PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
ACM member colleges face growing pressure to diversify funding streams, support faculty research, and launch innovative institutional initiatives. Competitive grant proposals, whether for research, teaching innovations, student success, or institutional transformation, can be powerful tools to achieve these goals. Yet, many faculty, staff, and leaders at small liberal arts colleges lack dedicated time, targeted training, and collaborative support to pursue external funding opportunities.
This multi-day event, hosted by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, is designed to close these gaps. Participants will gain essential skills in grant-seeking—from identifying funding sources to crafting compelling narratives—and, just as critically, they will have sustained, uninterrupted time to focus on their own proposals.
With a mix of practical workshops, panels with knowledgeable mentors, peer feedback, quiet writing blocks, and shared meals with colleagues, this retreat-style program offers a rare blend of capacity-building and productivity.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
The Grants Lab is designed for faculty and staff members on ACM campuses of varied experience levels seeking external grant support. To make the most of this opportunity, participants should arrive having identified a general project and at least one potential funder.
Individuals may develop proposals on their own or joint proposals in collaborative teams.
ACM also welcomes Sponsored Research Officers and grants professionals from member campuses to participate.
EVENT DETAILS
This in-person event will be held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and conclude by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
The closest airport to the event is the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids.
COST
The cost per participant is $150 (for the first five registrants from each ACM member campus). Space permitting, campuses may send additional registrants for an additional cost.
ACM will provide hotel accommodations, programming, snacks, and most meals.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Interested individuals should contact their Chief Academic Officer/Dean/Vice President for Academic Affairs to inquire about the registration process.
All participants should complete the online registration form by the deadline of Thursday, May 21, 2026.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Looking for additional resources to begin your grant-seeking journey? Visit ACM’s online guide for seeking external funding or schedule time to meet with your campus Sponsored Research Officer or Grants Liaison on your home campus.
Contact [email protected] with questions.
