Skip to main content

Projects for Progress logo

As an institution dedicated to addressing the world's most intractable problems, Penn has established a new fund, intended to encourage students, staff, and faculty to design and implement pilot projects based on innovative research that will advance our aim of a more inclusive society. We seek to seed impactful projects, grounded in outstanding Penn research, that will offer new ideas to enhance the quality of life for members of our Philadelphia community now and in the future. Project proposals from diverse teams—broadly conceived—will receive priority consideration.

Project proposals are to be related to one or more of the following challenges:  

  • Eradicating or reducing systemic racism 
  • Achieving educational equity 
  • Reducing health disparities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and/or social determinants of health 

Refer to our FAQ for details on eligibility and the application process. Each winning team will receive up to $100,000 to implement the proposed initiative. The Office of Social Equity and Community will present Selection Committee recommendations to the President based on their judgement of a project’s potential to make an immediate and sustainable impact.

Deadline: 5PM EST on January 29, 2023. (Application goes live on January 17, 2023.)