Hooks Institute's Social Change Grants Program

Overview

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute’s Social Change Grants Program provides funding to support University of Memphis faculty research and projects that address social change issues, with a goal of having long-term impact, contributing to systemic change, and providing models that can be replicated. Only tenured, tenure-track and associate research professors are eligible to apply for the grants. Two grants, in the amount of $2,500 each will be awarded. 

Application is closed. Stay tuned for additional opportunities.

Allowable Expenses

• Research databases
• Research participant stipends/incentives
• Printed material/publications
• Research assistant compensation
• Travel to conduct research

Unallowable Expenses 

• Equipment
• Software
• Conference travel to present research
• Faculty compensation

Applicants must submit an application, by email to Rorie Trammel, Hooks Institute associate director, rtrammel@memphis.edu. The applicant’s department chair must be copied on the email. Funds must be used in the semester they are awarded. An interim report must be submitted at the end of the semester for which grant funds are awarded. A final report must be submitted at the end of the project.

GRANT APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Please provide answers to the following questions, in Word format, adhering to the character limits. Please, also provide a project budget, in Excel format.

1. Is this a new pilot project or a project that is already underway? (250 characters or less).
2. Describe the social justice issue that is the focus of your project or research. Include relevant data about the issue that makes your research project innovative or a significant contribution to your discipline. (600 characters or less).
3. Describe your project implementation plan including the following. (1000 characters or less)
   
   • Target audience
   • Goals and objectives
   • Project format
   • Outcome measurements
   • Project Timeline, including expected completion date
4.  If any other UofM departments, community or national partners will be involved in this project, explain what their involvement will be. (500 characters or less).
5. Will students be involved in the implementation of this project? If so, explain what their involvement will be. (500 characters or less).
6. Explain specific deliverables that will result from this project (research publication, book, curriculum, conference presentation, program creation, etc.). (500 characters or less).
7. How, specifically, will Hooks Institute funds be used? (500 characters or less).
8. When would you prefer that grant funds are disbursed (month/year) (100 characters or less).
9. At the end of the application responses, the following statement must be included along with the applicant’s signature.

If awarded this grant, I agree to provide an initial status report at the end of the semester in which the funds are received and in subsequent semesters until the project is completed. The Hooks Institute will be referenced as a project funder in materials, announcements and any published work that emanates from the grant award. Additionally, the Institute will receive a copy of any published work.

Past Grant Awardees

2021

• Sohye Lee PhD, RN (UofM Loewenberg College of Nursing)
  Lee and her research team's grant-winning project, “Assessing Perceived Racial Discrimination and Health Outcomes among Asian Americans and African Americans,” examines the relationships between perceived racial discrimination and health outcomes among Asian Americans and African Americans after the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Jaime Sabel, PhD (Assistant Professor, UofM Department of Biological Sciences)
  Sabel’s grant-winning project, “Exploring Factors That Contribute to Persistence in Underrepresented Biology Students,” works to determine factors and interventions to better support retention and graduation of students seeking degrees in the life science field with an emphasis on African American students. 
  
  Click here for more information.