Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Grant

The Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Grant has been established to provide support to students who are undertaking innovative social impact projects with potential for real-world outcomes. While priority will be given to projects addressing domestic social challenges (based in the United States), projects focused on international issues will also be considered. Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 depending on the needs of the project.

Full-time, regularly enrolled 1st year, 2nd year, and junior undergraduates in good standing at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences are eligible to apply. International students are welcome to apply but must be eligible to work in the US to receive funding. Recipients are expected to return to Penn to share their experiences with other students and to contribute to an entrepreneurial culture of service at Penn and in the larger world.

Penn Deadline: March 14, 2021 (anticipated)

Application Process

To apply for the Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Grant, a student (or team of students) must complete the following steps by Penn’s (anticipated) Deadline of March 14, 2021.

The following documents must be submitted as a single PDF via Penn’s Request for Nomination application form (save each document as a pdf, then create a single pdf by navigating to Acrobat’s “File -> Create -> Combine Files into a Single PDF” feature). If you do not receive an email confirming your submission within 4 hours, please IMMEDIATELY email aolson@upenn.edu to make sure CURF has received your submission.

• Short abstract (~100 words): On a separate page, explain the overall goals of the project
• Proposal (2 pages): Use the following as suggested areas to cover rather than required categories:
  • Background: Evaluate existing knowledge and work in the area and briefly summarize/justify the proposed project’s potential contribution
  • Objectives: State the objectives and relevance of the proposed work in terms intelligible to an educated non-specialist
  • Project Design: Describe the procedures/actions to be employed and provide a timetable and implementation plan for completion of the project
  • Predicted Outcomes/Future Plans/Statement of Impact or Importance: Discuss the potential results to be generated from the submitted project, proposed next steps, and a statement of lessons to be learned from the undertaking
  • Preparation & Motivation: Describe how this project fits with BOTH your current academic, personal, and career interests/goals AND your future plans
• Budget (Itemized and Total Overall): On a separate page list and justify each budget item in order of priority, including the total amount needed to complete the project. Here is an Excel template to guide your budget creation.
  • These funds may be used to support the student while undertaking the proposed project AND to offset reasonable project costs 
  • Types of allowable expenses include travel to project site, living expenses that would enable the student to participate in the project, programming support, materials and supplies, etc.
  • Reimbursement of living expenses may be taxable. Software and capital equipment are almost never funded. Items that cost $500 or more with a useful life of one year or more must be purchased with a University purchase requisition and will remain the property of the University. 
  • If funds are being sought from other sources, state the source and potential amount of such funding.
• Additionally, each application must by supported by two letters – one letter of support from a Penn mentor (faculty or staff), and one letter of support from a proposed project affiliate in the host community. Once you have arranged for these letters, fill out a CURF Recommendation Request Form for each so that they can be submitted directly to CURF. These letters must also be received by Penn’s (anticipated) Deadline of March 14, 2021.
  • One letter of support should come from a Penn mentor (faculty or staff) and should discuss the project’s feasibility and the adequacy of the applicant’s/applicants’ preparation to complete it. It should also outline ways in which the applicant (or team of applicants) will be mentored over the course of the project and beyond.
  • One letter of support should come from a proposed project affiliate in the host community and should acknowledge that you have been in contact with local partners, that your project is welcome, and that you will have access to necessary materials and support while on location.

Procedures for Receiving Funding and Expectations for Grant Recipients:

Funds will not be disbursed until students review CURF’s information on Ethics and Compliance and complete and submit all necessary forms. All CURF-funded students must complete a Waiver of Liability. Once the award has been made and the Waiver of Liability has been submitted, recipients will be given instructions on how to access these funds.

Undergraduates receiving this funding are expected to (1) present a poster at a designated CURF event, (2) submit a website summary and photograph, and (3) provide a detailed report for the Hassenfeld Foundation.  The website summary should be suitable for posting on CURF’s website and will describe the project’s goals and content, what the student learned through the experience and how participating in this project contributed to the educational experience. The Foundation report should include the above and also detail the specific work (rather than the theoretical contribution) of the project and the potential for real-world outcomes and significant social impact that the project offers.