Independent Creative Production Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
Only University of Pennsylvania faculty (standing and non-standing) and staff are eligible to apply for Sachs Program Independent Creative Production Grants. Full-time Penn students who also work as staff or teach courses should apply in the Student Grants category.
What do the grants support?
- Independent Creative Production Grants offer Penn faculty and staff members resources to support (partially or fully) the production of their artistic work.
- Examples of previously supported projects can be reviewed on our website.
How much can I apply for?
Applicants may request up to $7,500.
How and when do I receive the grant funds?
- Independent Creative Production Grants can be disbursed in one of two ways, in accordance with University of Pennsylvania policies.
- Applicants may identify a Penn department, program, or center to manage grant funds as a designated Fiscal Conduit.
- Applicants may alternatively receive the full grant as an award through Penn Marketplace, in accordance with the university’s employment compensation policies.
- Please refer to our general information page about grants disbursement for complete guidelines about receiving grant funds. Understanding these guidelines is important as we cannot provide support outside of university-approved options for receiving and managing grant funds.
- The earliest date funds may be available in the 2026 grant cycle is May 2026, though in most cases, they will be available in June or July. This timeline depends on several factors, including the responsiveness of grantees and their designated Fiscal Conduit (when applicable).
- Any questions? Please email Sachs Program Associate Director Chloe Reison at reison@upenn.edu.
Apply
Independent Creative Production Grants are now closed for the 2026 grant cycle.
We are not accepting applications for Sachs Program Independent Creative Production Grants at this time. The deadline to submit a completed Independent Creative Production Grant application in the 2026 grant cycle was December 19, 2025.
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Evaluation Process
Independent Creative Production 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 mission priorities and grantmaking criteria. More information about application evaluations can be found on the Sachs Program website.
Award decisions for the 2026 grant cycle will be made in March 2026.