Get up to $1,500 for community-university collaboration and relationship building.
We are now accepting applications for the 2024 Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund. The fund awards up to $1,500 to fill small resource gaps so community partners can build reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty and staff.
We especially welcome applications for projects that advance:
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Indigenous engagement and reconciliation
- Health innovation and community wellbeing
- Sustainability and climate action
- Teaching, learning, and research excellence
Application deadline
The PRE fund will be accepting applications until December 31, 2024, OR until available funds are exhausted. Applications are typically assessed within one week of submission for eligibility and fit with PRE Fund criteria.
This year, we have a total of $50,000 to fund up to 33 community-university projects.
Supporting new and existing partners
Building on the success of our earlier “Partnership Recognition” Fund, the PRE fund invites both new and existing partners to apply. We are excited to expand the fund’s scope to support the development of new community-university relationships!
Applying for CUES funding?
PRE funding can also be linked to proposals for the Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund. Co-applicants may use PRE funds to test, design or explore a CUES application. Some restrictions apply.
FAQs
Who can apply?
Each application must include two applicants who are the main points of contact for the proposal—a co-applicant that represents an eligible community partner and a co-applicant that is a current UBC faculty, staff, or student at either Vancouver or Okanagan campuses. Eligible community partners can be a registered charity, qualified donee listed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or a non-profit society.
If additional partners beyond the two co-applicants will be involved in the proposed work, please indicate this in the project and partnership/relationship description sections in the online application form.
The PRE fund is not able to support projects outside of Canada.
Please contact us if you are not sure if you should apply.
Who receives the funding?
Funds are intended to go directly to community partner organizations. However, we understand that in some cases providing funds directly to a community partner is not possible or is not appropriate. If you are not certain how funds can/should be distributed for your project, please contact us to discuss potential options.
What are the PRE Fund criteria?
Strong PRE fund applications will indicate how the will address the following criteria:
- Addresses an identified need of the community partner and/or the communities they work with.
- Improve community access to UBC research, teaching and learning resources.
- Fill a resource gap that supports a community’s or community organization’s capacity to work with UBC faculty, staff and/or students.
- Advance reciprocal, mutually beneficial community-university engagement to advance:
- Equity, diversity and inclusion
- Indigenous engagement and reconciliation
- Health innovation and community wellbeing
- Sustainability and climate action
- Teaching, learning, and research excellence
Please also review the eligible budget expenses under the ‘How may funds be used?’ and ‘What can funds NOT be used for?’ FAQ (see below).
How do I apply?
To apply, submit an application using the online form to describe the project and partnership, how funds will be used and when, and the intended outcomes or objectives.
- Submit an online application.
- Applications will be accepted by UBC Community Engagement until December 31, 2024 or available funds are exhausted.
How much money is available?
We currently have reached our funding capacity for the year. Last updated August 1, 2024.
How may funds be used?
PRE funds are intended to go to the community partners to fill a resource gap in their partnership with UBC. In general, it is expected that projects will start within 60 days of being funded and that funds will be used within six months of the project start date.
Possible activities might include ones that:
- Build or share skills through workshops, training, experiential learning, asset-based skill building, etc.
- Build or share knowledge through events, dialogues, engaged research, toolkits, etc.
- Recognize or celebrate achievements through awards, debriefs, appreciation/evaluation, etc.
- Extend or deepen engagement through community mapping, artistic or creative events, public forums, network building, etc.
- Inform the development and planning for a CUES proposal (please note funds may not be used to cover direct costs for drafting a CUES application).
Funds can be used to cover costs that are integral to these activities. Some examples include:
- Honoraria and stipends (see ineligible costs related to wages and salaries, and hiring UBC students)
- Equipment/supplies
- Transportation or delivery costs
- Facilities and space rental
- Publications and printing materials
- Costs for community partners and community members to attend events
Note that these are just examples and we invite you to submit expenses that meet the needs of your work. Please contact us and we will be happy to talk this through with you.
What can funds NOT be used for?
The following activities are outside the scope of this fund:
- Activities that do not include at least one community partner organization and a current UBC student, faculty, or staff.
- Hiring UBC students
- Payment of UBC salaries or wages, including to pay for the drafting of a CUES application
- Core operational costs for community organizations
- Fees for UBC faculty, students, or staff to attend conferences, events, etc.
- Expenses that include alcoholic beverages
- Projects that have been supported by PRE funding in the same year
- Funding that flows directly to an individual (PRE funds are intended to go to partner organizations)
- Projects outside of Canada
Do I need to provide a report at the conclusion of our project?
Yes. Partners are asked to a submit a report within one month of wrap up. We are flexible if you require longer than one month to share back. There are several ways you can submit a report:
Option 1: Short Written Submission
- A brief description of who was involved, what happened, what needs were filled or impacts made.
Option 2: Conversation
- A conversation with UBC CE staff to share what happened and any learnings from the work together. This can be with both or either partner as appropriate.
Option 3: Your Choice
- Your project may already be creating documentation of what happened and the learnings through a report, research, event, video, etc. We would be happy to receive/participate in what you’re already creating as your end of project submission.
Can I apply to the PRE fund more than once?
We can fund each project or partnership once per year. If you are not sure if you qualify, please contact us. Individual applicants can apply more than once as long as the application is related to different projects/partnerships. Please also consider applying for funds through the Community-University Engagement Support Fund.
How long does it take to fully process an application and fund an approved project?
We aim to approve applications and notify co-applicants within one week of submission. Funding an approved proposal takes 2-4 weeks once an application is approved. We recognize that there can be delays in the application review process; whenever this happens, we will do our very best to communicate with all applicants. If you have any questions about the timeline, please do not hesitate to connect with the CE office.
How do I receive funding? What information needs to be on the invoice? Do you have a sample invoice?
As part of the approval notice by email, successful applicants will receive a link to complete a Letter of Agreement (LOA) and an invoice template. Each invoice should include:
- The name of the organization who will receive the funds
- Contact information for main point of contact related to financing the project
- Charitable number or GST number for the organization
- Name of the project
- Funding amount that was approved.
We will provide a sample invoice for all PRE Fund recipients as part of the approval package. LOA’s require electronic or written signatures of each co-applicant, as well as for any third-party financial intermediaries.
In special circumstances, UBC co-applicants may receive funds on behalf of a project team. Please contact us for more information before submitting an application.
Still have questions? Contact us at partner.fund@ubc.ca. We’re here to help.
Apply for the 2024 PRE Fund
Please complete all sections in the online form below and click submit to be considered for PRE funding. The form includes the following sections:
- Basic project details
- Community co-applicant information
- UBC co-applicant information
- Project activities and partnership description
- Budget
Your application can be saved and shared with your project team at any time by clicking ‘Save and Continue’ at the bottom of the page.
Each application will be assessed on the four following criteria:
- Does the project address an identified need of the community partner and/or the communities they work with?
- Does the project improve community access to UBC research, teaching and learning resources?
- Will this grant fill a resource gap that supports a community’s or organization’s capacity to work with UBC faculty, staff and/or students?
- Does the project outlined advance reciprocal, mutually beneficial community‐university engagement to advance any one or more of the following:
- Equity, diversity and inclusion
- Indigenous engagement and reconciliation
- Health innovation and community wellbeing
- Sustainability and climate action
- Teaching, learning, and research excellence
Review and approval of PRE Fund applications is typically completed within one week of submission. If you have any questions or experience issues with the form, please let us know right away at partner.fund@ubc.ca. We are here to help!