Application Deadline: March 10, 2026.

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Through the online application portal, applicants are required to attach the required documents (pdf format) to the online application, including a signed copy of the Grant Information Form, the Proposal Narrative & Budget, and a CV document containing one-page CVs of each participant. 

Submitting a Project Grant Proposal

3 parts need to be included in a Wabash Center Project Grant Application. 

You will be prompted to attach the required documents (pdf format) to the online application, including a signed copy of the Grant Information Form, the Proposal Narrative & Budget, and an Institutional Letter of Support.

You will be prompted to attach a signed copy of the Grant Information Form, the Project Proposal, and the signed Institutional Letter of Support to the online Grant Application.

Part 1 – Grant Information Form

The Grant Information Form requests information necessary for the consideration of your proposal, including contact information, grant project dates, amount of the grant request, and a 150-word proposal abstract (which might be uploaded on the website pending your acceptance). The Grant Type to select is “Peer Mentoring Cluster.”

This form requires contact information and signatures for: 

• The Cluster Leader or Project Director/s: The person/s responsible for providing narrative report on grants, typically the person/s overseeing the administration of the grant and writing the project proposal to apply for the grant.
• Cluster Participants (NO SIGNATURES REQUIRED).
• The Financial Contact: The person responsible for receiving the check and providing financial reports of expenditures for the institution. This should be a different person than the project director. 
• The Authorization Contact: The person authorized to sign grant contracts for the institution.

Part 2 – Proposal Narrative and Budget

Successful proposals will include specific examples, demonstrate thoughtful reflection about the project’s presenting problem, identify and address relevant pedagogical questions, attend to the alignment of the design with the goals, and provide clear plans for evaluating, assessing, and responding to what was learned during the course of the project.

In 1000-1250 words, please:

• Describe the focus of the proposed BIPOC peer-to-peer mentoring cluster, the relevant context for this work, and why it is necessary for you at this time. Describe the racial and identity politics the members of your cluster are navigating.
• List 3-4 aims/goals you have for mentoring, building networks, nurturing friendships, and/or moving toward community within the cluster. State how you will know, after a year of meetings, that this set of conversations has met your aims/goals.
• Describe who will be involved in the cluster and what they will contribute to the articulated goal(s).
• Describe the collaborative practices and processes for internal evaluation to assess what is happening throughout the cluster cycle.
• Narrate the structure and timing of the conversations and gatherings, including details about the strategies and objectives for each stage; group activities, rituals, excursions, and encounters throughout the mentoring cluster cycle; cultural enrichment relevant to the focus of the peer-to-peer mentoring cluster, and facilitated discussions germane to the focus.

Line Item Budget and Budget Narrative
In consultation with your institution’s financial officer, build a budget to support the activities projected, delineating yearly estimates if requesting a multi-year grant. Provide a brief narrative in support of each line item expense. Make sure the budget is congruent with how expenses can be allocated at your institution. Institutional indirect costs are not permitted for this size of grant. Read: Grant Budget and Expense Guidelines (pdf)

Curriculum Vitae

• Attach one document containing a one-page CV for each of the participants in the Peer Mentoring Cluster

Part 3 – Institutional Letter of Support

• Written on institutional letterhead by a dean, department chair, provost, president, principal, or rector
• Demonstrates institutional support and engagement with the project
• Describes how the institution will respond to what is learned during the grant
• Must be signed, scanned, and attached to the application
• If the project director holds one of the above offices, the letter must come from someone higher in the institution

Peer Mentoring Cluster Grants provide up to $10,000 to support small groups of BIPOC faculty in Religion and Theology. These grants create spaces for learning, professional growth, mutual support, and communal care. Designed for full-time faculty in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, these grants fund peer mentoring clusters that typically gather 6–8 times over the course of a year, with at least one in-person retreat. Each cluster focuses on some aspect of teaching or the teaching life—exploring strategies for thriving in higher education while honoring cultural identity, community, and resilience. 

• These grants are not scholarships and may not be used for tuition or degree-related work (e.g., M.Div., D.Min.).

• Ph.D. and Th.D. students are not eligible.

• These are not research grants intended to support book writing or field-specific research.

• Applicants must have completed and submitted the final report for any previous Wabash Center grant before reapplying.

All proposals are reviewed and adjudicated by the Wabash Center’s advisory committee. The process is competitive and based on alignment with our mission and selection criteria outlined in the RFP. Applicants will be notified via email, and awards will be announced by April 2026.

Can you provide some examples of the sorts of projects this program is intended to fund?
Answer: We have intentionally chosen to not provide illustrations of exemplary projects in order to not limit the imagination and creativity of applicants’ ideas.  

Who is eligible to apply?
Answer: The applicant (Cluster Leader) must be BIPOC and teaching Religion or Theology full-time at a college, university, or theological school.

Must every participant in the Cluster have been a participant in a Wabash Center workshop or colloquy?
Answer: No.

Must every participant in the Cluster be teaching theological or religious studies in higher education?
Answer: No. A Cluster may include others, but since our intention is to support faculty in the fields of theological and religious studies, we would expect the majority of the Cluster participants to fit this label and that others’ participation be explained (briefly) in the cover letter.

How small or how large can Clusters be?
Answer: There is no absolute cut-off point. The amount of funding is one limiting factor. Also, consider how small or how large a group can be and still have effective conversation. Our assumption is that Clusters of between 3 to 6 participants would be a good range.

How often should clusters meet, and for how many years?
Answer: The number and format of the meetings will depend upon the proposal itself. Costs for travel and hospitality will limit the number of meetings. There is no specific number of meetings or length of time. Our hope is that the grant will be the catalyst to begin this peer work and that other professional development money could be used to continue the meetings once the Wabash Center funding is gone.

Can Clusters meet “virtually” (online)?
Answer: Yes. But we would expect at least one face-to-face meeting between cluster participants and an explanation in the cover letter as to why this seems to be the best way to carry out the conversations.

Can funds be used as stipends or honoraria in compensation for work and time?
Answer: Yes. But stipends should be minimal for the participants in the Cluster, and larger for an outside expert who is used in some way. We assume that all members of the Cluster will be gaining from the meetings and conversations and will not need a full stipend to be involved.

How rigid is the distinction between research and teaching?
Answer: This is not a research grant but talk about research and scholarship is not restricted or prohibited. Because the Wabash Center’s mission is to strengthen and encourage faculty member’s reflection on teaching, the funding is for that purpose. Research and scholarship might result from these Clusters, but this should not be the primary focus of conversation.

Can I participate in more than one Cluster?
Answer: No.

Grant funds can be spent on items and activities such as:

• Childcare, elder care, house sitting to support attendance to group gatherings

• Meals or groceries for gatherings

• Travel, meals, lodging (retreat center, hotel, conference center, rented house)

• Stipends (meager) for participation in the group

• Equipment, supplies, and materials to support group meetings and discussions

• Honorariums for guest resource persons with the group

• Entrance fees or tickets for cultural events, museums, concerts, etc.

• Germane services (e.g., coaching, gym memberships, spa, spiritual direction, workshop registrations, etc.)

The Wabash Center generally does not fund:

• Research

• International travel

• Travel for attendance to disciplinary conferences

• The preparation of textbooks

• Research focused primarily on field content and only secondarily on teaching

• Publication of conference papers or books, or production costs of other media

• Stipends for writing the grant proposal or making application for the grant

• Home utilities should group convene online

• Items designated as gifts, presents, offerings or donations

• Travel, meals, lodging expenses should family or friends accompany participant on an extended conversation

Please note that the grants of the Wabash Center are not intended for the use of underwriting the ordinary, ongoing work of the professorate, much of which is already supported by the home institution or department. The grant funds are meant to be used to support and strengthen teaching and the teaching life. The above lists are not exhaustive. All projects and budget expenditures must be aligned with the Wabash Center mission.

Date: May 7, 2026, 12–3pm ET (mandatory)

 

This orientation introduces grant leaders to Wabash Center staff, peers, and requirements. 

During the session, leaders will:

• Share their project’s vision, aims, and strategies
• Explore practices for effective mentoring and community-building
• Refine their designs through conversation with other leaders
• Review reporting requirements and dissemination strategies
• Consider ways their project may foster institutional change

The Proposal Writing Resource Hub supports faculty in crafting strong, mission-aligned proposals for Wabash grants. Whether you're new to proposal writing or refining an existing idea, this hub offers practical tools, step-by-step guidance, and examples to help shape your vision into a compelling proposal. From articulating project goals to budgeting and evaluation, we’re here to help you succeed.

• 20 Key Questions to Answer Before Writing a Grant Proposal

• Dissemination Planning Worksheet

• Dissemination Strategies

• Examples of Wabash Center Grant Projects

• Grant FAQ

The Grant Management Resource Hub guides faculty through the effective stewardship of funded projects. This includes managing budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements with clarity and confidence. Designed to foster responsible grant leadership, the hub offers tools, templates, and best practices to ensure projects stay on track and aligned with the goals of your grant proposal.

• Dissemination Strategies
• Dissemination Planning Worksheet
• Examples of Wabash Center Grant Projects
• Faculty Transferring Institutions Instructions
• Instructions for Requesting a Grant Extension
• Sample Budget Revision Request
• Sample Letter Requesting Budget Revision
• Grant Reporting Guidelines
• Grant FAQ

We encourage you to seek grant coaching well in advance of the deadline. We recommend reaching out at least 30 days before submission. Coaching and feedback on the grant proposal are not available after an application is submitted.

To request coaching:

• Review the Grant Worksheet

• Contact Sarah Farmer at farmers@wabash.edu.

*Note: Because we receive many requests for feedback, responses may take up to four weeks.