Application Information

Overview

The University of Pennsylvania invites the University community to propose projects that will advance In Principle and Practice, reflect the University’s distinctive identity and values, and help Penn build a better future for the world.

Proposals may come from any combination of students, staff, and faculty and be directed toward any combination of the four principles and five practices of the strategic framework. In particular, proposals are expected to follow the framework’s guidance by articulating a project that focuses on one or more of the following: (1) accelerating interdisciplinarity; (2) a focus on major challenges around climate, health, data, and/or truth and democracy; (3) strengthening community; (4) deepening engagement with local, regional, and global partners; and, (5) fostering leadership and service. For example, programs may:

  • Create a new undergraduate or graduate degree program toward great challenges of our time
  • Establish a new and enduring partnership with the City of Philadelphia to address a deep challenge or an exciting opportunity
  • Support truth over disinformation
  • Create new curricular or extra-curricular programs
  • Expand areas of scholarship
  • Advance community service or engagement
  • Promote civil discourse
  • Enrich campus life
  • Etc.

Proposals will be evaluated for: (a) alignment with In Principle and Practice; (b) inventiveness and achievability of the project’s scope and ambition; (c) alignment between the proposed budget and project scope; and (d) likelihood of long-term sustainability and success.

Eligibility

  •  Proposals may come from any combination of current students, post-doctoral scholars, staff, and faculty (including all types of standing, non-standing, and emeritus faculty). Teams that cross schools, centers, and disciplines are strongly encouraged.
  • All proposals must have approval from a supervisor:  
    • Staff-initiated proposals must have approval from a supervisor.
    • Faculty-initiated proposals must have approval from a Department Chair or Dean.
    • Student- and post-doctoral scholar-initiated proposals must have a faculty advisor and approval of that faculty advisor’s Chair or Dean.

Approval signifies that the supervisor: [1] is aware of, and supports, the substance of the proposed project, and [2] acknowledges the proposed project budget and agrees to aid in obtaining any resources expected to supplement the grant funding. 

Financial Support

Draw Down the Lightning grants will be offered at two levels:

  •    Programs requesting less than $50,000
  •    Programs requesting between $50,000-$250,000

Proposals must include a request for a specific dollar amount. Proposed program budgets should be no longer than 2 years (though we expect most will be 1 year).  

Applicants will be expected to provide a plan for financial sustainability beyond the grant funds. The expectation is that successful programs will receive financial and in-kind support from originating Schools, Centers, and Departments to supplement the Draw Down the Lightning grant.  

Budget Considerations:

  •  Allowable costs include supplies, non-faculty salaries, and travel expenses related to the project.  
  •  Equipment costs up to 100% of the budget may be eligible for funding, but requests must be justified in the application as essential to the program.
  •  Faculty salaries are not allowable.
  •  Graduate tuition is not allowable.
  •  Fringe Benefits are calculated for FY25 full-time employees. Please use 9% to calculate part-time EBs. 

Proposal Submission Process and Timeline

The program follows a two-stage application. Interested applicants should:

  •  Download and fill out a brief Proposal Form.  
  •  Complete the proposal submission form here. 

Full proposals, if invited, will include questions similar to those of the letter of intent form with opportunity to provide more detail, an itemized project budget with justification (including any contributed monetary or in-kind support), and final approval of relevant Deans, Department Chairs, or Center Directors. 

Timeline

October 28: Letters of Intent due  

November 25: Invitations for full proposals

January 15: Full proposals due

March 5: Notification of awardees 

*For other questions, please consult the FAQ page or contact Eugene Vaynberg at eugenev@upenn.edu.

Contact Us

eugenev@upenn.edu