This funding source is available to Calvin College faculty. Grant amounts are usually under $1,000; grants of $1,000 or more require CSR Board approval. Total grants in any given year vary, but are usually about $5,000 and are not likely to exceed $10,000 total.

The following criteria are used to make decisions about small grant requests:

1. CSR funds are intended to be used for activities not normally covered by other internal funding programs.
    
2. The projects must be by social scientists, or employ research methods typical of scholars in the social sciences.
    
3. Projects should primarily advance the research interests of Calvin College faculty.
    
4. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, transcription costs, data collection costs, postage costs, and similar expenses. In-kind funding in the form of CSR services may be requested. Salary replacement is not fundable, nor is travel to conferences or the indexing of books and other manuscripts.
    
5. Preference is given to applications that involve the use of Calvin students.
    
6. The Center welcomes applications that use the services or expertise of the Center itself. Proposals for in-kind grants are welcome.

1. Applications are accepted at any time, but timing to suit our batch planning process is preferred (deadlines are October 15, January 15 and April 15). Completed applications should be submitted online through the following form:
   
   CSR Project Proposal Form
    
2. Applications should provide all the information requested on the application form. Project descriptions should be reasonably detailed, as space allows, about the project's hypotheses, design, execution, and research value. If necessary, a one-page addendum may be submitted to csr@calvin.edu.
    
3. Applications will receive initial review by the CSR Director and staff to ensure their suitability. Grants under $1,000 may be awarded or declined by the CSR Director. Applications for grants $1,000 or more will be forwarded to the CSR Board for review. Board review may occur at official meetings or through online communications. Due to summer travel and Board changes, any such larger requests received after April 15 may not be considered until fall of the following year.
    
4. Normally, applicants will be informed of the Director's decision after the relevant project batch is complete or of the CSR Board decision immediately after the a Board decision is reached.
   
   
5. If approved, funds will be immediately available after the applicant is notified.
    
6. Funds should be spent within 12 months from the date the request was approved. Deviations from this deadline should be reported in advance to the CSR Director.

1. Grants are generally awarded on a cost reimbursement basis for services provided or materials purchased. Award recipients should NOT seek their own reimbursement for out-of-pocket payments made to persons working on the project. Rather, these persons should be directly reimbursed. For equipment and materials purchased, the CSR will reimburse the applicants, provided that receipts or other documentation are available.
    
2. Expenses above the amount approved by CSR will not be reimbursed. Applicants will be personally responsible for such overages.
    
3. At the completion of the project, each grant recipient is expected to submit a brief memorandum summarizing the results of the project for which s/he received the grant. This memorandum should be submitted to the CSR Director at the completion of the project. If such a memorandum is not submitted, future applications for CSR funds by the applicant may be disadvantaged.
    
4. Grant recipients may be required to make a presentation of findings in a CSR-sponsored venue.