The Women’s Enrichment Fund Mini-Grant program held a panel presentation Monday in the Memorial Union. The panelists, who were last year’s recipients, shared experiences and offered suggestions to participants.

The Women’s Enrichment Fund is in its second year of offering mini-grants toward furthering women’s studies and programs, said Susan Carlson, associate provost for faculty advancement and diversity. Carlson said the program gave out 15 grants last year ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Mini-grant proposals may be requested by ISU staff, faculty and students. Organizations may submit their proposals to the Women’s Enrichment Fund for review by an independent panel.

The money comes from the General University Fund for Excellence and is administered by President Geoffrey to the Women’s Enrichment Fund for distribution each year, said Carlson. A report must be submitted on how the funds have been spent that year in order to receive more funding.

Most proposals submitted to the Women’s Enrichment Fund review panel last year were requests for networking fees such as speakers, said Tanya Zanish-Belcher, associate professor of library science and member of the 2004 review committee.

Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Center for Women and Politics, organized an event on women’s leadership when she received funding from the Women’s Enrichment Fund.

Bystrom advised attendees not to expect the Women’s Enrichment Fund to fund everything. Organizers should seek funds elsewhere and especially look for matching funds, Bystrom said.

Some projects receiving funding are smaller. Sarah Schillerstrom, graduate student in political science, organized a smaller project last year with an Enrichment Fund mini-grant. She held a series of events to build stronger links between international graduate students with American students and alumni.

“We were very encouraged by the number of proposals. It was particularly pleasing to support those programs which did not have enough funding for the things they need to do,” Carlson said.

The Women’s Enrichment Fund tried to spread the money out as was appropriate without diluting the programs that seemed the most worthy and in the most need, Carlson said.

Interested participants can return the application, available on the Provost Web site, by Oct. 14. Because of the increased interest and the large turnout at Monday’s meeting, some competition for the money is expected for the money this year, Carlson said.