Curricular Support Grants

Who is eligible to apply?

Non-standing University of Pennsylvania faculty are eligible to apply for Sachs Program Curricular Support Grants. Non-standing faculty do not need to be currently teaching to apply. However, a Penn department or program must approve applications with an understanding that the applicant will be teaching the course or courses relevant to their application within the next two academic years.

What do the grants support?

Curricular Support Grants support non-standing Penn faculty in the implementation of arts-based activities in a course that is currently running or expected to run or for research and professional development related to a course they are teaching.
Examples of previously supported projects can be reviewed on our website.

How much can I apply for?

Non-standing faculty may request up to $3,500.

How and when do I receive the grant funds?

Please refer to our general information page about grants disbursements for complete guidelines about receiving grant funds. Understanding these guidelines is important as we cannot guarantee support outside of university-approved options for receiving and managing grant funds.
The earliest date grant funds may be available is May 2025, though in most cases, they will be available in June or July. This timeline depends on several factors, including response times from grantees and their designated Fiscal Conduit (when applicable).
Any questions? Please email The Sachs Program Associate Director Chloe Reison at reison@upenn.edu.

What do I need to know to apply?

The deadline to submit a Grants Inquiry Form for Curricular Support Grants is NOON on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Applicants must submit a Grants Inquiry Form to receive a link to the full online application. A link to the online application (via SlideRoom) will be sent to the email address provided when submitting the Grants Inquiry Form.
The Grants Inquiry Form will prompt applicants to indicate if they wish to schedule a meeting with The Sachs Program to discuss their project idea. Meetings are not required but are encouraged. The Sachs Program cannot guarantee meetings for those applicants who submit the Grants Inquiry Form on or just before the deadline.
Applicants who would like to receive optional feedback on a draft of their application will have an additional deadline to submit a draft for review. Draft applications should be emailed to Elizabeth Shaw at elizshaw@upenn.edu by NOON on Friday, December 6, 2024 to receive feedback before the application deadline. All drafts should respond to the questions included in the SlideRoom application.
The deadline for submitting completed applications online via SlideRoom is MIDNIGHT on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Grants Inquiry Form

You must submit a Grants Inquiry Form to receive a link to the full online application. A link to the online application (via SlideRoom) will be sent to the email address provided when submitting the Grants Inquiry Form.

The last day to submit a Grants Inquiry Form is January 3, 2025.

* Required Fields

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Title or Position *

Penn Department(s) or Program(s) *

Proposed arts-based activities and associated classes (one paragraph) *

Would you like to schedule a meeting to discuss your application?YESNO

Thank you. We will follow up to schedule an appointment via the contact information provided with this inquiry form.

By declining to schedule a meeting, you are confirming the following:

You have read and understand the Curricular Support Grants application guidelines described on the Sachs Program website.
You are a non-standing Penn faculty member.
You understand the application process for a Sachs Program Curricular Grant.
You understand the options for receiving and managing grant funds, and, if applicable, you have discussed this proposal with the Penn department, program, or center that will serve as your Fiscal Conduit.

When submitting this form, your name and email address will be added to our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation.

Eligibility and Criteria for Applications

A complete list of general application criteria can be found on the Sachs Program website.
Non-standing faculty do not need to be currently teaching to apply for a Sachs Program Curricular Support Grant, but applications must be approved by an applicant’s department or program. The applicant’s department or program must agree to manage any grant funds awarded if an application is successful.
Non-standing faculty should expect they will be teaching the course(s) relevant to their proposal within the next two academic years.
Sachs Program grants are not intended for ongoing support. Priority may be given to applicants or projects not previously supported by The Sachs Program. If a project has been supported by The Sachs Program or another Penn entity previously, the applicant must make a compelling case for why there remains a need for support.
Sachs Program funding is competitive and is not guaranteed.
Applicants with an open Sachs Program grant must submit their final report before they apply for another Sachs Program grant.
To be eligible for consideration, an application must be an appropriate fit for the category in which it is submitted. If an application is not an appropriate fit for its category or does not align with Sachs Program priorities for grantmaking, The Sachs Program reserves the right to withdraw submitted applications.
If you are applying for support for equipment, software, or other resources that may already be available to you through the University of Pennsylvania, a strong case must be made for why these purchases are necessary for the success of your project.
If you have any questions about the eligibility of your proposal, please contact Sachs Program Associate Director Chloe Reison at reison@upenn.edu.

Evaluation Process

Curricular Support Grant applications are evaluated by a group of committee members, which may include former grantees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. All deliberations will be guided by Sachs Program grantmaking priorities and criteria.

Award decisions for the 2025 grants cycle will be made in March 2025.

Important Information

While grant application advisement meetings are optional, they are encouraged—particularly for individuals and groups who have not previously applied for a Sachs Program grant and for those unsure which grant category might be most appropriate for their application.
Sachs Program staff will do their best to meet with all individuals and groups seeking advice on their application; however, a Sachs Program review of an application does not guarantee funding, and meetings are subject to scheduling availability.
The Sachs Program has limited resources and will, therefore, be unable to fund all requests.
The Sachs Program aims to support projects that meet the criteria established for each grant category and align with our priorities for grantmaking. Should a proposal or application not meet the criteria or not align with our priorities, Sachs Program staff may recommend that a previously submitted application be withdrawn.
The Sachs Program supports a creative, culturally diverse, and pluralistic Penn community. We are committed to supporting individuals and groups from all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.