The IDEA Mini-Grants program supports innovative research related to democratic principles, institutions, challenges, and governance, while helping researchers develop work that can lead to future external funding.

Purpose

IDEA offers two types of Mini-Grants. Pilot Grants of up to $8,000 support new projects that can generate the preliminary data, theory or other foundational work needed to compete for external funding. Matching Grants of up to $10,000 supplement an external award a researcher has already received when those funds alone are insufficient to carry out the project. Pilot Grant applications are reviewed once annually; Matching Grant requests are accepted on a rolling basis.

Research may be quantitative, qualitative, normative or philosophical, as appropriate to the project and its intended contribution.

Eligibility

IDEA Mini-Grants are open to Ohio State faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. Graduate student submissions must include a brief, one-paragraph endorsement from a faculty advisor. Postdoctoral and graduate student applicants should identify a faculty advisor in the application.

Proposal Guidelines

• Proposals should:
• Clearly articulate the central research question and its significance.
• Explain how the proposed work builds on and improves existing research.
• Demonstrate how the project aligns with IDEA's mission and goals.
• Describe the anticipated scholarly products, including papers, book chapters or other research outputs.
• Show the potential for, and a commitment to, developing and submitting a related proposal for future external funding.

Allowable Expenses

• Examples of allowable research-related expenses include, but are not limited to:
• Compensation for experimental or survey participants
• Monetary or other incentives used in experiments
• Research materials or equipment
• Data sets

IDEA generally does not fund conference registration, travel expenses or personnel costs, including undergraduate wages and graduate student support.

Funding Process and Expectations

Pilot Grants are offered through an annual competition. Matching Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must include a copy of the external award notice and a brief explanation of the remaining funding gap. Matching Grant decisions are generally expected within approximately four weeks.

Funded projects are generally expected to be completed within approximately one year and may run for up to 18 months.

• By accepting an IDEA Mini-Grant, the principal investigator or another member of the research team agrees to:
• Present the research at an IDEA workshop.
• Acknowledge IDEA funding in relevant presentations and publications.
• Submit a brief written report on the work completed with IDEA support.
• Provide information, when requested, about resulting publications, external grant submissions or awards, and other research products.