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Grants

Themes for Campaign for Community Grants

Proposals should help achieve the Campaign’s key goals:

  • To promote understanding of and respect for multiple points of view on important topics related to the University community
  • To encourage dialogue and discussion among members of the community about issues with the potential for difference and disagreement
  • To create opportunities for all members of the University’s community to participate in conversations about important topics

For the 2024-2025 academic year, proposals are being accepted for projects and conversations on the following two themes:

  • Equity and justice matters within the Penn community
  • Equity and justice matters between members of the Penn community and members of our Philadelphia community
Application and Guidelines

Apply for Campaign Grants Here 

General Application Guidelines

  • Proposals must be focused on one of the current Campaign themes:
    • Equity and justice matters within the Penn community
    • Equity and justice matters between members of the Penn community and members of our Philadelphia community
  • Applications must include a detailed description of the project or conversation as well as a budget listing projected expenses.
  • The following expenses are eligible for funding: materials, transportation, equipment, publicity, facilities, fees, or other event related expenses. C4C does not fund honoraria for outside speakers.
  • The maximum allowable grant is $1,500.
  • Please review the Temporary Standards and Procedures for Campus Events.

Applicant Guidelines

  • Applicants must be a University of Pennsylvania student, faculty, or staff member.
  • Students may apply as individuals or as representatives of student organizations.
  • Faculty and staff may apply as individuals or as representatives of a department, center, program, or other administrative unit at Penn.
  • Applications from student groups not registered with a Student Activities Council (SAC) budget code must have a sponsoring Penn department, group, or school to receive the funds.

Financial Guidelines

  • Generally, grants are awarded in amounts up to $1,500.
  • Partial funding may be awarded in some cases.
  • Any funds awarded by the C4C can only be transferred to a departmental budget code. Awarded funds are not, and cannot be, issued directly to applicants from the C4C in the form of cash, check, or direct deposit. In order to receive the funds directly, a Concur expense report must be submitted with receipts to the sponsoring department for processing.

Application Review and Processing

  • Grant applications are currently being accepted and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Applications should ideally be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance to allow for sufficient time to transfer funds.
  • The Campaign for Community is co-chaired by Rev. Charles L. Howard, PhD, University Chaplain, Vice President for Social Equity and Community and Rev. William C. Gipson, Special Advisor to the Vice President of Social Equity and Community.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Funded projects will be sent the Campaign logo to display on any promotional materials.
  • If you have any questions, please contact c4c@pobox.upenn.edu.
Examples of Previous Projects
  • Symposia/Extravaganza on Justice and Equity by The Polybian Society 
  • PLTV Election Day Celebration by Penn Leads the Vote 
  • CelebrAsian by The Asian Pacific Student Coalition (APSC)  
  • Prison and ReEntry Debate Initiative by Penn Debate Society 
  • Penn Medicine Vot-ER Initiative by Penn Medicine employees 
  • Green Space is Social Justice: Revitalizing The Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary
  • International Equity and Justice Op-Ed Series and Speaker Event by The Penn Political Review  
  • Community Pantry (Penntry) at the Rotunda  
  • Annual Oration featuring Dr. Cornel West by The Philomathean Society  
  • Menstrual Education Program by Penn Reproductive Justice Group
  • The Fierce Urgency of Now celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month by Makuu, LGBT Center, and SPARC 
  • The Queen’s Tea by AARC