Former Fellows Grant Program

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to award grants to support former Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging fellows in their continuing work in law and aging. Grants support discrete projects or efforts in law and aging but do not provide salary support or any type of ongoing funding for administrative or operational costs of a former fellow's agency.

Eligibility

Any former Borchard fellow who has successfully completed the terms of the fellowship and who is seeking to continue their work and career development in law and aging may apply. Application considerations will include the benefit to the former fellow, the demonstrated need for funding, the relevance of the proposed project to law and aging issues, and whether the fellow has already received a grant through this program in either the same fiscal year or a prior year.

What Grants Might Support

Former fellows are best suited to identify the evolving needs of the communities they serve as well as their own career development needs.

Fellows have used grant funds to participate in national conferences, develop educational materials about housing rights for older adults, and provide a series of law and aging trainings for social workers and other advocates.

When making decisions about funding fellows to attend conferences, priority will be given to those who demonstrate in their proposals how they will be actively involved by, for example, presenting a paper or poster, facilitating a session, serving on a planning committee, or participating in a working group.

Although grant funds cannot be used for general salary, the grant may be used for the cost of time devoted to the project at a reasonable hourly rate. If a portion of the grant will be used for time costs, please provide details about the hourly rate and estimated number of hours.

Some other possible examples of what a grant might support are:

  • Fund outreach to a new population in need of a particular type of service
  • Develop/update a website or other virtual resource to better serve target groups
  • Develop/update/translate educational materials
  • Pilot an innovative approach to a long-standing problem
  • Support a fellow's attendance of a regional, national or international conference
  • Support a fellow's continuing education in law and aging or related areas
  • Fund a special meeting or event
  • Develop/update training materials
  • Research and writing of articles

Grant Amounts

Generally speaking, grants will be in the $500 to $5,000 range. Applications should indicate the amount sought.

Funding to attend conferences or trainings will be paid on a reimbursement basis. Project grants will be paid prior to the start of funded activities.

Application Process

Applications must include:

1. A letter addressing the following questions:

  • How much money are you seeking?
  • Why are you undertaking this initiative?
  • How will you use the grant?
  • What work products or outcomes will result from the grant-funded endeavor?
  • What is your timeline for completion of the project?

2. A budget for the project (former fellows can view sample budgets in the Resources section of the Fellow login area on the website)

3. An up-to-date CV

The application and any attachments should be sent by email to Mary Jane Ciccarello, Director, at .

Grant recipients must submit a one-page report of their use of the grant within 30 days of completion of the grant project or effort. Reports should be sent by email to .

Application Deadlines

Grant applications are accepted year round.

Questions?

Please contact Mary Jane Ciccarello at