Campus Gender-Based & Sexual Violence Prevention Microgrants
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), part of the Equity and Inclusion Office, welcomes you to apply to the new Campus Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Prevention Microgrant program. Up to 10 applications will be funded!
Purpose:
The purpose of these microgrants is to support initiatives, events, and research that fosters a campus environment free from gender-based and sexual violence through prevention, education, and awareness efforts. Funding will be directed toward initiatives and events that promote consent and gender-based or sexual violence prevention across the university community, and/or support survivors, in alignment with the mission of the SVPRO.
Two streams:
- Campus Gender-Based & Sexual Violence Prevention – General Stream (up to $1000)
Events and initiatives that promote gender-based and sexual violence prevention, consent education, and/or support survivors of these types of violence.
- Campus Gender-Based & Sexual Violence Prevention – Intersectional Stream (up to $1000)
Events and initiatives that take an intersectional approach to sexual violence prevention, education, and response, and/or centre the experiences and needs of marginalized communities disproportionately targeted by campus sexual violence.
All proposals will be considered under the general stream. Applicants will have the option of selecting that their proposal is also eligible for the intersectional stream, which will allow their proposal to be considered under both streams.
Objectives:
- To fund initiatives, events, and research aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based and sexual violence within the McMaster community through education, awareness, support, and student, staff, and/or faculty engagement.
- To strengthen a culture of consent, respect, and accountability that empowers all members of the university community to contribute to a safer campus environment.
- Intersectional Stream: To promote an intersectional approach to understanding sexual violence, bringing awareness to how attitudes and beliefs rooted in different and intersectional forms of oppression (i.e., sexism, racism, gendered racism, ableism, etc.) facilitate and disregard sexual violence experienced by people from marginalized groups, and shape their experiences and needs.
Use of Microgrants
- Events, initiatives, and projects in line with the intended purpose of the microgrant and mission of the SVPRO, which will commence and conclude between January 5th, 2026, and May 31st, 2026. The event or initiative should take place during this time. Events or initiatives that have already been delivered or completed are not eligible.
- Examples of eligible proposals: interactive consent workshops; healthy masculinity speaker events; panel discussions; events or initiatives that promote discussions about the experiences and needs of marginalised groups and other groups more often targeted by sexual violence (e.g., related to sexual violence, healthy sexuality, etc.); film screenings and discussions; storytelling circles; peer support initiatives; information booths during Consent Action Week; creative arts initiatives supporting survivors; staff training sessions; and other events or initiatives related to the purpose of the microgrant.
- Microgrant funding can be used to cover costs such as honorariums, guest speaker fees, location booking, communications and promotions, materials and equipment, food and catering, and other reasonable expenses to successfully facilitate event or initiative (all expenses should be listed within budget).
- Funding will be dispersed to applicants through their identified faculty/department financial representative.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
Students
- Currently enrolled McMaster undergraduate and graduate students
- Active and MSU-approved student groups
- Faculty-affiliated student caucus groups
Staff
- Full-time and part-time permanent staff at McMaster
- Staff and departmental equity committees
- Active and departmentally approved or recognized employee resource groups
- Student front-facing services
Faculty
- Early career scholars (less than 5 years following PhD Completion; post-doctoral appointments)
- Faculty-affiliated equity committee
What can be funded?
- Initiatives, events, or research that engage members of the McMaster community, in line with the purpose of the microgrant.
Events or initiatives that will commence and conclude between January 5th, 2026, to May 31st, 2026.
Who and what is not eligible for funding?
- Applications from non-McMaster community members
- Proposals by individual applicants whose project, event, or initiative were already supported by funding (i.e., Tri-Council funding) or other financial aid above $10,000.
- Events or initiatives that have been successfully completed and finished by the application deadline.
- This grant is not intended to support any travel for knowledge dissemination (i.e., academic conference travel, etc.)
Application Timeline:
- Applications open: Wednesday, October 29th, 2025, at 6:00am
- Applications are due: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, at 11:59pm
- Applicants are notified of their outcome by: December 24th, 2025
- Impact report outlining the usage of funds: June 30th, 2026
30-minute Teams Drop-in Sessions will be available for those who have questions on a weekly basis, leading up to the deadline:
Note: Successful applicants will be asked to indicate funding support from the Sexual Violence and Response Office in their promotional materials.
