Foundation Grants
Who may apply
The grant is open to full-time college students in good academic standing. The grant is provided for one academic year and cannot be renewed.
Applicants must follow the template for proposals given below and submit their proposal, along with a letter of support from their college advisor/mentor, directly to the trustee whose address is, Trustee for Spirit of Life Foundation Grants c/o Fairfield National Bank, 220 E. Main St. Fairfield, IL 62837.
What makes a project eligible?
A competitive proposal begins with an innovation, usually found in another country, whose success is already supported by credible evidence. The grant is not intended to fund a broad search for good ideas or an exploratory trip to determine whether another country's approach might be betterCredible evidence may include peer-reviewed research, government or health-system outcome data, or a formal program evaluation from a reliable source.
- It focuses on a clearly defined unmet need in the United States.
- It identifies a specific innovation, program, policy, practice, or model that is already producing strong results.
- It provides credible evidence of the innovation's success and explains how it compares with the current U.S. approach.
- It includes a structured plan for understanding how the innovation works and what would be required to adapt, implement, or test it in the United States.
- It considers the cultural, legal, financial, ethical, and operational differences that could affect use of the approach in the United States.
- It leads to practical recommendations, the required final report, and an appropriate dissemination plan.
- It can be completed within the proposed timeline and budget.
Examples of projects that could qualify
Examples only—not ready-made projects
The hypothetical proposals listed under Templates and Examples show the expected structure, specificity, and connection between an established international success and an unmet need in the US. They are not projects for applicants to copy, and their inclusion does not mean that these topics are automatically approved. Each applicant must develop an original proposal based on independent research, a specific innovation, appropriate project relationships, and a distinct plan for possible U.S. adaptation.
Projects that would not qualify
The grant supports focused scholarly work with a clear path toward U.S. adaptation. The following activities would not meet that standard on their own:
- Travel whose main purpose is cultural exposure, networking, or general clinical shadowing
- Attendance at a conference, workshop, or online course
- A project that describes an international health issue but does not connect it to an unmet U.S. health need
- A proposal that identifies a good idea but does not include a structured plan to study it
- A service trip without a research, analysis, or structured learning component
- A proposal that requests funds not tied to specific project expenses
Funding amount and budget review
One grant will be awarded each year.
One grant of up to $8,000 will be awarded each year. Applicants should request only the amount needed to complete the project. Each budget item must include its purpose, estimated cost, and how the estimate was calculated.
- The committee may reduce or remove proposed expenses that are not necessary, are not adequately explained, or are higher than reasonable market costs.
- An award will not exceed the approved project budget.
What may be included in the proposed budget?
Applicants must submit an, itemized budget showing how the requested grant amount was calculated. The budget helps the committee determine the appropriate award amount; a strong idea does not automatically qualify for the full amount available.
| Expenses that may be allowed | Expenses that are not allowed |
|---|---|
| Economy airfare or other necessary transportation | Online courses or conference registration |
| Reasonable lodging and meals during required project travel | Tourism, leisure travel, upgrades, or personal entertainment |
| Local transportation required for project activities | General spending money or an unexplained lump-sum request |
| Visa fees, required travel health costs, or required insurance | Expenses already paid or reimbursed by another source |
| Translation, interpretation, transcription, software, or data-access costs | Direct patient-care expenses |
| Research supplies, printing, or participant- related costs necessary for the proposed project | Expenses that are not tied to the proposed project |
Required final report and dissemination plan
A final written report is required before the last 25% of the award is released. The report should do more than summarize the student's experience. It should explain why the international innovation is successful, what could realistically be adapted in the United States, and what next steps a U.S. organization could take.
As part of the "Share" component, applicants should propose at least one appropriate way to communicate their findings to the people or organizations that could use them. Depending on the project, this could include a presentation, policy brief, manuscript, educational resources, implementation proposal, evaluation plan, or community-facing resource.
Application requirements
Each proposal should include the 16 headings outlined below. Write for a general audience; the review panel is the Advisory Board of the Frontier Community College foundation. Avoid jargon, define necessary abbreviations, and explain technical ideas in plain language. The prompts beneath each heading clarify the information requested.
- Unmet Need in the US
- Project Title. Use a short title that identifies the need and proposed focus.
- Student Name and Contact Information. Provide your name, college, email address, and telephone number.
- Project Location. List each proposed project location and explain the activities that will take place at each location.
- Project Timetable. Provide the proposed start and end dates and a realistic schedule for the major project activities.
- Objective and Overview of the Project. State the main question, what you plan to study, and what the project is intended to produce.
- Background: What Is the Unmet Need? Describe the unmet need in the U.S., who is affected, why it matters, and how the current U.S. approach differs from the identified international innovation.
- See: The Innovation. Identify the established innovation, usually in another country, and provide credible evidence of its success. Explain where it is used, what results it has produced, and how it differs from the current U.S. approach.
- Learn: Project Plan and Methods. Explain how you will understand how the innovation works, what makes it successful, and what resources it requires. Describe the people, organizations, information, or activities that will support your learning.
- Share: U.S. Relevance and Adaptation. Explain which parts of the innovation may be transferable to the United States, what cultural, legal, financial, ethical, or operational differences must be considered, and what U.S. need the adaptation would address.
- Dissemination Plan. Describe the required final report and at least one additional appropriate way to share findings with the people or organizations that could use them.
- Budget and Justification. Provide an itemized budget, explain how each estimate was calculated, and state why each expense is necessary.
- Project Site Contact or Coordinator. Provide the name, title, institution, contact information, and role of each primary international project-site contact.
- Home College Faculty Advisor. Provide the name, department, contact information, and planned role of the faculty member who will advise or oversee the project.
- College Faculty Advisor Letter. Attach a letter confirming support for the project and describing how the faculty advisor will advise or oversee the work.
- References. List the sources used to support the unmet need, the international innovation's success, and the proposed approach.