April 2010
Discovery is a women’s collaborative philanthropic group established to support projects and programs at Ball State University. Discovery members are volunteers who pool annual contributions and work with university administrators to select the projects they support. Since 2003, Discovery has made awards to 30 innovative Ball State projects totaling more than $650,000.
Discovery invites the submission of project proposals for funding annually. The due date for project proposals is in
September. Proposals must be turned into the Sponsored Programs Office
. It is highly recommended to contact SPO well in advance of the submission deadline. SPO will assist with narrative and budget development, see to clearance routing, duplicate the required numbers of copies, and forward to Jenni Marsh in the Office of University Development. We ask that you submit proposals that match your priorities as well as the selection criteria identified by Discovery.
Discovery funds projects that further the mission of the university as expressed in Education Redefined: Strategic Plan 2007-2012.
Discovery members are interested in projects that significantly impact Ball State students, offer immersive learning opportunities, and have potential for other external funding in the future. Typical Discovery allocations will range from $15,000 to $25,000. Projects that involve multiple departments and/or colleges may be funded at a higher level; however, contact with Jenni Marsh prior to submission is strongly recommended in that event. Fund disbursements will be managed by the Ball State University Contracts and Grants Office.
Funds may be used for specialized equipment, student assistant wages, graduate assistantships, program administrative costs, and a modest stipend for summer support if required. Discovery funds may not be used for faculty release time, or to purchase computers or general office equipment, or for indirect costs.
Guidelines for submitting proposals
. From the proposals received, the committee will select those that best meet their criteria as described above, and the committee will invite up to six project directors to make oral presentations to the Discovery membership in November.
In January, Discovery members select the award recipients for the current year by written ballot. Decisions will be announced in February and, the funds transferred in March. Projects selected for funding will be formally announced at the annual meeting in June.
Discovery has members who are associated with Ball State University in various ways and includes faculty members and administrators. We are sensitive to and have anticipated possible conflicts of interest arising in our selection process. The Discovery conflict of interest statement appears in the group’s Policies and Procedures document, and states that “Any member listed as a participant in a project proposal may not serve on the awards committee for that selection cycle.” We want to assure you that the group is committed to following this policy.
Please direct your questions to Jenni Marsh in the Office of University Development at 285-7049 or jlmarsh@bsu.edu . The Office of University Development is acting as the representative of Discovery members in this matter.
Thank you for assisting us in reaching our goal of supporting meaningful projects at Ball State University.
Sincerely,
Jenni Marsh, CFRE
Director of Developement
Ball State University