In the summer of 2022, the Division III Management and Presidents Councils approved new Strategic Initiatives Grant funding to support the division’s strategic priority of diversity, equity and inclusion at the conference and/or institutional level.  Since these new dollars provide funding to Division III conferences to support their member institutions with either 1.) internships for students who are women and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), preferably from a conference member institution and/or 2.) conference and/or institutional-based programming for women and BIPOC, the Diversity Funding for Division III Conference will no longer be provided on an annual basis.

Prior Process

• Internships and/or programming funded with these diversity grant dollars will not satisfy any Tier requirements of the Division III conference grant program.
• The funding cycle will be September 1, 2021 to August 1, 2022.
• Division III commissioner must submit a standard proposal form for use of up to $2,500. 
• No conference will receive more than $2,500 during the funding cycle.  Funding will be distributed on a first come basis pending an approved proposal.  No more than a total of $50,000 will be distributed in a funding cycle.
• No later than August 15, 2022, the conference must submit a standard budget justification form.
• All proposals must support the Division III Diversity and Inclusion working groups goals (e.g. provide funding to conference offices, on request, to fund either internships for ethnic minority and female students or programming for ethnic minority and female students.
• A subgroup of the Division III Diversity and Inclusion working group will review proposals and make final recommendations and approvals.   
• Commissioners should work with the Division III governance staff, where appropriate, to answer questions and provide feedback.

Prior Timeline

• August 28 - Notice to Division III commissioners of process and timeline for proposals.
• September through August - Acceptance of proposals and distribution of funds on a first come basis.
• August 15 - Deadline for budget justification forms.