PIP Grant Application Process
PIP Board Members
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Co-Presidents: Corbin Carter and Kathryn Gevitz
Secretary: Michael Gregory
Treasurer: Tim Murphy
Auction Chair: Tom Fryska
Auction Co-Chairs: Michelle Christodoulou, Vicky Doñé,
Caroline Standke
Fundraising Co-Chairs: Jade Brown, Josiah Irvin, Ali Tucker
Community Service Chair: Chloe Noonan
Networking Chair: Violeta Haralampieva
Publicity Chair: Ravenna Neville
Web Chair: David Kim
Grant Description
• Up to $4000 for 400 hours of work
– May be reduced by outside funding
• Paid through BU Work-Study payroll
How do I get a grant?
• Apply for Work-Study
• Obtain unpaid job that qualifies as “public
interest” or “public service”
• 10 PIP hours
• 15 community service hours
• 5 auction hours
• 4 auction donations
• Application and essay
What Jobs Qualify?
• Public interest jobs include:
– Representing groups or individuals who are politically, socially, legally, or
economically disadvantaged, or who face widespread discrimination;
– Working for organization that seeks to safeguard traditionally under-protected
rights, whether through strategic litigation or legislative action;
– Working for government agency or office that pursues historically underprosecuted cases, or vindicates the rights of traditionally disadvantaged or
underrepresented individuals;
– Working for international, federal, or state agency or office, but only if the
applicant demonstrates that the proposed work with that office serves
traditionally disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, individuals, or
interests, or consumer interests; or
– Working in a non-political capacity for a municipal, state, or federal legislature;
or an individual representative at any level.
What Does NOT Count?
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Judicial clerkships
RA positions
Political campaign jobs
Any position in a private law firm or in-house
corporate counsel office
• Any paid position
What are PIP Hours?
• Hours spent helping PIP Board with activities
(other than the Auction)
• Examples: helping with publicity, tabling at
fundraisers, volunteering at the phone bank,
and preparing mass mailings
• Applicants will be notified of opportunities to
receive PIP hours via email
First Fundraiser:
Beantown Shootout
• Thursday, October 9th is PIP’s annual BU Law/BC Law
Beantown Shootout basketball game
– This event provides a wonderful, early PIP hour
opportunity for applicants
• Qualifying tournament: Tuesday, September 30th
– Details to be announced! Get your teams ready!
• Pep rally with pizza and beer will immediately precede the
Shootout
• Bar Review with BC Law will immediately follow the Shootout
• Tickets will be sold on Eventbrite
PIP Community Service Requirements
• PIP applicants must perform community service hours as part of the
application process.
• Deadline: Community Service Hours must be completed and logged
by April 13, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
• How many hours do I need?
• Each applicant must complete 15 hours of community service or pro bono
assistance.
• What counts as community service?
• PIP interprets community service broadly and does not require that the
activity be legal-related.
• Pro bono pledge hours, including hours earned during a pro bono service trip,
can count toward your hours requirement.
• How do I find out about service opportunities?
• PIP will advertise sample community service opportunities in the weekly PIP
email.
• You are also welcome to find service opportunities on your own.
• If you are unsure about whether a volunteering project will count toward your
PIP community service hours, please email buslpip@gmail.com.
PIP Community Service Requirements
• Where do I record my hours?
• Hours need to be logged to http://bupip.org/applicantdashboard/service-hours/.
• Other info:
• You can receive up to (5) bonus points for each additional
service hour in excess of the fifteen (15) required hours.
• Service hours will only be awarded for service completed
between August 27, 2014 and April 13, 2015.
– You get credit for BU Law Service Day during orientation
• PIP reserves the right to request a letter from the
organization that verifies the work you did for that
organization.
The 2015 PIP Auction
GET EXCITED!
What Is the PIP Auction?
• The PIP Auction is PIP’s largest fundraiser. We
auction off vacation rentals, handbags, gift
cards, and numerous other items to BU
students, BU alumni, and the greater Boston
Legal Community. All proceeds from the
Auction fund PIP summer grants.
• The 24th Annual PIP Auction Gala will take
place on Thursday, April 2nd in the Metcalf
Ballroom at the George Sherman Union.
What Do You Need to Do?
• In order to get a PIP grant, you need to help
out at the auction.
• SPECIFIC ITEM REQUIREMENTS:
Each PIP applicant is required to obtain:
• 2 auction donations from an organization or
person of his/her choosing (value of at least
$75 at the auction); and
• 3 balloon prizes (valued of at least $25).
What Are Auction Items and
Where Do I Get Them From?
• You can get auction items from a variety of
sources: charitable donations from stores,
friends, and family. Lexis points are great too.
– Start Early! Businesses are more willing to give
gifts earlier rather than later!
• Restrictions:
– NO alcohol. NO Groupons or LivingSocial Deals.
Avoid credit card or airline points, artwork, jewelry,
and seasonal/holiday items.
Important Deadlines
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November 21, 2014: Intent to Apply Forms
January 30, 2015: Work-Study application
February 20, 2015: Auction items
March 25, 2015: Applications and essays
April 2, 2015: Auction
April 13, 2015: PIP hours and service hours
April 17, 2015: Grant recipients notified
April 24, 2015: Employment confirmation letter
Contact PIP
• Email: buslpip@gmail.com
• Website: bupip.org
• Office Hours: Room 331
– Will email in weekly announcements
• Be sure to sign up for email list!
1L Rep Responsibilities
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Make PIP announcements to section
Answer PIP-related questions from classmates
Hold weekly office hour
Attend PIP Board meetings
Questions?