Making a Difference Grant

Any employee or employee group is eligible to apply for Making a Difference Grants. Prior to submitting your application, please discuss your project with your administrator to ensure that the project is not already included in the MCC budget. Selection is based on grant criteria including innovative teaching/learning and cultural/social/economic programming.

Innovative teaching/learningGrant scoring will be based on these criteria:

1. Projects should enhance student success at MCC.
2. Projects should be consistent with MCC's mission to transform lives through quality education.
3. Projects should involve and benefit students as fully as possible.
4. Projects that promote innovation and experimentation and impact a significant number of learners are encouraged.
5. Special consideration will be given to new endeavors.

Cultural/social/economic programmingGrant scoring will be based on these criteria:

1. Projects should be consistent with the mission of MCC.
2. Projects should enhance the greater-Montcalm learning community.
3. Projects that impact a significant number of learners are encouraged.
4. Special consideration will be given to new endeavors.

Award Process

1. Review your proposal with your supervisor.
2. Submit the Making a Difference Grant Application online. Submissions will be directed to MCC Executive Director for Institutional Advancement and the MCC Foundation Lisa Lund.
3. MCC’s Executive Team will review the application. Reviewed applications will then be submitted to the MCC Foundation Grants Committee. The process may take up to six weeks. Projects should not be implemented prior to the grants committee’s review.

Fund AvailabilityGrant funds will be available immediately following the announcement of the awards.

The MCC Foundation will handle the disbursement of grant funds. An invoice or a purchase order is required before disbursement. MCC purchase orders should be used for purchases of equipment and supplies whenever possible. A copy of the invoices for purchases must be submitted promptly to the Foundation. The individual listed as the contact person on the grant application will be the only person who may authorize grant expenditures.

Funds must be used within one year of the award date unless prior arrangements have been made with the MCCF Executive Director.

Final ReportGrant recipients must submit a final report to the MCC Foundation upon completion of the project. Final reports should be submitted to MCC Executive Director for Institutional Advancement and the MCC Foundation Lisa Lund within one year of the award date.

The report should include:

• A detailed accounting of actual expenditures.
• A brief narrative regarding the implementation of the project and how the project furthered the mission of MCC.
• An evaluation of the project demonstrating its impact.
• A photograph or photographs of the project implementation, if possible.