Have an idea to promote wellness at Miami University?
A new mini grant program has been established to support innovative strategies
Have an idea to promote wellness at Miami University?
A new Health and Wellness Mini Grant Program has been created to support innovative strategies that promote wellness among faculty, staff, and students at Miami University.
The grants (up to $500 each) are funded through Miami’s Focus initiative, a year-long, university-wide initiative that explores "big idea" topics from multi-disciplinary perspectives. Apply for a grant using this online form.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Focus theme is Health and Wellness: Thriving Together, which spotlights a year of conversations and collaborations across campus. Events will be added to the website throughout the year.
The Focus Steering Committee invites departments, campus units, and individuals to apply for the mini grants. Submitted proposals must focus on one of the following key dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, or social.
Kyle Timmerman, professor and chair of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health who co-chairs the committee, hopes students and student organizations apply.
“Students and student groups bring so much creativity and energy, and they know best what kinds of things really make a difference for their well-being,” he said. “I think their projects could end up being some of the most fun and impactful.”
Applicants must complete a short application describing their proposed wellness initiative, the anticipated impact on the selected population’s wellness, and a detailed budget outlining how the funds will be used.
The strategy should aim to foster measurable improvements in health and well-being for the intended audience. Award recipients will be asked to submit a brief impact summary at the conclusion of the project, documenting outcomes related to the health and wellness of the identified group.
If your department, division, or center is planning talks, events, or initiatives that align with this year’s Focus Program on Health and Wellness, you can share them using the submission form, and a member of the steering committee will follow up to explore how to best highlight, promote, or co-sponsor your programming this year.
Steve Large, assistant vice president for health and wellness for Student Life who co-chairs the committee with Timmerman, said, “I love that the mini grants give our faculty, staff, and students the chance to bring their own creative energy to supporting well-being. It shows that caring for one another is truly a shared value at Miami.”
Added Danielle Foulk, communications coordinator for Student Health and Wellness: “We also hope that these projects not only strengthen our campus today but also inspire lasting conversations and actions that prioritize well-being well into the future.”
There is no deadline to apply for the mini grants. The committee will continue accepting applications until resources are fully allocated.
Timmerman likes that the mini grants “let people take their own ideas and run with them. Even small projects can send a strong message that wellness is something we all share in and support together. That’s really what this year’s Focus theme is about.”
Foulk noted that more people than ever are open to conversations about mental health and wellness.
“This year’s Focus theme helps expand those conversations across campus while raising awareness of the many resources available to support our community,” she said.
For more information or if you have a question or are interested in being a member of the Focus committee, contact Large or Timmerman.
