Request for Proposals

Community-Engaged Data Dissemination of Research Findings

The Division of Community Engagement in the Office of the Provost invites proposals from faculty for innovative, community-focused research data dissemination projects. This is the second year we are offering this opportunity, following the strong interest and success of last year’s call.

This initiative gives faculty a chance to place their work at the intersection of community engagement and scholarship. Community-engaged dissemination, the process, the partnerships, and the outputs is recognized as a meaningful form of scholarship. Faculty supported through this program will contribute to the growing field of community-engaged scholarship and to the science of community engagement. This opportunity is designed to help faculty produce work that is valuable for communities and also contributes to the academic record through publications, presentations, and other scholarly outlets.

The Primary Goals of this RFP are:

1. Innovative Dissemination: Encourage faculty to use creative, accessible ways of sharing research findings that are engaging and meaningful for community audiences.
2. Two-Way engagement: Support open dialogue between researchers and communities that allows for feedback, shared learning, and co-created ideas based on research findings. This type of engagement can also spark new opportunities for collaboration.
3. Faculty Scholarship and Development: Strengthen faculty scholarship by supporting dissemination activities that generate publishable outputs and contribute to the evidence base for community-engaged research.
4. Community Impact: Ensure that research findings are shared in formats that matter to communities, build trust, and encourage future partnerships and participation.

We are especially interested in supporting faculty who have completed research projects with known findings but who have not had resources to focus on community-based dissemination. The goal is to help faculty and research staff expand dissemination into intentional, community-engaged initiatives.

---

Funding

• Award amount: Up to $5,000 per project
• Use of funds may include:
  • Collaborating with local artists or performers
  • Engaging community members, students, or other participants
  • Supplies, materials, or venue costs
  • Other reasonable expenses needed to carry out the project

Timeline

• Application deadline: January 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET
• Awardees Announced: March 16, 2026
• Grant Period: July 2026 - July 2027
• Final Report Due: July 21, 2027

Information Sessions:

• Data Dissemination Grant Info Session - Virtual | October 29, 2025. | 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. | Register Here
• Data Dissemination Grant Award Panel Discussion - Virtual | November 12, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. | Register Here
• Data Dissemination Grant Info Session - Virtual | December 9, 2025 | 12:30 - 1:30 P.M. | Register Here

---

How to Apply

1. Prepare your proposal following the requirements in the full RFP.
2. Email your application to dcegrantsinfo@vcu.edu.
3. Subject line suggestion: Data Dissemination RFP Application – [PI Last Name]

Download: Full RFP & list of requirements (PDF)

Questions

For questions, contact Mitsuko Cedras at cedrasmd@vcu.edu.