To Apply

A: Initiatives For Women is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the educational and professional goals of women at the University at Albany. To that end, IFW participates in a variety of activities each year to raise money to support recipients chosen through an annual round of applications. Most of the award money comes from individuals who have made donations to support campus women.

A: IFW grants awards from its general funds and also grants special awards from specific named (or, endowed) funds, such as the Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontier Fund for doctoral-level female students who show great promise of making a positive, transformational difference in our society. An endowed fund means that a donor or group of donors has contributed a significant amount of money to IFW and named the specific IFW award they established. The gift money is invested and the interest proceeds fund an award every year. So, it is not a one-time award. Generally, when donors do this, they have very specific ideas about who should qualify for their awards. IFW must honor these qualifications. Out of our entire pool of applicants, we find those who best match the intentions of the donor of these funds.

A: IFW wants to make a difference in your life. We realize that there are key times in a woman's life when she just needs a little "boost" to get to the next step-whatever that step might be. The IFW motto is "Support Her Dream." This is a key concept to keep in mind as you prepare your application. You need to show how IFW can make a difference for you. Remember that most of our award funds come from individuals who wanted to make a difference for women. Show how we can do that for you.

A: Any woman who is a University employee (faculty or staff) or registered student (undergraduate or graduate) at the University is eligible to apply. In addition, University at Albany campus groups may apply for funds for programs that support women's concerns or the needs of women on campus.

A: Essentially this means "Learning to Write a Good Application." Certain key elements are found in ideal application:

• compelling cover letter
• excellent project description
• clearly demonstrated need
• appropriate and strong references
• solid budget
• strong academics (GPA, transcript) - if applicable
• general benefit to women

A strong application with no general benefit to women is fundable, as is one with some weakness in one of the above elements. However, weakness in two or more elements likely will not be fundable. In addition, you can avoid certain fatal flaws if you pay attention to the hints on this web site.

A: Yes, all the previous recipients are listed in the IFW web pages.

A: Once a year in our annual application process.

A: Monday, March 4, 2024.

A: Early May 2024, before the end of the semester.

A: Checks will be issued in July 2024. There is a summer celebration in mid-July (July 18, 2024 at 2 p.m.) at which the recipients who can be present receive their checks or financial aid notice in person. Recipients are stongly encouraged to attend this event. It provides and opportunity for them to meet donors and vice versa.

A: IFW can mail your award after the ceremony if you provide a written request in a letter or via email to [email protected]. Make sure to provide the correct mail address in this request. Please do remember that our donors like to meet the recipients, so try to make every effort to attend the Summer Celebration.

A: Essentially, we select by committee consensus. At least five committee members will read your application. It is initially rated by three individuals who compare their ratings and come to agreement on a "team rating" for your application. The team ratings from all four or five teams are compared and collated. At least two other individuals read all the applications to make sure that each group is fairly represented in the overall selection process.

A: IFW never has enough award money to fund all applications. Hence, the strong applications compete for a finite amount of money. Since we can't fund every request, we fund the strongest and most distinct.

A: Usually we can fund only about 35-40% of the incoming applications. The percentage varies from year to year.

A: You need to submit (1) a full application and (2) the eligibility form. Fill out the eligibility form (include one print copy with your packet).

A: IFW is interested in who you are, what your goal is, and how IFW can help you reach your goal. In addition, IFW applies its standards for a good application (not just an application which is "better than" the others). Criteria may include:

1. Academic merit and outstanding scholarship.
2. Need. How will the award make a difference or help overcome obstacles?
3. Advancement of women in general. Examples of this include applicants: 
   • in a non-traditional field
   • who are non-traditional (students, faculty, or group)
   • doing interesting research on or for women
   • creating/entering training programs for women.
4. Final selections represent the diversity of our applicants and the University.

A: Pick someone very appropriate for your project. You do not want just friends or relatives to write these letters; you want professional people who know about you, your goals, and, most importantly, your project. UAlbany faculty are the preferred letter writers for student applicants. For dissertation assistance, you'd want to pick your dissertation chair or at least someone on your committee. For an art project, you'd want an art teacher. Professionals would choose colleagues or supervisors familiar with their work and project. Faculty might pick their department chair or colleagues familiar with their project. Everyone can find two people who will say nice things about them, but you want people who can speak about your project and its importance for you.

A: The letters are not confidential: You will get the original letter and make five additional copies of it to submit in your applications packet. We realize some faculty write only confidential letters of recommendation. Ask if he/she is willing to put six copies of the letter in separate envelopes (give them the envelopes) for you. They will need to give you the letters to submit each sealed envelope with each copy of your application. Please do not send them separately.

A: With special permission only from the 2020 IFW Award Selection Committee Co-Chair Carol Anne Germain, an emailed letter of recommendation will be accepted. If, indeed, this is the perfect letter writer (e.g., your dissertation advisor or project director) who is out of the area, you may have them send the letter via e-mail to Carol Anne Germain at: [email protected]. (Please note: IFW will not accept local e-mail letters sent just to make the time deadline.)

A: Do everything you can to make sure the writer knows about you, your project, and IFW. Don't just ask them to write a letter blindly. Put in writing for them what you are applying for and why. Give them a copy of your IFW application and your resume/curriculum vitae. You might even offer (depending on who you ask) what types of things you would like in your letter.

A: Reread the preceding question and answer because it would be really helpful in your situation! When you ask a teacher, try to make a connection to that faculty member. Remind them that you were the one in the front row of a certain course last semester or the one who received an excellent grade or wrote a particular paper. Follow up in writing with information to make it easier for the faculty member. Attaching your résumé (presuming it is up-to-date!) is another way for the faculty member to know who you are.

A: Address letters to the "Members of the IFW Award Selection Committee".

A: Ask early! Give your letter writers enough time to write you a thoughtful letter. A month should be enough time.

A: The eligibility form will provide the selection committee information on your eligibility for awards. The form will collect demographic data from you (contact information, status information), as well as eligibility criteria used for specific awards.

A: Certain awards have specific criteria that restrict who is eligible or specify that "special consideration" may be given to certain classes of people. For example, the "Honoring Our Mothers" award is restricted to women who are mothers and are currently balancing the demands of motherhood, and school or work.

A: Yes, you are eligible for an award even if you are not a citizen. Most awards are available to citizens and non-citizens alike. Certain endowed awards are restricted to U.S. citizens.

A: Not all awards require academic excellence as a criteria. Some explicitly state that academic record will not be used to determine the recipient.

A: Briefly describe the circumstances in your goals and plans letter if there are special circumstances you would like taken into consideration. Not all awards use academic excellence as a criterion.

A: No. Most awards are not specifically targeted at financial need as the overriding qualification.

A: It is a short description of your Project (e.g., "dissertation research on the decision-making processes of abused women", "returning to school to obtain a bachelor's degree in Journalism", "master's level of study in Special Education", "attendance at training seminar", "travel to deliver a conference paper").

A: A short (15-word maximum) summary of your spending list for the funds requested, i.e., tell us what the money will be used for, e.g., "defray the costs of tuition", "fund research and travel costs associated with my doctoral dissertation", "cover partial cost of MCAT test preparation, text books, and fees").

A: Take this entire application process (and yourself) seriously! IFW awards are not a give-away. You need to CONVINCE the IFW Selection Committee that you have a dream (goal) and that IFW can help you reach that dream (goal). IFW receives almost a hundred applications each year. The goals and plan letter is critical because it is your introduction to the Selection Committee. This is your opportunity to impress the readers of your application.

What is important for you to remember is that these people cared enough to donate significant amounts of money. You need to take great care in your application.

Make sure you proof read your letter carefully and eliminate any grammatical or spelling errors. Have someone else read your letter to make sure it makes sense.

Stick to the page limit. Use reasonably-sized margins and no less then 12 point type. Don't ramble. Concisely tell us who you are, what your project is and why IFW funding makes a difference. This is not the place to describe details of your research. A separate project statement should be used if your project is complex or cannot be described in a few sentences.

Certain awards have limiting eligibility requirements If you meet any of the special eligibility requirements this will be picked up in your online eligibility form. You may want to elaborate on these criteria in your letter. See the list of awards for details.

Be reasonable in what you include. For example, if you are asking for funding to support your dissertation research, describing the possible impact of your research is good, but trying to describe the statistical methodology you plan to employ is likely too much.

When a selection reader finishes your cover letter, she should have a good idea of who you are, what you want supported, why, and what difference an IFW award can make.

Remember, above all, IFW wants to make a difference!

A: One more thing, make sure you represent yourself accurately. Don't say you are a "business student" if you have not yet been accepted into the School of Business or say you are a "Ph.D. candidate" if you have not completed your coursework and exams and been admitted to "candidacy."

A: A project statement is a one-page elaboration on the project presented in your goals and plans letter. You may use this to describe specifics of the project or justify and explain budget items that are not clear from the budget sheet.

A: Some projects are easily described in the goals and plans letter, and their associated budget plans are simple and fully described on the budget sheet.

The project statement is only needed if you need to describe the details of your project so that the selection committee understands what is being requested. The project statement is the place to tell of any extraordinary circumstances or describe unusual budget items. For example, one women was requesting funding for very expensive books needed for her dissertation. The budget sheet only said "books $300." Her project statement explained that these were beyond normal book expenses and the books could not be borrowed through interlibrary loan. This explanation will not fit on the budget sheet but it is important to getting her request accepted.

A: Unfortunately, gross dollars figures are not sufficient. Your project budget should show a line-by-line itemization of your project expenses as well as when you will use the money.

A: You may estimate, but be as realistic and accurate as you can be. Do not inflate your budget (e.g., adding a $400. taxi ride to get to JFK airport). Reviewers give applications with inflated budgets lower scores.

A: Yes, the money must be used for expenses during 2024 (spring, summer or fall semesters) or spring 2025. Further, you must be affiliated with the University both at the time you apply (spring 2024) and when the activities you are funding take place.

A: Yes, you can apply for expenses for spring 2024. This means you need to pay for these expenses yourself somehow and then hope you will get an award to allow you to retroactively cover the expenses. There is no guarantee you will get such an award.

A: Only if you will have some other continuing association with the University (perhaps as a graduate student or employee) in the fall.

A: Be serious and realistic about the numbers. Take care to neither over- nor under-estimate your expenses. Provide justification in your optional project statement for items that are not self-evident. Check your math.

A: A complete and reasonable budget. Get the best cost estimates you can, especially for "big ticket" items such as travel, conference registration, tuition, transcription expenses, or equipment.

A: List all expenses you are covering yourself and those being covered by other funding sources. You can group like items such as "supplies" on one line. Our reviewers are very thorough and will look this information up, so make sure to do your own research thoroughly.

List where else have you applied for support. IFW considers it very positive if you are seeking other sources of funding. If you are faculty, have you considered FRAP, if appropriate? If you are a grad student, have you looked at GSO grant applications?

A: No, it can be longer if necessary to include your relevant background and experience. Clearly, IFW would expect a resume from an undergraduate student to be quite different from that of a professional or the curriculum vita of a faculty member.

A: No, but highly recommended. The Selection committee, looks at transcripts to provide a more complete picture of the applicant's academic history.

A: No, a photocopy copy of a recent transcript is acceptable or a print-out of your unofficial transcript from MyUAlbany is acceptable. Attach your résumé.

A: Here are a few mistakes and why they are perceived so negatively by IFW:

1. Assuming financial need alone is sufficient criteria for an award. (It's not enough; you also need a strong application.)
2. Handwritten applications. (It makes it seem as if you don't care enough to make the effort to put your best forward.)
3. Incomplete applications. (This indicates a lack of preparation or that the applicant didn't take the application seriously with one possible exception) or too long (didn't follow the instructions.) Missing letters of recommendation.
4. No connection to the University at the time of application or when award money is spent. (To be eligible, you must be connected to the University when you apply and when the expenses occur. Don't apply for funds to be spent after you graduate or leave the University.)
5. Incorrectly describing yourself and your connection to the University. (Whether done accidentally or on purpose, inaccurate attribution is received very negatively. Don't make false claims!)
6. Asking for a "wish list." (A "wish list" is a list of items you'd like IFW to pay for but the items are either random or unrelated to each other showing a lack of focus or project relevance. Alternatively, the "wish list" items may all be relevant but the total is unreasonably high and no priority is provided. IFW won't guess your priorities.)
7. Having a large budget and asking IFW for partial funding for the project with no indication of where the rest of the money will come from. (IFW wants to make a difference, and it can't do that if your project is never completed.)
8. Forgetting to fill out the eligibility form and/or forgetting to complete the application packet.

A: Your mailed packet must be postmarked by February 21, 2024 or turn in your application by no later than March 4, 2024 to:

Dr. Carol Anne Germain
University at Albany LI 141A
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany NY 12222

A: LI 141A is located on the first floor of the University Library (Uptown Campus), in the Main Group Study Area.

A: 5 p.m.

A: Send your question to Carol Anne Germain at [email protected], and if the question is of general interest, we will add the answer to this page!