Development Fund

Development Fund

Submission Deadline: September 1

Please email your proposal to: naddssw@cswe.org

Please click to view current Development Fund Policy (PDF)

Introduction and Purpose

The mission of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD), as defined by its by-laws, is to “advance the excellence and interest of social work education.” Historically, the association has worked to meet this objective by providing informative programming and opportunities for networking and resource sharing twice a year at its meetings. Additionally, it has completed several comprehensive studies examining such issues as educational excellence and strategic issues of role and structure in order to provide a framework for addressing concerns that affect social work education.

In the interest of continuing services, a Development Fund, established out of the annual membership dues, supports member initiatives and interests by allocating funds to support efforts related to timely and substantive issues facing social work education.

Examples of funded projects include a conference of women deans to explore gender issues and management challenges, a research project on distributed and technology enhanced learning, a video taping project, a university-community research partnership, and the National Committee for Educating Students to Influence State Policy and Legislation.

Development Fund Procedures

  1. NADD sets aside (when fund permits) a maximum of $5,000 per year out of annual membership dues to fund member proposals.
  2. The NADD Executive Committee, plus one Board member appointed by the President, reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the full Board.
  3. Proposals must be submitted by a NADD member in good standing in the association.
  4. Proposals must be made in writing to the President of NADD at least one month before the NADD Board meeting in the fall.
  5. Awards will be announced at the fall meeting of the association.
  6. A final report including an accounting of expended funds and project evaluation must be submitted by September 1 of the year following the allocation of project funds to the President of the association.
  7. All unexpected funds must be returned to the association with the final report.

Review Criteria

Each project proposal is evaluated on its own merits based on the following criteria:

  1. Degree to which the proposed project addresses the mission of the association and goals outlined in the NADD Strategic Plan.
  2. Clarity of the project goals and objectives.
  3. Identification of the project director and others involved in implementing the project.
  4. Clarity of the project description related to the implementation plan.
  5. Appropriateness of the proposed budget.
  6. Identification of proposed matching funds, if deemed necessary for project implementation.
  7. Appropriateness and quality of the plan for evaluating project outcomes.
  8. Plans for the dissemination of knowledge gained from the project.
  9. Proposal not to exceed five typed pages.