Request for Proposals
Innovation Fund to advance goals of the SFS Strategic Plan
The Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) requests proposals from SFS members for projects that make progress towards achieving the Society’s strategic goals, as detailed in the 2020-2025 SFS Strategic Plan.
We seek proposals that address any of the Society’s strategic goals, and we are particularly interested in proposals that will:
- Translate and communicate freshwater science to policy makers, managers, and the general public.
- Increase efforts to train the next generation of freshwater scientists by supporting graduate and undergraduate students and early career scientists.
- Continually seek new and innovative ways to improve communication among, and services to, our members.
Proposals may be submitted by any SFS member, group of members, chapter, or standing committee. The budget should be commensurate with the scope of the project and should not exceed $5,000, although we encourage proposals with even smaller budgets. The LRPC reserves the right to recommend funding at less than the requested level.
In ≤ 2 pages (single-spaced), applicants should clearly explain what activities will be undertaken and how those activities will contribute to the goals of the 2020-2025 SFS Strategic Plan. A timeline for the project should be included, and projects should not exceed one year in duration. An itemized budget is not required at this stage, but the proposal should make clear how strategic funds will be spent in support of the project. Requests solely for travel funds to attend an SFS meeting will not be supported.
In evaluating proposals, the LRPC considers relevance to strategic goals, breadth and length of impact for the Society, inclusion of historically underserved groups, feasibility of the project, and budgetary constraints. The LRPC makes recommendations to the SFS Board of Directors, which has final authority for awarding strategic funds.
Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2023.
Please email proposals as a single PDF file to Allison Roy, LRPC co-chair: aroy@eco.umass.edu. Be sure to indicate the point of contact for the proposal and include their contact information.