Project Support Grants

Who is eligible to apply?

University of Pennsylvania faculty (standing and non-standing), staff, departments, programs, and centers are eligible to apply for Sachs Program Project Support Grants. Student groups may also apply in this category in collaboration with a department, program, or center—with the department, program, or center serving as the lead applicant.

What do the grants support?

Project Support Grants are intended to support performances, exhibitions, visiting artists, programming, and other forms of public engagement.
The timeline for use of grant funds can be flexible, but 2022–2023 grant cycle awards will not be disbursed until early summer 2023 and cannot be used for previously completed projects. Therefore, grant awards are intended to support activities taking place during or after summer 2023.
Examples of previously supported projects can be reviewed on our website.

How much can I apply for?

Project Support Grant applicants may request up to $8,000. The applicant must identify a University of Pennsylvania department, program, or center to manage the grant funds if an application is successful.

What do I need to know to apply?

Applicants must submit the Grants Inquiry Form below no later than December 2, 2022.
A link to the full online application (via SlideRoom) will be shared by email once an inquiry form has been submitted.
Completed applications will be due at midnight on February 1, 2023.
Applicants interested in meeting with Sachs Program staff for advice on their application may request an appointment using the Grants Inquiry Form below. We strongly encourage potential applicants schedule a meeting, but it is not required.

Can I submit a draft application for review?

If you would like to submit a draft of your application for review, you may send a copy as a Microsoft Word or simple text document to Sachs Program associate Tamara Suber at suber@upenn.edu.
Draft applications submitted for review must be received before midnight on January 6, 2023.
Draft applications should respond directly to the questions contained in the full online application. A link to the online application (via SlideRoom) will be sent to the email address provided with submission of the Grants Inquiry Form.

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 with submission of the Grants Inquiry Form.

The last day to submit a Grants Inquiry Form is December 2, 2022.

* Required Fields

First Name *

Last Name *

Title

Email *

I am submitting this inquiry as (select one) *an individual.on behalf of a Penn department, program, or center.the lead applicant for a Penn student group.

What is the name of your department, program, or center? *

Please describe your role within this group. *

What is the name of the student group? *

Project Description (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 Project Support Grants application guidelines as described on the Sachs Program website.
If this is a student group application; a representative of a Penn department, program or center is the lead applicant.
You have discussed this proposal with a Penn department, program, or center and they have agreed to manage the funds should you receive the grant.

Please note: 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

Applicants must seek approval by their department, program, or center, to apply for a Sachs Program Project Support Grant. The sponsoring department, program, or center must agree to manage any grant funds awarded if an application is successful.
Applicants may submit only one application in each Sachs Program grant category. If a Penn department, program, or center is applying in collaboration with an individual or student group, that department, program, or center may not submit any additional applications within the Project Support Grant category.
Sachs Program grants are not intended for ongoing support. Priority may be given to applicants or projects that have not been supported by The Sachs Program previously. 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 may apply for support for another project, but only if they have clear plans to finish the first project before the second one begins.
To be eligible for consideration, an application must be an appropriate fit for the category in which it’s 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 or 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 Tamara Suber at suber@upenn.edu.

Evaluation Process

Project 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 The Sachs Program grantmaking priorities and criteria.

Award decisions for the 2022–2023 grants cycle will be made in April 2023.

Important Information

While grant application advisement meetings are optional, they are encouraged—particularly for individuals and groups who have not previously applied to The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation and for those who are unsure of 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, but 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 not be able to fund all requests.
The Sachs Program aims to support projects that meet criteria established for each grant category and align with our priorities for grantmaking. Should a proposal or application not meet the criteria and/or not align with our priorities, Sachs Program staff may recommend that a previously submitted application is 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.