Sparking Entrepreneurial Thinking Mini-Grant Application Guidelines

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1 Sparking Entrepreneurial Thinking Mini-Grant Application Guidelines Overview Through the NMC, HP LIFE e-learning is seeking innovative learning-focused organizations or institutions to join the Sparking Entrepreneurial Thinking program. Our goal is to stimulate forward-thinking educational experiences that feature the learning and demonstration of real-world skills. Three $4,000 USD mini-grants will be awarded by the NMC to learning-focused organizations or institutions that propose to leverage free HP LIFE e-learning courses to infuse more creativity, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking in their educational programs or classrooms. Of special interest are projects or programs that simulate real-world activities (e.g. business development, creating production/marketing strategies), attempt to solve local and global problems (e.g. accessibility, environment, etc.), or educate teachers and faculty on entrepreneurial subjects to weave into their curriculum. Applications are due May 31, Please contact with any questions. Application Pathways Applications should address one of three pathways, which should be included by name in the header of every page of the application: 1) Business Development, 2) Solution Design, or 3) Professional Development. 1) Business Development. Students (ages 13 and up) or participants use HP LIFE e-learning courses to support them as they develop a business or product real or simulated. Examples include participants creating budgets, marketing and sales strategies, roadmap projections, or any other kind of materials created for any successful business. 2) Solution Design. Students (ages 13 and up) or participants use HP LIFE e-learning courses to support them as they design and even execute on solutions that combat a local or global problem. Applications must identify a problem or problems that the mini-grant intends to try to resolve through learning projects and activities. 3) Professional Development. Mini-grant project or program involves institution or organization leaders having their participants or faculty use HP LIFE e-learning courses for progressive professional development. The goal is for learning practitioners to be able to incorporate more entrepreneurial thinking and subject matters into different disciplines and educational programs for students (ages 13 and up). Applications must describe how the training will be deployed and how it will positively impact practitioners.

Three $4,000 USD mini-grants will be awarded by the NMC to learning-focused organizations or institutions that propose to leverage free HP LIFE e-learning courses to infuse more creativity,

2 Mini-Grant Application Guidelines Guidelines In addition to including your name, your organization s name, and some pertinent background info, applications must include a one-paragraph abstract of the project or program and directly answer the following questions: 1) How will my project or program incorporate HP LIFE e-learning? 2) How does my project or program fit the application pathway I have selected? 3) How will my project or program spark more entrepreneurial thinking in participants? 4) Who will my project or program serve, and how many people does it aim to reach? 5) What are the proposed objectives and outcomes for my project or program, and how will I measure and depict the success? 6) What are the major milestones and estimated timeframe of my project or program? 7) How is my organization/institution well-suited to build this project or program? 8) What materials will be generated by my project or program? (e.g. videos of students in action, websites, blogs, etc.) Requirements Organization Status. Applying institutions or organizations must be not-for-profit, and be able to provide materials legally reflecting not-for-profit status, if selected as a grantee. Terms of Payment. $2,000 USD (50%) will be awarded to each grantee after the acceptance of their application. The remaining $2,000 USD (50%) will be awarded upon completion of the project or program and is contingent upon the grantee fully implementing the project or program as outlined in the application. As the application calls for applicants to state goals and ways to measure them, the grantee must be able to demonstrate that they have fulfilled those goals (e.g. registering all teachers in a school with HP LIFE e-learning). A tracking link will be assigned to each grantee to track HP LIFE registration and course usage. The proposal should state goals on number of registrations and course usage. Milestone Check-Ins. Upon being awarded a grant, the grantee will be obligated to attend bi-weekly meetings that discuss the progress of the project or program to ensure that all milestones are being met, as outlined in the application. The project must be completed by October 31, Record of Progress. Awardees will be expected to document the progress of their project or programs through public means, such as blogging, media creation, or other means. Submitting Your Application Applications should be submitted by May 31, 2015 at 8pm Central US Time as a single PDF to samantha@nmc.org with the subject line: Sparking Entrepreneurial Thinking Application. Please use no smaller than size 11 font and 0.5 inch margins. There is no page count limit.

2) How does my project or program fit the application pathway I have selected? 3) How will my project or program spark more entrepreneurial thinking in participants?

3 Mini-Grant Application Guidelines About HP LIFE e-learning Learn more about HP LIFE by registering for free at and then viewing the following recommended resources: Overview video tour Overview presentation slides Quick start guide An HP LIFE e-learning faculty instruction manual is also available at along with a brief flyer at

org/go/bts and then viewing the following recommended resources: Overview video tour Overview presentation slides

4 Sparking Entrepreneurial Thinking Mini-Grant Application Background and Contact Information Your Organization/Institution: Your First and Last Name: Your Work Phone Number: Your Preferred Organization/Institution s Website: Organization/Institution s Address: Organization Code (e.g. 501(c)(3): Abstract In the space below, please provide a one-paragraph overview of your proposed HP LIFE e-learning project or program.

Organization/Institution s Website: Organization/Institution s Address: Organization Code (e.g. 501(c)(3):

5 HP LIFE e-learning Mini-Grant Application [STATE SUBMISSION PATHWAY HERE] Defining Questions Please respond to each of the below questions with the highest level of detail that you are able to give. Use as much space you need. 1) How will my project or program incorporate HP LIFE e-learning? 2) How does my project or program fit the application pathway I have selected? 3) How will my project or program spark more entrepreneurial thinking in participants? 4) Who will my project or program serve, and how many people does it aim to reach?

1) How will my project or program incorporate HP LIFE e-learning?

6 HP LIFE e-learning Mini-Grant Application [STATE SUBMISSION PATHWAY HERE] 5) What are the proposed objectives and outcomes for my project or program, and how I will I measure and depict the success? 6) What is are the major milestones and estimated timeframe of my project or program? 7) How is my organization/institution well-suited to build this project or program? 8) What materials will be generated by my project or program? (e.g. videos of students in action, websites, blogs, etc.)

6) What is are the major milestones and estimated timeframe of my project or program?

Missouri Technology Corporation Early-Stage Business Grant Program Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Proposals

Missouri Technology Corporation Early-Stage Business Grant Program Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Proposals Key Dates: RFP Release Date June 4, 2015 Written Questions (Preliminary Submissions) July 7, 2015