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2025-2026 Community Engaged Research Partnership Award Program: Pilot Program

Request for Proposals

A. Purpose of the Program

The Community Engaged Research Partnership Award Program recognizes outstanding research conducted in partnership with communities by eligible Florida State University faculty currently at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure. Community engaged research partnerships are long-term, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial collaborations between academic faculty at university and community organizations, where partners work together to leverage research as a means to improve and transform conditions for specific stakeholder communities and often focus their efforts on groups that are vulnerable to disparate or undesirable outcomes. Community engaged research partnerships vary in their organizational structure, programmatic activities, and methodological approaches, and therefore can be found in multiple disciplines, including education, health and allied health, social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, and STEM. Community partners can include public agencies and nonprofit organizations external to the university, and may include schools, districts, state agencies, health providers, libraries, youth program providers, and other non-academic institutions outside of the university. However, in all cases, researchers work with and alongside partners to conduct research that addresses complex problems of interest to and defined by the community partner.

Both researchers and community partners face several unique challenges to creating and sustaining collaborative research-focused partnerships. The Community Engaged Research Partnership Award program is intended to both recognize and support mid-career and senior faculty at FSU who are committed to collaborating with community partners to produce research that is rigorous, relevant, and impactful. Therefore, the award will include funding for the faculty member, one of their graduate students, and their community partner organization to engage in research over a 12-month period. In addition, as a part of the award, recipients will be expected to participate in opportunities to develop competencies related to the conduct of community engaged research partnerships. The program welcomes applications that utilize a diversity of disciplinary perspectives, methods, and approaches to partnership. In addition, applicants are encouraged to submit interdisciplinary projects which foster connections across campus, deal with transformative ideas and concepts, and will lead to new programs of research.

It is expected that this assistance will lead to the development of new and/or strengthening of existing collaborative, community-engaged research partnerships. It is also expected that this assistance will lead to applications for external funding or support within one year of the completion of this award, including investigator-initiated federal, state, or foundation awards, pilot awards, and institutional awards.

The Community Engaged Research Partnership Award program is in a pilot-phase, as a part of the Institutional Challenge Grant program awarded to the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) by the William T. Grant Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and Spencer Foundation. More information about the award can be found at: https://fcrr.org/projects/william-t-grant-foundation-institutional-challenge-grant. Questions about the program can be directed to the Project Manager, Catie Goodman at cjgoodman@fcrr.org.

During the pilot phase, we welcome applications to support research partnerships with public agencies and nonprofit organizations to address disparities in youth outcomes. Up to three faculty members will be awarded during the 2025-2026 academic year. Program continuation is contingent upon available funding and program success.

B. Award Information

Award Amount*: The one-time award amount of up to $19,000 is inclusive of:

  • $10,000 to the faculty member to support research partnership activities
  • $5,000 to the community partner to support participation in the research partnership activities
  • Up to $4,000 of stipend support for one graduate student affiliated with the faculty member and research project

*Awardees will be recognized at the annual Faculty Awards Dinner, which is generally scheduled in the late Spring.

Award Distribution: Funds will be dispersed by FCRR. A formal budget plan is not required at the time of submission. However, funds must be used in accordance with award terms and conditions. 

  • For the community partner, funds will be dispersed in accordance with university policies, as well as policies within the community partner organization. Funds may only be used for activities related to the research described in the proposal, and may include travel, supplies, and staff support. FCRR will collaborate with the community partner organization to ensure appropriate disbursement of funds.
  • For students, funds will be dispersed directly to the student’s home department where they are enrolled as a graduate student.
  • For faculty, funds may be used for OPS expenses, research-related travel and supplies, and graduate student support (including fringe benefits). Awards do not support faculty salary.

Award Requirement: Community Engaged Research Partnership Workshop: 

  • Faculty and their graduate student funded by the award are required to attend a workshop developed and facilitated by FCRR and the National Network of Education Research Practice Partnerships. The workshop will be offered in collaboration with the Offices of the Provost and the Vice President of Research at FSU and FAMU. Attendance at the workshop is a mandatory portion of the program; failure to attend will result in disqualification from the award.

C. Eligibility

  • Eligibility is limited to full-time, active status tenured FSU faculty holding the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor. Contributions and accomplishments since joining the faculty at FSU should be emphasized in the nomination information.
  • FAMU-appointed Engineering faculty members who are full-time, active-status and tenured at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor are eligible to apply for this award.
  • Candidates must have a clearly established program of research over a number of years.

D. Important Dates for the 2025-2026 Round

  • Pre-review is not available for this program.
  • Submission Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026 @ 4:59 pm
  • Award Notification: Mid-April 2026
  • Award Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

E. Selection Criteria

  • Applicants should have a strong cumulative record of achievements which must be clearly representative of all aspects of their scholarly career (i.e., teaching, service, and research).
  • There should be evidence of significant research engagement with non-academic partners and institutions outside of the university. This engagement should be distinct from civic or social engagement and should be apparent in scholarly activities. Examples of these include:   
    • Ability to attract federal, private, and foundation support for research activities with partners, including with partners serving as Co-PI or Co-I on funded projects
    • Ability to provide early career scholars (e.g., undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, junior faculty) with opportunities to engage meaningfully in research and research-related activities with community partners
    • Ability to demonstrate the scientific impact of the research partnership’s activities through publications and presentations in academic venues (e.g., journals, high quality book presses, museum catalogues, critical reviews from important venues)
    • Ability to demonstrate the public impact of the research partnership’s activities through publications and presentations in non-academic venues (e.g., convenings for targeted stakeholders; infographics, research briefs, and other multimedia presentations designed to disseminate research findings to specific stakeholder groups and/or support the uptake and use of research evidence; policy and practice changes)
    • Co-authorship and co-presentation of research activities with partners locally, nationally, and internationally
  • A strong letter of support from community partners detailing the extent of partnership, their engagement with faculty members, and impact of the partnership’s research on the organization and on outcomes of interest to the organization and its stakeholders.
  • Not to be included among the selection criteria are such factors as sex, race, field of specialization, Department, School or College, outside activities, previous accomplishments in other fields or positions, whether or not the candidate is applying for other campus awards (i.e. COFRS, sabbatical), and whether other members from the same Department or School have been selected for awards.

F. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Applicants for the award program are required to submit the following materials:

  1. Application

Applicants must complete the application for the Community Engaged Research Partnership Award program using the FSU FIRE Portal in InfoReady.  All sections must be completed to submit your application. Changes cannot be made to an application once the application has been submitted. Changes cannot be made to an application once the submission deadline has passed.

  1. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must submit a current CV formatted according to requirements for one of the following standard brief CV templates:

Applicants are encouraged to use SciENcv to create biosketches. SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae) was developed by NIH to support the use of a common researcher profile system by federal agencies. Through SciENcv, individuals who apply for, receive, or are associated with research investments from federal agencies can create a biosketch using the official formatting requirements for the NIH, NSF, and IES. SciENcv can also be linked to your ORCID account, where information can be transferred to create a biosketch. For more information, please visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/.

  1. Description of the Research Partnership, Planned Activities, and Future Directions

Applicants must submit a clear, complete, non-technical description of a planned effort to establish or continue an ongoing program of community engaged research at FSU. Descriptions should clearly demonstrate how the applicant will collaborate with the community partner to carry out research activities that will contribute to the development or continuation of a community engaged research partnership.

Although brief, activities during the award period are expected to meet criteria for the responsible and productive conduct of research in partnership with non-academic organizations, including:

  • proposing research questions that are relevant to the organization;
  • utilizing rigorous qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches;
  • proposing a feasible research plan that can be reasonably accomplished with the organization and without undue or unnecessary burden on their staff; and
  • including plans to help the partner use the research findings to make decisions that will help improve and transform conditions for the participating stakeholder community.

Applicants are encouraged to specify:

  • the partnership;
  • the partner organization(s) and their desire for the research partnership;
  • the problem or concern identified by the partner that the research will address;
  • the structures in place or that will be developed to support working with and learning from the partner during award period;
  • the reciprocal benefits of the research for partners and their communities;
  • plans for measuring the impact of the research on the community; and
  • plans for sustaining the community engaged research partnership beyond the award period.

It is expected that funds may be used to achieve one or more of the following goals:

  • develop and implement a shared program of research with a community partner organization;
  • provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in community engaged research partnerships;
  • integrate community engagement into an existing program of research;
  • produce and disseminate original research within an existing community engaged research partnership; and
  • encourage and expand community engaged research in disciplines, departments, research labs, research centers, and studios across the university.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare descriptions that are written in clear, concise language so that reviewers from any discipline will be able to understand; field-specific jargon and acronyms are discouraged unless they are plainly defined within the text. Descriptions must not exceed 5 pages (not including References and Appendices). Pages must be single-spaced and formatted with 1" margins utilizing 11pt Times New Roman or Arial font and page numbers.

  1. Partner Letter of Support

Applicants must include a Letter of Support from the participating community partner(s). If more than one organization is engaged in the research partnership, the applicant must specify one organization as the prime partner who will receive funds from the award. Only one Letter of Support will be accepted. The letter should detail how the community partner(s) expects to participate in the proposed work, including how funds from the award will be used to support the work. The letter should be no more than 2 pages in length, placed on the organization’s letterhead, and signed by an authorizing official who can provide support for the work detailed in the proposal.

G. Research Compliance

Typically, research compliance approvals are not necessary for the application process. However, any proposed research activities requiring compliance review and approvals (such as Human or Animal Subjects use, DNA/RNA use, Hazardous Materials, or Marine Lab facilities) require the completion and submission of forms to the appropriate FSU department or group. Applicants must seek and receive approval before such research is attempted and before any funds can be released, if awarded. See Human Subjects, Animal Care and Use Committee, Environmental Health & Safety, or Research Compliance for other compliance requirements that may apply to the planned research. If necessary, applicants may pre-apply for Human Subjects or Animal use approval prior to funding notifications. While not required in advance, having prior approval will prevent delays in receiving grant funds, if awarded. 

H. Application Submission Process

  • Go to the FSU FIRE Portal in InfoReady.
  • Start a new proposal by selecting the 2025-2026 Community Engaged Research Partnership Award Program. Complete all the sections and upload each of the required elements. 
  • Applications cannot be altered after they are submitted. Please review the application prior to submission.
  • Proposals with incomplete required fields will not be reviewed.

I. Application Review Process

  • The Review Committee will consist of selected faculty and staff in FCRR, FSU, and FAMU who are engaged with the Institutional Challenge Grant program awarded to FCRR by the William T. Grant Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and Spencer Foundation.
  • Reviewers will use review guidelines for scoring the application.
  • The Review Committee will recommend the finalists to the Advisory Board for the Institutional Challenge Grant program awarded to FCRR by the William T. Grant Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and Spencer Foundation, which includes representatives of the FAMU and FSU Office of the Provost, the FSU Office of the Vice President of Research, the FSU Center for Leadership and Service, the National Network of Education Research Practice Partnerships, Leon County Schools, and FAMU Developmental Research School.
  • The Advisory Board will make final funding decisions based on the funding allocated to the program, the number of proposals received, and merit of each proposal.

J. Award Terms & Conditions

  • The Community Engaged Research Partnership Award Program can only be used to support research and creative activity.
  • The Community Engaged Research Partnership Award Program does not support faculty salary.
  • This award may be used for OPS expenses, research-related supplies and travel, and graduate student support (including fringe benefits).
  • Time extensions will not be allowed during the pilot program.
  • FCRR reserves the right to withdraw remaining funds from a project if unauthorized spending occurs and may also require misspent funds to be repaid by the PI/Department.
  • If awarded, any research compliance items must also be approved prior to award activation.
  • All necessary forms must be received by FCRR no later than 30 days following notice of award; failure to submit these documents in a timely manner may result in the withdrawal of the award.

K. Grant Close-Out

  • FCRR will begin financial closeout of the award will automatically within 60 days following the award period end date.
  • Time extensions are not permitted.
  • Awardees will be required to respond to short project outcomes surveys via email at 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals after the award end date. Surveys will allow faculty to identify the proposals, publications, exhibits, presentations, and/or other external funding outcomes resulting directly from this award.

L. Payback

  • PIs who later find that they have funding from another source for similar or the same support are requested to decline acceptance of this award so that funds can be redirected to provide support for other applicants who would otherwise go unfunded.
  • In the event that a PI leaves the university, involuntarily or voluntarily, prior to the end of the award period, the awardee has the responsibility of notifying FCRR and returning the remaining award amount to FCRR.
  • Faculty members who receive funds during a sabbatical will be asked to repay those funds if they leave the university during the year following the award.
  • Summer funding will not be awarded to faculty planning to leave the University immediately following the award period.
  • The balance of any remaining award funds will be returned to FCRR at the conclusion of the award period.