The North Carolina Science Festival is offering event sponsorship mini-grants of up to $1,000 to seed new events and partnerships as part of the April 2025 NC Science Festival. Festival planners anticipate making 10-15 awards.

The Festival is offering funds to support a select group of community events themed around STEM and happening during the month-long celebration. This is one way we hope to better support our partners and strengthen our exciting suite of public programs for the people of North Carolina.

There are four major points of emphasis for Festival programming:

1. Fun and engaging elements
2. New or exclusive access to research areas or experts
3. Demonstration of how aspects of STEM are connected to our daily lives
4. Celebrating careers in STEM

Priority of event sponsorships will be given to events that:

1. Expand access and opportunities to communities who have not engaged with NCSciFest
2. Create inclusive environments to engage diverse community audiences
3. Meet one or more of the major points of emphasis listed above
4. Connect experts to the general public
5. Create one or more new partnerships for your organization

Eligibility:

Event producer/partner with a track record of creating high quality science education events for North Carolina audiences, inclusive of non-profit organizations and/or STEM companies. Partners may apply for up to $1,000.

How to apply:

Submit the online application form below. Requirements for submissions are below.

• Deadline to apply: November 30, 2024 (11:59 p.m. Eastern).
• Sponsored events will be notified of awards by December 15, 2024.
• The maximum sponsorship amount that can be applied for is $1,000.* 
• Funds will be disbursed in February 2025.

*UNC System campuses may be eligible for additional funding - please contact the NCSciFest team to discuss.

Requirements for event funds:

1. Event must be offered at least once during April 2025.
2. Event must be free of charge to attendees.
3. If selected, finalized event details and description must be submitted by January 15, 2025, along with a signed letter of agreement.
4. Event hosts must agree to promote the Festival, adhere to Festival branding guidelines, and to use Festival materials leading up to and during the event.
5. Event Hosts must use Festival evaluation tools.
6. After event:  Event Hosts must submit an expense report, return any unspent funds, and submit evaluation results as requested by the Festival evaluator by May 7, 2025.

Submission Requirements:

1. EVENT ORGANIZER’S STATEMENT: Brief description of your organization and its involvement with STEM education. How does the proposed event support your organization’s mission? (Limit: 250 words)
2. EVENT PROPOSAL: Description of the proposed event. Is pre-registration required for participants? What other organizations, if any, will be involved in the event? (Limit: 500 words)
3. INNOVATION: Describe how this event is new or innovative. If you've hosted this event before, what elements are you adding for 2025?  (Limit: 250 words)
4. SCIENCE FOR ALL: The NCSciFest is committed to the mission of "Science for All" - how will your event help to achieve that mission and improve access to STEM opportunities for North Carolinians, particularly underserved populations. (Limit: 250 words)
5. STATEMENT DESCRIBING HOW FUNDS WILL BE SPENT:  What is the overall cost (estimated) to present the event, and what amount is the organization requesting for the sponsorship? Please provide details about how funds will be spent. (Limit: 250 words)
6. BRANDING PLAN: Describe how your organization will co-brand this event as part of the 2025 NC Science Festival (Limit: 250 words)

Deadline to apply is November 30, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

The Selection Committee will be looking at the following criteria:

1. Does the event occur during the Festival?
2. Is the event free to the public or a targeted subset of the public (like teens, seniors, etc.)?
3. Is the event a special program that occurs only during the NC Science Festival?

If yes to all three, then:

1. Quality of proposed event. For example: Is the event fun and hands-on, or if not, does it provide unique access to aspects of science (i.e. behind-the-scenes tours, interaction with experts, etc.)?
2. STEM aspect of proposed event. Does the event have the potential to teach (or demonstrate to) the public something exciting and/or new about STEM? Or, does the event serve to raise the awareness of how STEM is connected to our everyday lives and/or provide an opportunity to learn about STEM careers?
3. Project Plan. Does organizer demonstrate ability to produce proposed event?
4. Audience impact. Does the event have a potential to expand access and opportunity to new audiences?
5. Geographic Impact. Is the event in a region of the state where we’d like to have more events?

Questions? Please contact Erik MacIntosh, Community Engagement Manager, at 919-962-3274.