to their organization/program.
- Upon consultation with the Wilmington Partnership team, develop a reflective product on partnership work (e.g. journal manuscript, op-ed, white paper, infographic, etc.)
- Submit an interim and final progress report that provides work completed to date, and accounts fully for use of grant funds.
- Complete work within one academic year.
- Present research at Provost’s Symposium on Engaged Research or similar CEI sponsored event.