A terrible idea that I thought was a grant but wasn't

Worthy of a poke around but not sure it would stick. Discuss.

https://makered.org/making-spaces/program-details/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=9743ebbe-af3a-454f-974a-c5e9ab718768

Looks like the “grant” is just makered.org waiving their membership fees (valued at $50,000!!) so they can have you as a “regional hub” to support the smaller spaces (looks like mostly schools) in the lower “cohort”.

In exchange for no money, we would provide:

Expectations for Hubs

Participation in a National Network

  • Three in-person, 2-day workshops (Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022)
    • Hub covers their own travel expenses for each of these workshops (estimate travel expenses of $2,000 for two people from your organization to attend each workshop)
  • Monthly virtual meetings with the entire cohort
  • Monthly contributions to the Making Spaces online community
  • Surveys for Hubs and Sites to fill out 2-3x/year
  • Share modified resources
  • Optional in-person meetings (e.g. CMP’s Boot Camp, Maker Ed Workshops and Convening)

Professional Learning Support with Sites

  • Select and work with 5-10 Sites (schools and/or other youth-serving educational institutions)
  • Aid each Site in (a) creating their maker education vision and plan for supporting their sustainable integration of making and (b) communicating this vision to their stakeholders. To this end, Hub will:
    • Assist each Site in determining the particular goals at which its efforts to integrate making are directed, whether by means of professional development or design consultation.
    • Support the site as they prototype maker-centered activities with youth and community. Prototyping will play a key role in determining a realistic and authentic vision and goals.
    • Help each Site communicate their goals and vision to a chosen group of stakeholders (e.g. parents, students, teachers, administrators, funders) by developing an event to engage their community and celebrate their work. This could be a crowdfunding event, a student showcase, a family maker night, or other similar event.
    • Continually deepen and expand partnerships with each Site by providing ongoing professional development, training, resources, and support around each Site’s unique vision for integrating making.
  • Build and sustain community among their cohort of Sites by, for example, hosting regional in-person and online meet-ups for representatives from participating Sites.
  • Documentation
    • Community Engagement event documentation
    • Case Studies of each Site and of the Hub

Seems like a lot of work for not a lot of return to me.

3 Likes

Yeah it looks like they want us to pay them.

Holy crap guys. This is a terrible dumpster fire of an idea.
Scrap it!