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Eligibility

Principle Investigator

The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a CU Boulder faculty member in the arts, humanities, or social sciences disciplines. This includes faculty in:

• College of Music
• College of Arts & Sciences (e.g., Theatre & Dance, humanities departments, humanistic social sciences)
• Law School
• School of Education
• �Թ��� Libraries
• College of Communication, Media, Design and Information
• Leeds School of Business (for human-centered, qualitative, or social-impact-oriented research)

Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) from��any discipline across the university are welcome and highly encouraged, fostering essential interdisciplinary teaming.

For any questions about eligibility, please contact��Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship.

Interdisciplinary Teams

Only interdisciplinary teams are eligible for Level 2 $15,000 and Level 3 $25,000 grants.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is the process by which individuals from different academic disciplines work together toward a common goal. Through this collaboration, we emphasize integrating diverse perspectives, methods and knowledge bases to solve complex problems that may not be as effectively addressed by a single discipline.

Eligible Federally Funded Projects

For Level 3 grants of $25,000, the proposed project must be based on an invention or creative work developed with federal funding. Please contact��Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship if you have any questions about the eligibility of funding you’ve previously received.

Other Funding Opportunities

The Creative Futures Fellowship is separate from RIO’s Arts and Humanities Grant Program. Past applicants and awardees from the latter program are welcome to apply.

Faculty in biosciences, physical sciences, and engineering disciplines are encouraged to partner with a PI for the Creative Futures Fellowship, and/or to seek funding as a PI themselves in the Lab Venture Challenge. Proposed projects with a primary focus on advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy, infrastructure engineering, or quantum should not apply to the Creative Futures Fellowship and should instead apply to the Lab Venture Challenge.

Fellowship Application and Funding

Funding

Up to $190,000 in total funding is available. Applicants may apply for any of the three levels of funding where eligibility is met:��

• Level 1: $5,000: Teams with no interdisciplinary collaboration
• Level 2: $15,000: Teams with interdisciplinary collaboration with other CU departments
• Level 3: $25,000 : Teams with interdisciplinary collaboration with other CU departments��and projects that have prior or concurrent federal funding

Fellowship Application Themes

Applicants will choose from the following themes demonstrating how their arts, humanities and/or social science projects address:

• Community Health and Wellbeing
• Climate, Environment and Sustainability
• Civic Engagement and Democracy
• Cultural Innovation and Preservation
• Access to Education
• Technology, Ethics and Society
• Community Development

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Problem-solution fit
• Innovation and originality
• Public impact potential
• Interdisciplinary collaboration, for Level 2 ($15,000) and Level 3 ($25,000) applications
• Feasibility within budget and timeline
• Scalability or sustainability

Application Guidelines

Applications must be submitted using the template outlined below.��Reviewers may or may not be experts in the same field, so applications should be jargon-free and written for a broad audience of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

• Project Summary (<500 words):��What is the problem, solution and impact of the solution. How has the problem or need been validated directly with the intended beneficiaries/partners?
• Detailed Narrative (<1,000 words)��covering the following:
  • Objectives of the project:
    • What is the goal of the project
    • Who will be impacted by the project
  • Project Description, including:
    • Detailed description of the project and how the goals will be accomplished
    • How does the project fit into the selected application theme
    • Measurable benefits to the public good: how and by what methods will you determine the impact and success of the project
    • Interdisciplinary collaboration (if applicable)
• Budget and Justification:��What level(s) of award, and how will the funds be spent
  • Justification (<500 words): Particular attention should be given to justifying budget items that may not be obvious to reviewers who are familiar with (but not experts in) your specific field(s)
• Timeline (bullet points): What are the key milestones to achieve the stated goals?
• Team: Include a CV and brief bio (<250 word) for the PI and each Co-PI, as well as their roles in the project

Pre-Application Workshop

Applicants are strongly encouraged to join this optional five-week workshop before applying to the fellowship in order to develop a clear “problem-solution fit” that sharpens their application.

This workshop supports CU Boulder faculty in the arts, humanities, social sciences and related fields as they explore how their work can meaningfully respond to community needs, broaden its public reach and compete for future funding. Participants will engage directly with community members, practitioners and stakeholders to understand how their scholarship, creative practice or educational innovations intersect with real-world challenges and opportunities.

This workshop emphasizes��problem–solution fit,��social and cultural impact, and��evidence-based pathways for advancing projects that serve the public good.

Benefits for Participants

Over five weeks, participants will:

1. Clarify the problem or opportunity their work addresses:��Identify the cultural, educational, social or community-level challenges that their scholarship or creative project is positioned to address.
2. Engage directly with communities:��Spend time conducting conversations with people who are connected to, impacted by or knowledgeable about the issue at hand—community organizations, educators, artists, practitioners, policymakers, librarians, students, cultural institutions, etc.
3. Understand community needs and perspectives:��Practice how to frame interviews, listen for patterns and gather qualitative evidence that can inform project direction and real-world impact.
4. Strengthen the project’s case for support:��Use insights from conversations to refine goals, demonstrate significance and sharpen arguments for funding, internal support or partnerships.
5. Communicate impact more effectively:��Articulate who benefits, how and why—using clear, compelling language grounded in real-world conversations.
6. Build connections and interdisciplinary collaborations:��Work alongside colleagues across campus who are exploring similar questions about public impact, community engagement and problem-oriented scholarship.

Workshop Schedule

The workshop combines hands-on workshops, brief check-ins and fieldwork between sessions.��All sessions are virtual via Zoom.

• Tuesday March 24, 9 a.m-noon: Kickoff Workshop
• Tuesday March 31, 9-10 a.m.:��Webinar
• Tuesday April 7, 9 a.m-noon: Workshop Block 2
• Tuesday April 14, 9-10 a.m.:��Webinar
  Tuesday April 21, 9 a.m-noon: Final Session and Presentations

Between sessions, participants will conduct community conversations and gather insights that help shape their project direction.

Workshop Outcomes

By the end of the Workshop, participants will leave with:

• A clearer articulation of the��problem or need that their work addresses
• Evidence and insights gathered from��direct community engagement
• A refined description of the project’s��relevance, value and potential impact
• Stronger language to support��funding requests, public engagement efforts or collaborative partnerships
• A community of peers exploring similar questions across disciplines

Social Impact Studio

Fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in the optional Social Impact Studio. The Studio is a dynamic community designed to help fellows transform their projects into lasting real-world impact. The studio includes:

• Cohort Community Meetings:��Fellows come together regularly to share resources, exchange insights and build a coalition of support. These sessions foster support across projects and create a network that lasts beyond the fellowship.
• Mentorship and Advising:��Gain access to Venture Partners’ extensive mentor network. Fellows are encouraged to seek guidance from mentors who can help support their projects and provide strategic advice for long-term success even after the fellowship ends.
• Development Opportunities:��The Impact Studio offers resources to help fellows navigate the journey from concept to impact. These resources focus on practical skills and strategies for launching creative and social innovations beyond CU Boulder.

Award Terms and Conditions

• Reporting: Recipients will submit a report to Venture Partners no later than 30 days following the end of the fellowship. Venture Partners staff will be in contact with the report requirements and submission details.
• Significant Outcomes:��If a significant outcome of this grant award is realized at any time (e.g., securing an external grant, an invention, a key creation or performance, etc.), recipients will notify Venture Partners in writing by emailing��Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship.
• Non-Exclusive Funding:��Awarded Fellows are encouraged to seek any funding for which they are eligible from any other RIO funding source for the same project or activities funded under this award.
• Compliance:��If the project entails any compliance issues (e.g., IRB, IACUC, EHS, biohazardous material, etc.), recipients certify that the appropriate compliance offices on campus will be made aware of the proposed activities before initiating any work.

Need Guidance?

For any questions related to the fellowship, please contact Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship.