About the Social Innovation & Activism Fund
Overview
The Social Innovation and Activism Fund (SIAF) provides up to $5,000 for undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students enrolled at Toronto Metropolitan University for projects that will advance systemic change for social justice.
This fund is intended for students who have demonstrated their experience and activism in social justice, and are seeking support to continue their efforts or develop a new initiative. Proposed activities must be socially innovative and align with the values of the Office of Social Innovation. At OSI, social innovation is defined as the practice of using creative and collaborative approaches to challenge historical and existing systems of exclusion in order to have a transformative impact on society and the environment. As SIAF emphasizes social justice and activism, student applicants must demonstrate their involvement with a community or systemic issue.
We accept applications on a rolling basis (i.e., there is no deadline). Please note that this is not a fund for entrepreneurial ventures or businesses. If you are seeking start-up funding, visit the Office of Zone Learning.
Overall Goal and Objectives
SIAF aims to provide funding for student projects that will advance systemic change for social justice. Specific objectives of the fund includes:
Personal Development. Projects funded through SIAF aim to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own learning and experience towards social justice.
Community Building. Projects funded through SIAF support students in engaging with the community in mutually reciprocal relationships that contribute to building long-term, positive and authentic community bonds.
Social Change. Projects funded through SIAF contribute to shifting power, involve the community in decision-making, and/or push institutional boundaries in the pursuit of social justice.
Application Guidelines
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for a six month period. An extension of up to six months may be granted upon written request to OSI before the expiration of the Term.
Current Toronto Metropolitan students are eligible for funding. Preference will be given to individuals from designated groups (see note below), individuals who immigrated to Canada from other countries and their children, and first-time applicants.
Note: Designated groups include four groups specified in the Employment Equity Act (Indigenous Peoples, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities) and the 2SLGBTQ community. 2SLGBTQ is an umbrella term for people who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, intersex, gender independent, queer, questioning, or who otherwise express gender or sexual diversity.
Completed application packages must include the following:
- (PDF file) Student Application Form
- Applicant’s current CV
- Two reference letters
Completed application packages are to be emailed to jmachado@torontomu.ca.
Student funding recipients must fulfill the following requirements:
- Sign a Funding Agreement before any activity funded, in whole or in part, is carried out.
- Upon completion of the project, present research findings in a community forum.
- Upon completion of the project, complete a form describing your experience and project outputs and outcomes.
- Upon completion of the research project, or up to sixty (60) days after the expiration of the Term, return unused research project funds to the Office of Social Innovation.
- Throughout the duration of the project and upon completion of the project, advise the Project Coordinator of any conference, materials and publications resulting from the project.
- Throughout the duration of the project and upon completion of the project, acknowledge the “Social Innovation and Activism Fund” in any materials and publications resulting from project activities. Provide project updates upon request.
Applications meeting the eligibility criteria outlined above will be considered by an adjudication committee composed of selected faculty and staff.
Proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated commitment, involvement, and activism within a community and/or systemic issue.
- The proposed activity must reflect the values and social justice principles of the Office of Social Innovation.
- A clear, detailed and realistic work plan and budget for the proposed activity.
- Demonstrated capacity of the Applicant to excel in proposed activity.
- An interview or further information may be required from the short-listed applicants.
Key Contact
We invite interested applicants to reach out and meet with us before submitting an application. Please contact jmachado@torontomu.ca for further information.