DEI Community Fund


The goal of the GSC DEI Community Fund is to encourage diversity-focused dialogue within and across graduate departments at MIT. 

Funding is never guaranteed until the GSC DEI Department and Classroom Inclusion Initiative (DCI) officers meet and vote on the application. Special considerations are not given to events that have occurred in the past. 

The Allocations Board and are composed of the GSC DEI Treasurer, the GSC DEI DCI vice-chair, and at least one DCI officer-at-large. We will confirm receipt of your application and send you a confirmation within 24 hours and will review your application on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

What is Funded

Small and Medium Events (<=$300 per event)

Not Funded

Large events

Capital Expense

Steps to Receive Funding

  1. Be a DCI conduit or apply for funding jointly with at least one conduit representing the department(s) hosting the event (unless there is no conduit for your department)
  2. Apply for funding from GSC DEI
    • Funding is rolling, but please submit your application at least three weeks before the event and your reimbursement request no more than two weeks after the event
      1. We are happy to provide support if you are unable to fund the event out of pocket and wait for reimbursement
    • If requested to by the Funding Board, answer additional questions about your funding request
    • Publicize the event at least one week in advance through the department(s)’ administration or listserv and cc gsc-diversity-dci@mit.edu.  
    • Be sure to include GSC DEI as a co-sponsor 
    • Use the DEI logo on all advertisements (including emails) and at the event (on all flyers/handouts and presentations).  
    • Note that paper posters are not required and should be used with the knowledge that they generate low awareness and large amounts of waste.
  3. Work with a DCI officer to coordinate the event.
    • The DEI DCI team will reach out to pair you with an officer
    • The officer will submit reimbursement requests once the event has taken place
    • The officer will coordinate planning and may choose to be present at the event
  4. Comply with the Institute and GSC Alcohol Policies. Failure to comply with MIT policies and/or GSC Funding Board Guidelines could lead to citations and/or warnings from the GSC Funding Board regarding the GSC funding related issues, and/or a failure on the part of the GSC to provide funding and/or reimbursement.

GSC Funding Board Alcohol Policy

GSC Funding Board funds cannot be used to buy alcohol. However, alcohol may be present at a Funding Board sponsored event if other funding sources are used to purchase the alcohol and the event fully complies with all MIT Alcohol Policies, including the additional restrictions which apply to student groups.

Requirements 

  • Must be open to all MIT graduate students in your department
  • Must be of general interest to Graduate Students
  • Must not be open to non-MIT graduate students
  • Must not charge MIT students entrance or participation fees
  • Must be advertised to the entire department with the GSC and DCI name (or logo in the case of posters), which should not be less than 5% of the paper used for advertising
  • Event information must be emailed to all students in the department at least 7 days before the event and include GSC DEI as a sponsor
  • Advertising must include all relevant information in English
  • Funding will only be awarded for specific events. Funding awards may include certain restrictions or prerequisites for reimbursement. Funding allocations not used during the period for which it was awarded is lost and goes back into the pool to fund groups for the next term.
  • The Community Fund will not fund speaker fees/honoraria, speaker travel expenses, speaker gifts, or prizes.
  • Funding for food will be limited to <=$10 per person
  • Submit post-event report: after giving receipts to DCI, fill out a post-event summary, share some highlights, and include a list of attendees

Contact

gsc-diversity-dci@mit.edu