Once grantees are selected (in March 2010), they will be matched with experts on organizational structure and management, and on the specifics of their project to help fine-tune their project before implementation and to make their organization more sustainable.
After the project’s completion, each student group will be required to share data, best-practice recommendations, multimedia and other information in a detailed project write-up, which will be shared on mcnpartners.org. The group will also be required to consult for two other member organizations, present their work at a General Assembly meeting during the following semester, and share their work at the Millennium Campus Conference. MOs chosen as grantees will serve as models for other MOs doing similar work, and their expertise will be dispersed through the network through the MCN’s infrastructure.
While the MCN is eager to fund its MOs, their monetary needs and proposals must first meet specific criteria. First, the proposal must adhere to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Furthermore, the proposal must be coming from a reputable campus organization, be feasible, and there must be a clear community need and demand for whatever the proposal is offering. Whenever possible, the MCN will favor proposals that involve more than one MO working together. This will encourage collaboration and increase efficiency and synergy across the network.
The MCN Student Action Grants will increase to $60,000 in 2010-2011, and continue to grow to meet the overwhelming need for financial support among MOs.