Character Catalyst Grants

The Character Catalyst Grant, provided by the generous support of the Kern Family Foundation, offers USA-based graduates of the Jubilee Centre’s MA Character Education programme an opportunity to advance their existing work in character education. Applicants are encouraged to outline a proposal that would help them to build on their existing work or research in character education, and which leads to practical outputs. The uses of the grant can be varied.

The grant covers a 12-month period and can be for any amount up to $25,000. Successful applicants are provided with academic support throughout their project (see FAQs below).

On this page you will find information on the grant, the eligibility criteria, and how to apply. Queries regarding the application process can be sent to Holly O’Donoghue at h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk.

Click here to view projects currently underway as part of the Character Catalyst Grant

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must:

  • Be a graduate of the MA Character Education.
  • Be a Kern Award recipient.
  • Be based in the United States of America.
  • Be employed or affiliated with a host organisation (i.e., an employer).

For full details please see the application form and guidance.

We are now currently taking applications for Phase 3.

The next application deadline is the 19th January 2025.

How to Apply

The application form can be found below alongside some general guidance for the application process. Please read both carefully before submitting your application. Completed applications must be emailed to Holly O’Donoghue at h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk before the deadline and should include ‘Character Catalyst Proposal’ and your name within the subject line. Please find the relevant document below:

Contacts

Project Lead

Paul Watts

P.M.Watts@bham.ac.uk

Project Manager

Holly O’Donoghue

h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

How will my proposal be assessed?

Applications will be assessed on the potential impact of the project proposal on stakeholders (e.g. students, staff/faculty, the community, society), rationale for project/research, innovation of the proposal, design and methodology, capacity and expertise of prospective grantees, and the accuracy of budget plan and timescale.

When submitting a proposal, it is best practice to ensure you clearly outline what impact this proposal would have for those outside your institution/organisation. Additionally, as the grant proposal requires at least one output to share with the character community, so please remember to include the details of what this will be, and what the impact it will have.

What are the required outputs of the project?

The Character Catalyst Grant requires you to include at least one shareable output as a result of the project. This will become available on the Jubilee Centre website following the conclusion of the project and must be included in the proposal applications.

There are no restrictions on what format the output needs to be. Resources, events, briefings, publications, and more are valid project outputs. However, please note that it should be able to be shared freely on the Jubilee Centre website (for example, recordings, resources, guidance docs, or similar materials should be available from events/sessions etc.)

If you are uncertain on the outputs required for this project, please contact h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk in advance of the proposal deadline.

How much can I apply for?

The total amount requested for the project can be any amount up to $25,000. For further details on the proposal and budget, please see section 3 and 4 of the application guidance documentation.

Is project support available?

Successful applicants will be provided with support from the Jubilee Centre Academic Team throughout the project. The type of support will vary depending on the project needs and will be agreed upon in an initial meeting at the beginning of the grant period. As a minimum, this will involve meeting with a member of the Jubilee Centre Team at regular intervals and email correspondence for the duration.

If you wish to discuss your proposal prior to submitting, please contact h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk.

What type of project can I propose?

Applicants are encouraged to outline a proposal that advances existing work or research in character education, and which leads to practical outputs. Examples and guidance on the proposal can be found in section 3 of the ‘Character Catalyst Grant Proposal Form Guidance Document’.

How do I submit an application?

Please complete the Character Catalyst Grant Proposal Form’ and email the completed form to Holly O’Donoghue at h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk before the deadline. Please ensure you have read the ‘Character Catalyst Grant Proposal Form Guidance Document before submitting the proposal form.

Who can support my project?

A requirement of the application process is to provide a letter of support.

The letter of support should be provided by your employer or affiliated host organisation (usually a line manager, or senior leader within the organisation) who has agreed to the proposal in advance of the application.

Who can be my additional referee?

On your application, the person providing the letter of support will be considered your first referee. As part of the application, you are asked to provide contact information for this person who we may contact directly for further information.

We ask for an additional referee who can be anyone you have worked with previously. Please provide their contact details on your CV and the details of your relationship to them. We may contact them to attest to your ability to complete work.

When will I hear if I am successful?

If you applied to Phase 3 (January 2025), you will be notified of the outcome of your application by 24th February 2025.

If you applied to Phase 2 (August 2024), you will be notified of the outcome of your application by 30th September 2024.

Will there be further opportunities to apply?

Yes, if you are eligible for this grant but are unable to apply at the current stage, further opportunities will be available. Details of these grant phases will be released here in due course. If you have any questions, please email Holly O’Donoghue at h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk

I have a question which is not covered in the FAQ

Please email Holly O’Donoghue at h.odonoghue@bham.ac.uk with any further questions.