Community-Based Research (CBR) Grants at the University of Utah seek to support research partnerships between academic researchers and community-based partners that inquire into and address real-world issues through an approach rooted in enhancing societal impact for our local, national, and global communities. The University of Utah recognizes the value of CBR as a method for enriching our understanding of the world; while also advancing scientific knowledge within contextualized practice, guiding community and economic development, impacting policy, fostering learning, supporting organizing and movement building, and enhancing trust between academic institutions and the communities we build, serve, support, and share space with.

The Office of the Vice President for Research is excited to sponsor the CBR Project Implementation Grant Program. CBR Project Implementation Grants provide up to $30,000 in funding and should be designed to support research projects that are based in an established partnership with community partners and have been designed in collaboration with partners.

For the purposes of this grant program, the VPR Office uses the below definition of “community-based research” (as it is defined by the Community Research Collaborative.)

A family of research approaches that aim both to understand or explore an issue and to implement solutions. CBR focuses on questions that are meaningful to a community and engages both professional academics and community members as experts. Partners share power and collaborate to develop and carry out the research together.

Research approaches that can fall under the umbrella of CBR include, but are not limited to, community-based participatory research, translational research, participatory action research, teacher research, participatory design research, community-based translational research, and action science. CBR Projects can utilize a wide range of research methods and can define the community in a number of ways - most often based off of shared identities or experiences.

Because CBR can look so many ways, there is no single set of step-by-step instructions that would apply to all projects. Instead, offer the following 6 basic principles of CBR, designed and published in May 2021 by the Community Research Collaborative in “In It Together: Community-Based Research Guidelines for Communities and Higher Education.” We understand that these principles will be practiced differently depending on your community, topic, research approach, and goal. We encourage applicants to utilize these principles as guidelines in your Project Implementation proposal.

1. Shared Goals and Values: CBR is driven by goals and values that are explicitly shared among partners. Partners should come to a mutual agreement on shared goals. These usually include both addressing community priorities or social issues and adding to academic knowledge/value. Partners also agree on shared values for the project. While values may differ across projects, there are some values inherent in CBR. For example, CBR values different ways of knowing and different types of expertise.
2. Community Strengths: CBR builds on the strengths, knowledge, and cultures of the communities involved. Academics and communities bring knowledge, expertise, and other unique contributions to research. CBR projects identify and build on the strengths of communities and are designed to respect cultures of these communities in the process. This requires partners to understand and affirm cultural practices around their table, while recognizing their own assumptions and biases.
3. Collaboration as a Shared Value: Partners share power and work together to develop and carry out CBR projects. CBR is about researching with people rather than on While partners often play different roles, nobody is left out of key decisions. Collaboration requires open and regular communication. It may require interpretation across languages and cultures. It is important to acknowledge power dynamics and work to share power.
4. Collective Benefit: All partners should see benefits from the process and outcomes of CBR. Just as all partners contribute to CBR, all partners should benefit. Benefits may go to individuals, organizations, communities, society, or the land. Partners decide for themselves what benefits they want to see and what risks they will take. This principle shifts the usually unequal distribution of benefits between academics and communities.
5. Trusting Relationships: CBR requires open, trusting, ongoing relationships. CBR requires partnerships built on honesty, trust, and learning from each other. Without these elements interwoven in partnerships, the other principles are not possible. There are people who can jump-start and support the relationship building process, but it still takes time and effort: showing up, being genuine, and being accountable. Relationship building needs to be worked into a research plan and timeline.
6. Accessible Results: CBR is shared in ways that are accessible and useful to all partners. The results of CBR are meant to be used by the community and contribute to academic knowledge – this often requires creating products for multiple audiences. Community-facing products can be used to support advocacy, practice program design, education, etc. Products need to be timely and in formats that fit the cultures of the communities involved.

Faculty members who hold at least a .50 FTE appointment are eligible to apply.

Starting FY25, CBR Project Implementation applications will be due annually, on the 2^nd Thursday in February.

Applications for the FY25 cycle of this program are due by 11:59pm (MST) on Thursday, February 13^th, 2025.  

1. Proposal Narrative: 5 page maximum, single spaced, 12 pt. font, PDF Format Only
   Proposal Narratives should adequately address the following questions:
   • What is the topic or issue that your research project addresses?
   • Which communities does the project engage?
     • How would you describe your collaboration with community partners?
   • How is the topic important for the communities involved and for advancing academic knowledge?
   • How has the team considered/embedded the Six Principles of CBR be into the project?
   • What are your research questions, objectives, and overall study design?
     • In what ways is this design appropriate to the study objectives and the communities involved?
     • How did you ensure this design was developed collaboratively among all partners?
     • How will your approach attend to community-campus relationships and allow for meaningful opportunities for each to contribute to and benefit from the project?
   • Describe your research methods (study design, data collection, analysis, timetable, etc.).
     • Who will be involved in each stage of the process?
     • How did you address important ethical considerations?
   • What is the overall timeline for your proposal? How do you plan to meet deliverables outlined in the proposal?
   • What academic and community-facing outputs are you planning to produce from this research?
     • What outcomes or impacts do you hope this project will have on the communities involved? On academic knowledge?
     • How will this project strengthen the capacity of community members to engage in and benefit from the research enterprise? Of faculty researchers to engage in learning from community expertise?
   • How does your budget attend to supporting community members and partners?
     • What other funds or resources have you already received?
     • How do you plan to fund this project in the future?
2. Partnership Agreement: 2 page maximum; PDF Format Only
   Please attach a written partnership agreement. A Partnership Agreement is a written outline of responsibilities and agreement (not legally binding) between the community partner(s) and the proposing team to fulfill the commitments of the proposal to the best of their abilities. A Partnership Agreement Template is provided. You may utilize this template directly, if desired. The submitted Partnership Agreement should be adapted to fit the needs and concerns of the project and its specific partnerships. The Partnership Agreement must be signed by the applicant and lead representative of the community partner organization, institution, or group.
   At a minimum, this agreement should:
   • Identify all community partners and length of time the applicant(s) have worked with these community partners
   • Specific assets each partner provides the project/proposal
   • Explain the community partners’ involvement in collaboratively identifying the research topic/questions/methodology
   • Roles and responsibilities of all community members on the project
3. Budget Outline: Must use provided CBR Budget Template; PDF or Excel Format allowed.
   The Budget Outline should include all project costs and justifications for each cost. Budgets should also include information on funds from other sources/matching funds, if applicable. Please refer to Budget Guidelines and Restrictions sectionof this opportunity announcement when creating your project budget.
4. Abbreviated CV or Biographical Sketch: PDF Format Only
   Please provide the abbreviated CV or biographical sketch of each University of Utah affiliated investigator listed on the project. Bio-sketches/CVs are not required for associated parties who will not be considered PI or Co-PI on the project.
5. Health, Safety, and Compliance Documentation: PDF Format Only
   The applicant must submit evidence that the proposal has been submitted to the required health, safety, and compliance officials, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for research on human subjects, and IACUC approval for research involving comparative medicine.
   Note: The VPR Office will not release funds for an awarded project if not approved by the relevant health, safety, and compliance officials. Documentation of relevant IRB and/or IACUC application submissions must be provided with grant application for the application to be considered. The application does not need to be approved at time of submission – only at time of award.

Budget Guidelines

Guidelines

• A budget outline is required for all applicants. Applicant must use CBR Budget Template.
• Budgets should not exceed $30,000.
• Enter all amounts in whole dollars
• Add lines as needed to include all pertinent items
• For fringe rates, see https://osp.utah.edu/resources/quick-reference/benefits.php.
• Hourly wages of research assistants must be listed and justified. If Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)students are used in the project, their wages are paid by UROP. Students must apply separately to UROP.
• The basis for figuring travel related to the project and per diem costs must be itemized and made clear and may not exceed rates for per diem and travel set by the Travel Office (801-581- 7142).

Budget Restrictions

• Project Implementation funding may not be used for:
  • Travel that is not directly related to successful completion of the project. Travel to present project findings at conferences/meetings is not allowed.
  • Faculty salaries
  • Graduate student-initiated projects, stipends, or fellowships
  • Support to write dissertations or theses
  • Curriculum development
  • Career development (e.g., taking courses, attending professional meetings/conferences, etc.)
  • Benefits on hourly wages except those required by law
  • Computers or computer hardware (unless the applicant can provide strong evidence that the project cannot be pursued without procuring that specific computer hardware or workstation – contact vprgrants@utah.edu with questions)
  • Society/group memberships
  • Consultant costs
• Funding dedicated to faculty salaries or research assistance require meaningful justification. The review committee is likely to favor a high percentage of funds going to community partners and members of their communities. Budget outlines that allow for course buyout must have approval from their Associate Dean for Research or equivalent.
• Careful justification should be given for the purchase of equipment (including computer hardware/software, books, or supplies) which may already exist in the University. Equipment purchased by the research grant becomes the property of the University of Utah. Where leasing equipment is a possible option, the purchase must be justified.
• A request for funds to purchase a computer requires evidence that the project cannot be pursued without procuring that specific computer or workstation. The VPR will fund the acquisition of computer hardware and software that are vital and necessary components of an approved project.

Proposals will be reviewed by the CBR committee. Committee Reviewers will have expertise in leading, designing, and/or conducting CBR research. Proposals recommended for funding are forwarded to the VPR for final review and award selection.

In general, and at minimum, CBR Project Implementation proposals are evaluated on the criteria listed below. Reviewers may also comment on other strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. This is to ensure applications receive a thorough, multi-perspective review of quality, merit, impact, feasibility, and appropriate use of university funds. Criteria for review is below:

• Proposals should be well-developed and research-focused, with strong overall quality and significance demonstrated throughout.
• Proposals should have a feasible and well-developed budget outline and project timeline.
• Proposals should address and apply research topics, questions, methodologies, personnel, facilities, etc. that are important to community partners, academic scholarship, and the success of the proposal.
• Proposal should demonstrate synergy between community engagement and strong academic scholarship. Proposals should address questions of import to scholars and community members, while producing results that advance scholarly knowledge and benefit communities that partners are intended to serve.
• Proposals should be high-quality in terms of both scholarly rigor and collaboration. Proposals should be rooted in current scholarly research and community knowledge, use methods appropriate to the research question as well as the communities involved. Whenever appropriate, proposals should address and align with the Six Principles of CBR.
• Proposals should articulate need/use of CBR funds strategically and in ways that support and value community partners/community members.
• Proposals should demonstrate potential impact on the communities involved, academic disciplines, fields, and/or methodologies. Proposals should show that community members and partners have taken the lead in defining impacts on their communities. Impacts at different geographic scales (local, regional, national, international) can be equally valuable.

Grantees will be expected to:

• Submit a final report outlining whether the proposal was successful, what deliverables were achieved, etc. Details will be provided to awardees.
• Identify next steps for the project.
• Define future plans for work with newly established partnership.

Applications for the FY25 cycle of this program are due by 11:59pm (MST) on Thursday, February 13^th, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Submit an Application

Information on 2012-2023 Community Based Research Programs (CBR) awardees is available HERE.