M-Cubator Grant Application
An M-Cubator grant provides seed funding of up to $1,000 to support student projects in music that are entrepreneurial in nature and extracurricular in scope.
Unleash Your Entrepreneurial Spirit!
An M-Cubator grant provides seed funding of up to $1,000 for a student or group of students to pursue creative and scholarly projects in music that are entrepreneurial in nature and extracurricular in scope. A total of $5,000 is available to recipients for the 2024 application cycle. Special consideration will be given to projects with the potential to make a significant impact on the field or society at large.
Examples of projects meeting these criteria might include—but are by no means limited to—social justice projects and projects that promote anti-racism, community engagement initiatives, non-profit ventures, scholarly projects, technological innovations or the establishment of a new professional ensemble.
Applications for the 2024 M-Cubator Grants will open on March 1, 2024 and will be accepted through April 1, 2024. Students can submit their application to the M-Cubator Application portal here.
Who is Eligible?
All students who are currently enrolled in a School of Music degree program and are in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Students cannot receive an M-Cubator grant in consecutive years, or receive funding for the same project a second time.
What is Required for an Application?
The M-Cubator application requires four components: a narrative project proposal, a tentative timeline, a budget and at least one letter of support. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is also required at the time of application.
Students should use this template for these components.
Applicants must watch a preparatory video before submitting their applications. You can view the video here.
Project Proposal
Narratively answer the following in two pages, single-spaced, size 11 font:
- Briefly describe your proposed project.
- How is your project entrepreneurial?
- What makes your project innovative and creative?
- What are your goals or expected impact for this project?
- Why are you the person to complete this project? Speak to your unique skills as they apply to your project.
- What will you learn from organizing and implementing this project?
Timeline
Please describe a few important milestones of your project that connect to your overall goals, and when you expect related components to be completed. Your final milestone must include when you will submit your final report back to the School of Music.
Please answer the following questions in your goals statement. (200 words)
- How will you know if your project has been successful?
- What metrics will you use to measure your project’s impact?
- What method will you use to collect data on completion, success, and impact?
As a brief example, pretend that your goal is to build a house. Milestones may include:
January 2024: Permits secured
March 2024: Frame constructed
May 2024: Construction completed
June 2024: Report submitted to the UMD SOM
We understand that projects may work differently in theory versus in practice, so know that your milestones and timeline may be subject to change! Please do your best to communicate these now, knowing that they may need to be adjusted once the project rolls out.
Budget
Provide an itemized budget and narrative justification for the expenses and costs
- Write an explanation of any personnel costs, variable expense needs, context, and expectations. Please specify why the specific personnel choices are relevant to the project’s goals. (250 words)
- The itemized budget should detail how requested funding will be implemented - please use this Budget template.
Letter(s) of Support
Provide at least one letter of support that includes the following details:
- The author’s credentials and their relationship to you.
- Their support for your proposal.
- Their belief in your ability to deliver on this proposal if you are awarded funding.
The letter should come from a faculty member or employer who can speak to your credentials. If your project requires a partnership with an existing organization, the letter must come from the partner organization.
If you are unsure of who or how to ask for letters of support, this webpage from Yale University’s funding resources may be a helpful starting point.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
When is the Final Submission Deadline?
Applications must be received by 11:59pm on April 1, 2024.
How are Recipients Selected?
Recipients will be selected by a committee consisting of School of Music administrators and representatives from each of the school's eight divisions.
Please note that selected recipients must submit a detailed project report no later than one year after the grand is awarded, or funds will be rescinded.
Recipient Requirements
A School of Music staff member will be available to check in with each recipient to review progress, discuss any issues and obstacles, and connect students with resources for support.
Grand recipients will be required to submit an end-of-year project report to share the following:
- Results as they relate to the project’s timeline and goals
- Spending report, personnel contracts and expense receipts
- A narrative description of the project’s implementation that can be used to showcase the project in future communications