Funding ($2 K–$20 K) to show how education changes lives.
Support your research, event, planning project, or story that explores how people learn and teach—in any setting where learning happens.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: U-M faculty, staff, and student organizations. Community partners may co-lead with a U-M unit serving as fiscal agent. Student organizations must list a faculty/staff sponsor.
- Awards: $2,000 – $20,000
- Timeline: Complete within 12 months of award
- Review: Rolling basis; most applicants hear back within 2–3 weeks
Connection to the Four Ways
Every grant must connect to at least one of these core themes that define Life-Changing Education:
[Open Inquiry →] Learning to disagree well so ideas grow stronger
[Expanding Access →] Partnering across Michigan to create new pathways
[Campus of the Future →] Designing learning spaces and cultures that honor past and future
[Sharing Scholarship →] Making research useful and learning from communities
Not sure which Way fits your work? Email Life-ChangingEd-Grants@umich.edu.
Track 1 — Research/Scholarship, Events, Planning
Support for projects that move one of the Four Ways forward through research, convenings, or design work.
Examples of possible projects
- A study on how interdisciplinary design teams learn from failure in an engineering lab
- An arts-based workshop series helping students explore belonging and identity
- A prototype for a hybrid mentoring program linking rural and on-campus learners
- A department-wide “learning audit” mapping how reflection improves inclusion
- A design sprint reimagining orientation or advising models
Deliverable: A public-facing resource (guide, brief, recorded talk, toolkit, or video) shared within 60 days of completion.
Track 2 — Storytelling
Support for authentic stories that show how education transforms lives and communities.
Examples of possible projects
- A short documentary capturing first-generation students’ pathways to U-M
- A podcast series connecting researchers and community partners
- A photography project exploring learning in clinical settings
- An oral-history mini-archive on educational equity initiatives
- A digital feature or interactive map showing Michigan’s statewide learning impact
Deliverable: A storytelling product (video, audio, photo essay, digital feature, or exhibit) ready for public sharing and archiving.
What Makes a Strong Proposal
Projects should be clear, feasible, and connected to at least one Way.
| Criteria | What Reviewers Look For | Weight |
| Fit with Four Ways & Living Questions | Direct connection to at least one Way and its guiding questions | 25 % |
| Clarity & Feasibility | Well-scoped goals and realistic timeline for award size | 20 % |
| Educational or Community Benefit | Improves learning, access, mentorship, or public understanding | 20 % |
| Public Output Plan | Concrete, shareable resource others can use or adapt | 15 % |
| Sustainability / Legacy | Value that extends beyond funding window | 10 % |
| Budget Use | Reasonable, transparent, aligned with purpose | 10 % |
Review process
Proposals are read by faculty, staff, and communications professionals with education and public-engagement experience. Reviewers use a shared rubric to ensure fairness and consistency.
Budget Guidelines
We fund personnel costs, research supports, event costs, planning activities, accessibility measures, student stipends, reasonable community-partner compensation, and production for public outputs (videos, guides, toolkits, recorded talks).
Faculty and staff may include salary or effort compensation within published program limits (typically up to $9,000 with unit authorization).
We don’t fund departmental overhead, non-essential travel, equipment over $5,000 without a shared-use plan, or long-term or recurring salaries.
When you apply, break costs into major categories with 1–2 sentence justifications. Keep it simple — reviewers want to understand.
Funds flow through unit accounts per U-M policy; LCE staff can assist with setup and reporting.
Timeline
Submit → Review (2–3 weeks) → Award → Project period (12 months) → Deliverable due (within 60 days of completion) → Learning Community gathering
Before You Apply
Confirm you can check these boxes:
- Connection to one of the Four Ways defined
- Clear public deliverable identified
- Project fits 12-month timeline and $2K–$20K budget range
- Accessibility built in (captions, alt text, accessible venues)
If Funded, You’ll
- Complete your project within 12 months
- Join one Learning Community gathering (90 min) to share discoveries
- Create a public resource others can use or adapt
- Credit Life-Changing Education in materials
- Follow accessibility standards
After You’re Funded
You’ll receive:
- Award confirmation email with budget details and fund-routing instructions
- Template library (closeout forms, accessibility checklists, public-output formats)
- Access to the LCE Storytelling Hub (for hosting or linking your deliverable)
You’ll have access to:
- LCE staff for budget or project questions (via Life-ChangingEd-Grants@umich.edu)
- Optional check-ins throughout the year
- Learning Community network to connect with other grantees
Most participants say the Learning Community gathering is where individual projects become collective insight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Faculty, staff, and student organizations across all U-M campuses. Community partners may co-lead with a U-M sponsor.
Can students apply directly?
Yes — graduate and undergraduate students can apply with a faculty or staff sponsor to manage funds.
How much can I request?
Typical awards range from $2,000 to $20,000 depending on scope and impact.
What makes a competitive proposal?
A clear idea, strong connection to the Four Ways, realistic budget and timeline, and a public output others can use.
Can my project fit more than one track?
Yes. Select the track that fits best and describe connections to others in your proposal.
Are multi-year projects eligible?
Funds must be used within 12 months. Teams can apply again in future cycles to extend work.
What counts as a public resource?
Any tangible product that lets others learn from your project — like a guide, brief, recording, or story. Simple is fine; the goal is sharing.
How should I build my budget?
Group expenses by major category (supplies, student support, production, accessibility) with 1–2 sentence justifications. Be concise and avoid jargon.
What if my budget changes after award?
Email Life-ChangingEd-Grants@umich.edu. Small adjustments (≈10 %) are usually approved quickly.
Where can I see examples of funded work?
The examples listed under each track show the types of projects we support. As projects finish, we’ll add a gallery of funded work to this page. For now, email Life-ChangingEd-Grants@umich.edu with questions about fit or scope.
Need Help?
Email: Life-ChangingEd-Grants@umich.edu | Full Guidelines: Download PDF
Preview the Application
Want to see what the application looks like before you begin?
Download a sample version for your project type. Each shows the questions you’ll answer in Qualtrics so you can prepare your responses in advance.
Sample Applications (PDF):
- Research — for projects studying how people learn, teach, or collaborate
- Events — for dialogues, performances, or gatherings that connect ideas and communities
- Planning — for design or readiness projects, laying groundwork for future work
- Storytelling — for videos, podcasts, or other creative ways to share how education changes lives