What you need to know
The Alumni Class Funds support projects that make a novel or creative contribution to MIT’s educational excellence. We are especially interested in proposals that test ideas about effective education, including ways in which innovative pedagogies can facilitate learning and teaching within the MIT residential educational system, demonstrate the special and specific value of a residentially based education, or improve student-faculty engagement and/or student self-efficacy. The Funds support undergraduate education projects from any discipline as well as collaborations among disciplines.
Some key points to remember:
- The Alumni Class Funds are open to MIT faculty and teaching staff.
- Student proposals are considered with the support of a supervising faculty sponsor and the appropriate department head.
- Grants typically range from $10,000 to $50,000. Larger grants may be considered for special projects.
- Proposals for multi-year projects are accepted, but grants are made on a year-by-year basis.
- If funded, you will be required to submit a report at the end of the funding cycle.
What you need to do
- Review guidelines below or download them in PDF format.
- Send your complete application in one PDF — including a cover sheet, detailed proposal narrative, project budget, and letters of support — to alumnifunds@mit.edu by January 27, 2023.
- Our staff will confirm receipt of your proposal by email.
- The review committee typically meets in the spring. You will receive a decision letter by email before the end of the term.
Proposal guidelines
A complete application includes the following:
- Cover sheet
- Proposal narrative (3-6 pages) including detailed description of your project (please avoid jargon or language that can only be understood by someone in your field), assessment plan and desired outcomes, resources and staffing needed, and educational objectives with answers to the following questions:
- How will the project enhance your teaching?
- How will it improve the students' experiences in the classroom?
- What is the potential impact of the project at MIT? Estimate the number of students served now and in the future.
- Renewal requests must include a report on your project to date.
- Previous grant recipients should also briefly describe the projects that were funded and what you accomplished.
- A project budget that includes a breakdown of costs, amount requested, and other funding sources, as well as a budget narrative explaining the costs.
- A letter of support from the relevant department, program, or section heads with plans to sustain the project after support from the Alumni Class Funds ends.