De Florez Fund for Humor
The de Florez Fund for Humor supports diverse humorous activities and initiatives. All members of the MIT community — students, instructors, and staff — are welcome to apply.
Awards
De Florez Funding is divided into three distinct streams:
Curricular support: The Fund supports curricular activities and initiatives across the institute. Up to $30,000 is specifically earmarked for humorous curricular proposals. We welcome requests for both small and large awards, from faculty and teaching staff in any department, section, college, or school.
Proposals for small grants (under $750) may be submitted on a rolling basis, throughout the year. Approvals, rejections, or requests for additional information will be processed twice a month, on the 1st and 15th. All other proposals are accepted once a semester, in fall and spring of each academic year, generally the third Sunday of each semester.
Extra-curricular support: The Fund supports a breadth of faculty-, staff-, and student-led extra-curricular activities and initiatives. Proposals for small grants (under $750) may be submitted on a rolling basis, throughout the year. Approvals, rejections, or requests for additional information will be processed twice a month, on the 1st and 15th. Proposals for larger amounts are accepted once a semester, in fall and spring of each academic year, generally the third Sunday of each semester.
Committee-organized events: The de Florez Fund Committee organizes larger humorous events and performances an average of once per semester.
Application Process
Applications should be submitted using our online form.
Applications are evaluated by the de Florez Humor Fund Committee. Funding decisions will be made approximately two weeks following the application deadline. If an award is made, disbursement of the award will take place within 10 days of the decision announcement. Awarded funds can only be transferred to a valid cost object in the MIT accounting system. Funds cannot be disbursed in the form of cash or a personal check. Applicants are responsible for providing the cost object. The de Florez Committee is unable to consider requests for events that have already occurred.
In accepting funding, successful applicants agree to:
- Keep events and projects within the fund's guidelines of "innocent humor."
- Use funding only for activities that do not involve risk of damage to persons or property, or embarrassment to others.
- Acknowledge the de Florez Fund support in any publicity for the event (the committee will provide a file with the de Florez Humor Fund name and symbol for use on brochures, posters, etc.)
- Provide a brief report on how you spent the funds—and whether you had any fun doing so.
If you have questions about the fund, or would like to discuss an idea, please email Chanh Phan.
Gallery: Previously Funded Projects