Draw Down the Lightning Grants | Office of the President

September 16, 2024

Bold, inventive ideas drive societal improvement, and they empower universities like Penn to address great challenges. Today, we are excited to unveil the Draw Down the Lightning grant initiative, a dedicated seed fund to further propel Penn’s new strategic framework, In Principle and Practice.

Draw Down the Lightning grants seek to harness our collective innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Faculty, students, postdocs, and staff are invited to propose projects aligned with Penn’s mission and strategic framework, addressing important challenges of our time such as climate change; health; data and technology; truth and democracy; and community engagement. The topics are purposefully open-ended to encourage the widest range of ideas and new programs that will advance Penn’s mission.

Full details on the Draw Down the Lightning grants are available here. The deadline for initial proposals is October 28, with final awards announced in March 2025.

We look forward to supporting proposals that will create a lasting legacy at Penn.

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Interim President
John L. Jackson, Jr., PhD, Provost
David A. Asch, MD, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives