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The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) Challenge is a unique program that drives equitable innovation in technology across academia, government, industry and civil society. Since 2019, the Challenge has deployed over $15 million to build new courses, research centers, community and government partnerships, certificates and degrees, internships, fellowships and more.
In 2023, 14 grants totaling $1.5 million were awarded to further develop a research community and workforce as passionate about public interest as they are about developing breakthrough technologies.
In 2024, Year 6 of the Network Challenge, we anticipate supporting 10 – 15 projects led by PIT-UN Members that are:
- Educational offerings that foster cross-disciplinary perspectives and credentialing, or
- Career pipeline/placement efforts to develop a public interest technology workforce in government, industry, and social impact organizations.
Members of PIT-UN lead Network Challenge projects, often in partnership with other universities, community organizations, nonprofits, government offices or companies. In Year 6, the Challenge will support new ideas and frameworks for advancing public interest technology in the following areas:
Climate and Environment
State & Local Government Partnerships
Democracy & Elections
AI, Quantum & Emerging Technologies
Gender Justice
We are particularly interested in projects that do not replicate existing and previously funded projects but offer a new approach or lens for public interest technology. Each of the past 145 Network Challenge projects has a distinctive strategy to advance technology that serves all communities, especially those historically excluded from or marginalized by technology’s design, deployment and governance.
Successful Network Challenge applications require a thorough and ongoing review of past projects and the full Request for Proposals.
Explore Past Network Challenge Projects
Prior to submitting your application explore projects completed in past years. By using the filter feature you can search by year, institution, or topic.
Submission Window Closes May 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm EDT
Limited Submissions
“Limited submissions” are funding opportunities that restrict the number of applications from one institution. These funding opportunities must undergo an internal selection process (also known as an internal competition), which is coordinated by the institution. Please consult your institution before you develop any applications.
Number, Funding and Eligibility
PIT-UN is inviting proposals in two funding tranches. Budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs.
Additionally, there is a limit to the number of proposals a PIT-UN member university can submit:
- Proposals for up to a total of three new projects. Only one of these can fall within the funding Tranche 2 ($90,001–$145,000).
- Proposals to expand/scale previously awarded projects, outlined in Eligibility section ii, can fall into either funding Tranche 1 (up to $90,000) or Tranche 2* ($90,001–$145,000).
Proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding, the required match equals 50% of the funds requested from PIT-UN. As an example:
$100,000 PIT UN Request + $50,000 institutional match for a total project budget of $150,000 (2:1 request : match)
If the required institutional in-kind funding is less than 50%, the proposal will not be considered.
Note: Proposals can only be funded with Network Challenge funding for three years.
Eligibility
Projects ineligible to apply for funding in this challenge are Network Challenge Projects of any year (Year 2-2020 & Year 3-2021 & Year 4-2022) that have not submitted their project’s final reports (narrative and budget reconciliation) to New Ventures Fund using the grant management system Submittable.
Key Dates & Contact Information
Grant Period: October 1, 2024, through January 30, 2025
View the Recorded Webinar: Creating a Strong PIT Project
Public interest technology refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest/generate public benefits/promote the public good. All successful PIT projects demonstrate strategies to include all communities and individuals, especially those historically underrepresented in technology. This hour-long session explored how to design a PIT project that is inclusive in a meaningful way. Attendees will hear about examples of PIT projects that center communities, and describe specific activities and actions that strong PIT projects incorporate to include groups that have been historically marginalized.
2024 Ask an Expert Session on PIT-UN Network Challenge projects
This session for PIT-UN Members to ask our resident PIT expert, Afua Bruce, ANB Advisory Group, about what makes a successful PIT project. She is willing to assist attendees in identifying how their project might increase its PIT focus.
Questions on the RFP? Starting on Friday April 12, 2024 PIT-UN Members can speak with a PIT-UN Staff weekly during Open Office Hours
These are informal sessions to answer any questions that members might have in developing or submitting their limited submission applications. Each session opens at the top of the hour of noon EDT and ends at 1:00 pm. Questions regarding the 2023 Network Challenge grant can also be submitted to info(@)pitcases. org.
NOTE: there will not be an open session on Friday, May 12th.
Interested in becoming a 2024 Network Challenge proposal evaluator?
Each year, a panel of PIT leaders from across academia, government, industry and civil society evaluate applications to the annual PIT-UN Network Challenge, identifying promising new projects to recommend for PIT-UN grant funding.
Evaluation Committee members represent the breadth and depth of the field of PIT, with expertise in data privacy, cybersecurity, civil and human rights, entrepreneurship, law, policy and more. They gain insight into exciting new developments in the field, make connections with colleagues across sectors, and contribute to growing movement to place public interest at the heart of technology.
Written RFP Questions About the RFP Due by noon EDT
Written RFP Questions about the RFP are due by noon EDT submitted to info(@)pitcases. org
Responses to RFP Questions Posted to This Website by EOB
Responses to submitted questions about the RFP will be posted in the FAQ section of the website by the end of the business day (EDT)
Evaluation Committee Rubric Norming Training
2024 Evaluator Committee training. Zoom link will be sent with application acceptance email.
Winners Notified
Notification of Grant winners will be notified through Submittable. The notification will be emailed to the individual who submitted the proposal and that is not necessarily the principal investigator.
Please see Exhibit A in the RFP for the grant agreement and the compliance review as soon as you have been notified of a grant award.
New Venture Fund will expect redline edits to be completed by September 20, 2024 so agreements can be routed for signatures by the first week of October or sooner.
Red Line Edits due
New Venture Fund will send out a request for redline edits to completed to the the grant agreement by September 20, 2024 so agreements can be routed for signatures by the first week of October or sooner.
The grant agreement is Exhibit A in the RFP
Grant Term Begins
Mid-Term Grant Interim Reports Due
Grant Term Ends
Final Grant Reports Due
Do You Have Questions?
Contact us by clicking below to get answers to any of your Network Challenge questions.
Network Challenge FAQs
For interested applicants and general reference, how is public interest technology defined?
Public interest technology (PIT) refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest in a way that promotes the public good, particularly for members of society who are the least well-served historically and today because of existing systems and policies. Importantly, PIT includes individuals who approach these questions from a technological background, those with lived experience and expertise, and those coming from other disciplines (including, but not limited to, law and social science and movement building) who seek to understand, use, and respond to the changes brought by new technologies. PIT should also include people who may not identify as technologists but are at the forefront of equalizing access to technology and promoting inclusive tech policy, such as those working in the ecosystems of access, open-source and creative commons, digital literacy, inclusive design, movement and activist tech, community tech, and digital privacy and security.
Resources for Creating a Strong Public Interest Technology Project
Resources for Creating a Strong Public Interest Technology Project
2024 RFP Questions
Can you clarify the Tranche 2 50% in-kind funding requirement
Tranche 2 ($90,001–$145,000).
Proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding, the required match equals 50% of the funds requested from PIT-UN.
- As an example: $100,000 PIT UN Request + $50,000 institutional match for a total project budget of $150,000 (2:1 request : match)
What counts as an in-kind contribution or funding?
In-kind contributions/commitments may be in the form of funding such as cash contributions or (money from a university gift, endowment, or other unrestricted funds) and/or in-kind support (the value of the effort that university-paid personnel expends on the project or real property, equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, or goods and services).
Can you provide more guidance regarding in-kind contributions?
As stated in the Year 6 Challenge RFP, budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate of 20% of total direct costs.
Within these parameters, we offer the following additional guidance:
- Applicants are not required to claim the 20% indirect costs. If applicants do choose to claim indirect costs, these must be capped at 20% of the requested grant amount from NVF/PIT-UN (not of the entire project, should applicants be seeking funding for the same project elsewhere).
- The Challenge acknowledges that most institutions of higher education have federally negotiated rates that are significantly higher than 20%.
- Keep in mind that the Network relies on substantial institutional support for Challenge projects as a means to grow public interest technology as a field. We appreciate that covering the real costs required to run institutions does represent one form of institutional support. However, proposal evaluators will primarily be looking for evidence of institutional support via leveraged resources that the institution will bring to bear directly on the project’s success
- If an institution decides to use “unrecovered indirect costs” as part of the required in-kind contributions, external proposals evaluators will primarily be looking for evidence of institutional support via leveraged resources that the institution will bring to bear directly on the project’s success. We appreciate that covering the real costs required to run institutions does represent one form of institutional support, however “unrecovered indirect costs” might not be viewed by the external evaluators as resources that bear directly on the project’s success.
What does it mean that proposals can only be funded for 3 years?
A project is only eligible for 3 rounds of funding. The grant term for any winning proposal, whether Tranche 1 or Tranche 2, is 16 months.
Project proposals can apply for either Tranche 1 or Trance 2 for any of the allowed funding cycles for that project. Example: Project A, funding round 1 applies for $145K, Project A, funding round 2 applies for $145K, Project A funding round 3 applies for $90K Additionally, only projects that have been completed and final reports received by New Venture Funds can apply for additional round of funding during the annual Network Challenge RFP window. No extra consideration is given to expansion and scale projects in the evaluation phase of proposal review. Expansion and scale projects must compete for funding with new projects.
What Tranches can a project be funded for when expanding and scaling a previously funded project?
A project is only eligible for 3 rounds of funding. Project proposals can apply for either Tranche 1 or Trance 2 for any of the allowed funding cycles for that project.
Example: Project A, funding round 1 applies for $145K, Project A, funding round 2 applies for $145K, Project A funding round 3 applies for $90K
Additionally, only projects that have been completed and their final reports received by New Venture Fund before the close of the RFP can apply for an additional round of funding during the an open call for Network Challenge RFP responses.
It is important to note that no extra consideration is given to expansion and scale projects in the evaluation phase of proposal review. Expansion and scale projects must compete for funding with new projects.
What Information should partner letters of commitment include?
As explained in the RFP, there is a difference between a partner and a collaborator. In a partnership, there is a formal relationship where there is more of a co-mingling of resources defined by different partnership arrangements (MOU, MOA, Letters of Commitment). Individuals retain their authority and a separate structure is developed to oversee or manage the engagement including funding. A collaborator has an agreed-upon way to collaborate yet operates independently. Collaborators retain their autonomy and have complete control over the individual resources they bring to the table.
Partnerships. The project has meaningful and equitable partnerships with one or more of the following entities:
- Other educational institutions in their proposals, including those that are not part of the PIT-UN University Network, in particular, Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) as well as two-year, community college institutions
- Other educational institutions, including those that are not part of the PIT-UN University Network, affinity groups, or organizations that focus on non-tech disciplines including, but not limited to, ethnic studies, disabilities studies, history, humanities, and social sciences
- Community organizations that have a specific focus on workforce development and/or creating career pathways for populations currently underrepresented in public service or science, technology, engineering, or math fields.
- Affinity groups or organizations that support academic leadership among communities of color
Meaningful and equitable partnerships may include, but are not limited to:
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) for internships, apprenticeships, and practica
- Articulation agreements
- Past collaboration on a previous funding opportunity with letters of support
- Documentation of community listening sessions, focus groups, and training sessions
Note that you will need to upload letters of commitment (MOAs, MOUs, and letters of support) from all named partners with this application.
- For each partnership, describe how you have cultivated a meaningful and equitable relationship with the partner entity. See “Evaluation Criteria” for guidance on meaningful and equitable partnerships. If this project includes a partnership with one or more additional universities, please describe how the partnership will operate, including the division of labor.
- Name of the partner institution
- Name of the point of contact at the partner institution
- Phone number and/or email address for the point of contact
- Brief description of the partner institution’s mission and work
- Description of the role the partner will play on the project and how the partnership would enhance or expand the impact of the project
- A list of deliverables that the partner institution will be responsible for (if applicable)
- The amount of monetary support the partner will provide (if applicable)
- The type and value of any in-kind support the partner institution will provide (staff time, facility space, supplies, equipment)
Can you define Principal Investigator (PI) eligibility for this grant opportunity?
A Principal Investigator (PI) is defined as the individual(s) judged by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct a project supported by a grant. PI(s) are responsible for directing the project, intellectually and logistically. We require an institutional staff member or faculty member be the PI of a Network Challenge project because the fiduciary responsibility for project completion is the institution and the PI. Graduate or undergraduate students can be listed as co-PIs and be responsible for completing the grant project under the supervision of the PI.
Is it possible, if selected through the internal limited submissions process, for one project to move forward with two proposals targeting more than one tranche?
Unfortunately in the current Network Challenge evaluation process, duplicative projects are competing with each other and with all submitted proposals (Tranche 1 & 2, new projects & expansion & scale projects), so submitting a project to both Tranches would not increase the likelihood of funding for either project.
Submittable Platform FAQs
How many applications can be open (in draft form) in Submittable by an individual at a time?
The grant management system, Submittable, will only allow one application to be completed at a time. Please have all the application answers and the necessary documents in hand before starting an application.
You will not be able to start a new application until the first application has been submitted.
How do I sign in to Submittable?
You can sign in to your Submittable account at manager.submittable.com/login. Once you’ve entered your email address and password, click Submissions. If you’ve lost or forgotten your password, follow the instructions here. If you need to create a Submittable account, here’s what to do.
Can I have more than one application started/in draft mode?
No. A submitter may only have one application in draft mode at a time. Applications must be submitted before the system will allow you to start a new application.
Where is my submission draft?
Once you’ve started a submission, drafts are saved in your account profile under My Submissions, within the Saved Drafts tab.
Click Continue inside the draft to edit any field and submit the draft when you have completed the proposal. Learn more.
I received a request to collaborate on Submittable. What's next? (FAQs)
Who requested that I collaborate with them?
The individual applying to an opportunity asked that you collaborate with them. They are identified in the email you received.
How can I begin collaborating?
Please use the link provided in the email you received to begin collaborating on the form. If you do not yet have a free Submittable account, you will first need to enter your name and email address, and set a password.
How does collaboration work?
Submittable allows individuals to collaborate together in real time. The initials identified in the top right corner indicate who is actively working on the form. You can also see field presence throughout the form if someone is filling out a particular field. Watch the video below to learn more about how collaboration on Submittable works.
I have questions about the form and/or about the opportunity.
If you have questions about the information requested in the form or about the opportunity, organization, or its process, the best thing to do is to contact the individual who invited you to collaborate or the organization to which you are applying. Our Support team will not have any information about the content of the form or the unique process of the organization.
I’m having trouble uploading documents.
Please ensure that your document is an acceptable file type, as identified in the form. Read more.
I’m having other technical trouble.
Our Support team is happy to help. Contact them here.
Why can’t I submit the form?
Only the submission owner, or the person who invited you to collaborate, can submit the form.
How will I know when the form is submitted?
You’ll receive an email confirmation when the form is submitted.
How can I see the submitted form?
When you log in to your Submittable account, go to the Collaborations tab to view the submitted form.
How can I participate after submission?
Collaboration can only take place before the Initial Form is submitted. Collaborators cannot access, edit, or contribute to additional forms after an initial submission is made.
How can I find out the status of the application?
As a collaborator on the form, the organization will have your contact information, and may include you on email updates regarding the submission’s status or other information. If you have questions about the status of the submission, please contact the individual who invited you to collaborate or the organization.
Questions about Application Requirements
2024 Network Challenge eligibility, number, and types of proposals
The 2024 PIT-UN Network Challenge is open to members of PIT-UN.
Submission Requirements
PIT-UN Network Challenge is a Limited Submission RFP. The PIT-UN institution institution determines which applications are eligible for submission to the 2024 PIT-UN Network Challenge.
Please understand your institution’s internal selection process before create a profile on the grant management platform and you begin working on a RFP response.
Funding Tranches
The PIT-UN 2024 Network Challenge has two funding tranches. All budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs per NVF funding requirements. (A New Venture Fund letter to that effect can be obtained by emailing info@pitcases.org)
- Tranche 1: Up to $90,000 for direct and indirect costs
- Tranche 2: $90,001-$145,000 ] for direct and indirect costs
For proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding, the required in-kind match equals 50% of the funds requested from PIT-UN. As an example:
$100,000 PIT UN Request + $50,000 institutional match for a total project budget of $150,000 (2:1 request : match)
If the required institutional in-kind funding is less than 50%, the proposal will not be considered.
Limits on proposals
There is a limit to the number of proposals a PIT-UN Network university can submit:
- Current network members can submit the following:
- Proposals for new projects, adding up to a total of three. Only one of these can fall within the funding Tranche 2- $145,000.
- Proposals to expand/scale previously awarded projects, outlined in Eligibility section ii, can fall into either funding Tranche 1- $90,000, or Tranche 2 – $145,000.
Additionally, proposals can only be funded with three (3) years of Network Challenge funding.
Proposal Priorities
In 2024, there are only two (2) Types of PIT project priorities
The “Challenge” awards small grants to member colleges and universities that submit proposals related to the following priorities:
- Educational offerings
- Career pipeline and placement
PIT-UN will not evaluate duplicative projects that have been previously funded in any of our Network Challenge grants. Please check the list of previously fund PIT-UN funded projects by visiting our Challenge Grantee page to view our members’ projects.
Limits on Principal Investigators
A person may be listed as the Principal Investigator (PI) for only one Challenge application, but individuals may be listed as collaborators on multiple applications.
Projects that are a collaboration between two or more universities should submit one single application. Projects should explain the nature of the collaboration in the proposal.
Download the 2024 PIT-UN Network Challenge forms and evaluation criteria
2024 PIT-UN Network Challenge Evaluation Criteria
NVF Child Safeguard Facts and Resources
NVF Child Safeguard Form (if applicable)
PIT-UN Theory of Change Template for Expansion & Scale
Additional documents you will need to complete your submission
- Partnership letters of commitment (MOU, MOA, Sponsorship if applicable)
- Relevant work documentation (CVs if applicable)
- Due diligence documents
- Proof of legal status/IRS Letter of Determination
- Institution’s most recent audited financial documents from 2022 or 2023
- Institutional IRS form 990
- List of the Directors or Board of Trustees
List of main staff for this project
Sample of the 2024 Network Challenge New Project Application online form
Sample of the 2024 Network Challenge Expansion/Scaling Application online form
Examples of the types of projects we are seeking
Project themes may include:
- Environmental, climate, or sustainability projects that provide for opportunities for storytelling around the importance of PIT.
- Policy projects with state and local governmental partnership research or briefs that advance PIT in these key fields: data science, artificial intelligence (AI), or quantum computing.
- Technical projects where students and researchers explicitly engage in storytelling about PIT within the work (Quantum, AI, augmented analytics, machine learning, robotics).
- Democracy and voting projects that explore ways to strengthen public interest systems and broaden participation at the local, state, and federal government levels.
- The intersection of gender and technology in the pursuit of justice and equity.
Projects may include:
- Multi-institutional research projects focused on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, or data science.
- Public interest technology certifications, noncredit professional development opportunities, and degree completion projects for all levels of students
- New models of career training, placement, and/or financial support to develop the public interest technology workforce.
- Partnerships with nonprofit, private sector, or affinity groups to educate current working professionals in public interest technology.
- Experiential learning opportunities that give students real-world exposure to the practice of public interest technology for undergraduate students.
- Experiential opportunities, including clinics, labs, internships, or apprenticeships at the undergraduate level.
- Fellowships with an expressed goal of inter-institutional research or dissemination.
- Toolkits and guides that include granular instructions to replicate initiatives yet are not case studies in implementations.
- Guides should focus on tenure, internships, and hackathons.
Preparing your Network Challenge proposal
Documents you will need to complete your application
- Answers from RFP
- NVF Child SafeGuard Form (if applicable)
- Budget Workbook
- Partnership letters of commitment (if applicable) Examples include:
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Methods of Administration (MOAs) including for internships and practica
- Collaboration on a previous funding opportunity
- Documentation of community listening session(s), focus groups, or training session(s)
- Relevant work documentation (CVs if applicable)
- Due diligence Documents
- List of the Directors or Board of Trustees
- List of main staff for this project
Before you begin
Identify your institution’s internal grant application vetting process. Please note that it is the institution’s responsibility to determine the slate of project proposal applications that are entered into the PIT-UN Network Challenge
If you have an outstanding extension on a previously funded grant, that project cannot be submitted for a new round of funding.
If you have a grant that has been completed but the final report has not been submitted that project is ineligible to apply for a new round of funding.
Submitting a grant proposal in the online grant platform
FAQs for Network Challenge Point of Contacts
Role and Responsibility of the Network Challenge Institutional Point of Contact
In the application platform, Submittable, only the designated institutional point of contact (the Submittable application “owner”) is responsible for uploading ALL institutional vetted applications into the platform.
Material Needed to Complete an Application
Documents and information that will help make uploading the content of the application process easier.
The Submittable platform automatically saves your work several times a minute. You may start, stop and revise an application multiple times. However, only after you push the SUBMIT button at the end of the application will the application be queued for consideration. You will need the following documents and information to help make uploading the content of the application process easier:
- Completed answers from the RFP
- NOTE: We ask that you please add the Principal Investigator to the application as a Collaborator so we can maintain contact with them through the Submittable platform during the grant period.
- NVF Child Safeguard Form (if applicable for the specific project see the 2022 Minor Safeguarding FAQs)
- Completed Budget Workbook
- Partnership letters of commitment (if applicable)
- Relevant work documentation (if applicable)
Additional Due Diligence Documents
- Proof of legal status/IRS Letter of Determination
- Institution’s most recent audited financial documents from 2020 or 2021
- Institutional IRS Form 990
- List of the Directors or Board of Trustees
- List of main staff for this project
Access to the SUBMITTABLE online grant application platform
Before you begin:
As you begin inputting the application into Submittable, please use a laptop or desktop computer, as file uploads may not work on some mobile devices. If you continue to be unable to upload the files, please try a different supported browser, and ensure that the files are valid file types. You can find the acceptable file types under the “Choose File” button on the application.
- The application platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
- The grant application platform, Submittable, does not support the Explorer browser or older versions of Edge.
- You can download Firefox by following the instructions linked here.
- You can download Chrome by following the instructions linked here.
- Working within the application platform
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit institutional applications.
- Submittable will continuously save a draft of your work and you may exit the platform if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date. Your draft submissions are located in the Saved Drafts tab in the My Submissions section of your profile. You can access My Submissions by using the dropdown menu beside your initials in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage.
- If you need to make changes to a SUBMITTED application, please withdraw your submission and resubmit.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- We will follow up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and regularly check the email account you used to sign up for your Submittable account.
- Check out the Submitter Resource Center for help videos and articles or reach out to Submittable’s Customer Support team with any technical questions.
IMPORTANT REQUEST
Adding Principal Investigators as Collaborators to the Application
It is vital to add the PI listed on the application to the active application. We will be contacting the Principal Investigator with questions on the application as well as requesting grant reporting items from the PI throughout the grant period.
Here are instructions to add Collaborators to an Application in Submittable.
Other ways a collaborator can assist in uploading application content to the active application:
- Submission owners and collaborators can start entering data or revising data in each field. Each person who is an authorized collaborator on the form will see the data appear immediately.
- If collaborators are working in the same field, the inputs made by the person who last enters any data will be saved.
- The exception to this is File Uploads. The person who first uploads a file determines which file gets uploaded to a submission. For another collaborator to replace that file, they must first delete what was uploaded, then upload a new file.
- At any point in the collaboration process, the Submission owner can click on either the Save Draft or Submit button at the bottom of the page. As with any submission, all required fields need to be properly completed before the application can be successfully submitted.
A saved collaborative draft that is not yet submitted can be accessed by collaborators at any time by signing into their Submittable account and clicking on the Collaborations tab on the right-hand side of the tabs in the Submission List view.
Questions Concerning the RFP
For proposals up to $90,000, what does it mean that the project must have “demonstrated buy-in from the applicant’s university?”
“Demonstrated buy-in” can be any contribution or signal of support from the university that will help the project sustain its impact. This includes, but is not limited to, contributed university funds, support from university leadership, and collaboration between departments, faculty, or other groups.
Applicants may demonstrate university buy-in via letters of support, written evidence of collaboration between university entities (an informal MOU), or evidence of cash or in-kind contributions from the university.
For proposals at the $90,001–$145,000 level, what do you mean by "in-kind" and “specific commitments from universities”?
Proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding must include at least 50% in-kind contribution funding from the primary institution and/or their named partners.
In-kind commitments may be in the form of cash contributions (either the value of the effort that university-paid personnel expends on the project or money from a university gift, endowment, or other unrestricted funds) and/or in-kind support (real property, equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, or goods and services).
Note: If the required institutional in-kind funding is less than 50%, the proposal will not be considered.
Can you provide additional guidance on indirect costs?
As stated in the Year 6 Challenge RFP, budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate of 20% of total direct costs.
Within these parameters, we offer the following additional guidance:
- Applicants are not required to claim the 20% indirect costs.
- If applicants do choose to claim indirect costs, these must be capped at 20% of the requested grant amount from NVF/PIT-UN (not of the entire project, should applicants be seeking funding for the same project elsewhere).
- The Challenge acknowledges that most institutions of higher education have federally negotiated rates that are significantly higher than 20%.
- Keep in mind that the Network relies on substantial institutional support for Challenge projects as a means to grow public interest technology as a field. We appreciate that covering the real costs required to run institutions does represent one form of institutional support. However, proposal evaluators will primarily be looking for evidence of institutional support via leveraged resources that the institution will bring to bear directly on the project’s success. Please see the “Institutional Support” criterion for more detail.
Is it sufficient that an underserved or historically marginalized community benefits from the proposed project but is not involved in the project design?
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion criteria state that the “section will be used to determine if the proposed project addresses one or more barriers to equity and access related to Public Interest Technology based on best practices, and does the team have an existing record of serving diverse, underrepresented, and marginalized populations.”
The questions ask the principal investigator to:
- Describe how the demographics of those benefiting from the project compare to the demographics of the larger population in that (often geographic) area. (500-word maximum)
- What are the major barriers to equity and access related to public interest technology, as your institution and project team undertake the proposed project?
- In what ways will your project’s objectives and method address those barriers?
- How will the proposed project conduct recruitment, engagement, and retention activities of historically excluded communities?
- What sources of bias is this project subject to? What mitigation strategies will be employed to combat bias and generate more equitable outcomes?
- What record do you have of serving ethnically, racially, socioeconomically diverse, and underrepresented populations? If not yet in place, describe how you would use this funding to engage, serve, and collaborate with those populations in ways that are informed by best practices.
What if my institution does not have an IRS Form 990?
Upload a document briefly explaining the reason.
I would like to include source information in my application. Does this need to be in the form of a traditional citation?
The Challenge will accept informal in-text citations (e.g., hyperlinks) in place of traditional citations; additionally, you may submit a Works Cited or Bibliography in the “Supplemental Uploads and Principal Investigator Relevant Work” section, though this is not required.
I can’t find the templates mentioned in the RFP (i.e., the New Venture Fund budget template).
All templates are housed in our Submittable application portal and can be downloaded from this website in the section called Download the 2023 PIT-UN Network Challenge Forms and Evaluation Criteria
Can you provide additional guidance on uploads and page limits?
There is a 10-page limit for most uploads. The following documents are required as part of the application and do not count toward the 10-page limit:
- Proof of Legal Status/IRS Letter of Determination
- Project Budget
- Most Recent Audited Financials
- Institution’s IRS Form 990 (if co-submitting a proposal, each institution must submit its own Form 990)
- List of Board of Directors or Board of Trustees
- List of Main Staff Members for the Project
Note that these are subject to file size limitations as determined by the Submittable application platform and are listed below each “Upload a file” button in the relevant section of the platform.
The following documents are required for all partnerships and do not count toward the 10-page limit.
- MOA, MOU, and Letters of Commitment
For applications that checked the box “My project is also a Data Science” you may either answer the question in the long answer field with a 750-word limit or upload a PDF document that is no longer than three (3) pages. The uploaded document must answer the same questions as the long answer question and may include any relevant visuals, diagrams, figures, graphics, and the like. You will upload this document right after the long answer field in the PDF Upload as an alternative to keying in the supplemental questions for Data Science Projects”
Any additional documents that support the content of your application are optional and do count toward the 10-page limit. Any documents in this section should be referred to somewhere in the answers to your application questions.
- NVF Child Safeguarding Policy Information Sheet
How do I indicate cost-sharing?
Cost sharing is documented on the NVF budget template. Please be sure to distinguish which/how much of a project’s planned expenses will be covered by the PIT-UN funding in relation to the total project budget. If any of the funding from the PIT-UN award will be regranted from the primary institution, this should be reflected on the Subtotal Subgrants section of the budget template.
What does it mean for the PIT-UN Fund to “prioritize” applications?
The PIT-UN Year 6 Challenge RFP will give extra consideration to projects that center the needs of communities that have historically been denied access to new technologies, been systematically left out of conversations at the intersection of technology and policy, and have been denied opportunities to join the technology workforce, in efforts to further the positive social impact of technology for all communities will be prioritized.
Additionally, evaluators will only review proposals in the two specific areas:
- Educational offerings that foster cross-disciplinary perspectives and credentialing.
- Career pipeline/placement efforts to develop a public interest technology workforce in government, industry, and social impact organizations.
And align to the suggest project themes:
- Environmental, climate, or sustainability projects that provide for opportunities for storytelling around the importance of PIT.
- Policy projects with state and local governmental partnership research or briefs that advance PIT in these key fields: data science, artificial intelligence (AI), or quantum computing.
- Technical projects where students and researchers explicitly engage in storytelling about PIT within the work (Quantum, AI, augmented analytics, machine learning, robotics).
- Democracy and voting projects that explore ways to strengthen public interest systems and broaden participation at the local, state, and federal government levels.
- The intersection of gender and technology in the pursuit of justice and equity.
And address:
- Multi-institutional research projects focused on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, or data science.
- Public interest technology certifications, noncredit professional development opportunities, and degree completion projects for all levels of students
- New models of career training, placement, and/or financial support to develop the public interest technology workforce.
- Partnerships with nonprofit, private sector, or affinity groups to educate current working professionals in public interest technology.
- Experiential learning opportunities that give students real-world exposure to the practice of public interest technology for undergraduate students.
- Experiential opportunities, including clinics, labs, internships, or apprenticeships at the undergraduate level.
- Fellowships with an expressed goal of inter-institutional research or dissemination.
- Toolkits and guides that include granular instructions to replicate initiatives yet are not case studies in implementations.
- Guides should focus on tenure, internships, and hackathons.
Projects that can demonstrate a strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in both project design and reach will be prioritized by receiving a higher number of points out of the 35 total possible points under that evaluation criterion. In addition, when determining the final portfolio of awarded applications, evaluators may choose to include an application that has a strong justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion component.
I have specific questions about the eligibility and fit of my proposed project. Can I speak to anyone from the PIT-UN Challenge team about my project?
Questions regarding your proposed project can be emailed to info (at) pitcases.org
And you ou may join one of our Open Office hour zoom calls on Fridays starting on April 12th, 2024 to ask your questions or direct all specific. See the teleconference link in the calendar section above.
When will grantees be selected, and when will funding be available?
Selections are expected to be made by September 2024.
The grant term runs from October 1, 2024 through January 30, 2026.
Funding is expected to be dispersed as soon as the grant agreements are signed sometime around October 1, 2024.
Questions on Eligibility and Submissions
Who can apply for funding?
As part of its Network Challenge, PIT-UN will only accept applications from PIT-UN Network members.
In this sixth year of the Network Challenge, PIT-UN will accept the following types of proposals from PIT-UN members in response to its RFP:
- New Projects: Projects that have not received prior funding from the PIT-UN Challenge (“new projects”).
- Expansion and Scale of Existing Projects: Projects that have received prior funding from the PIT-UN Challenge in 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022, but have not received three years of Network Challenge funding can apply for additional funding to expand and/or scale their project (“previously funded projects”).
Projects ineligible to apply for funding are Network Challenge projects of any year that have not submitted their project’s final reports (narrative and budget reconciliation) to New Venture Fund using the Submittable grant management system.
How can a Network member apply for a Challenge grant?
The PIT-UN Network Challenge is a limited submission funding opportunity and limits the number of applications from one institution. These “limited submission” funding opportunities must undergo an internal selection process (also known as an internal competition), which is coordinated by the institution. Please consult your institution before you develop any applications.
The grant application has been distributed to the individual designees and the offices responsible for submitting grant applications at each of the PIT-UN member colleges and universities.
Note that each PIT-UN institution decides who is their PIT-Un designee and which office will be responsible for grant applications. Interested applicants may obtain the grant application from their university designee or the relevant office.
Can academic institutions that are NOT members of PIT-UN apply for funding?
No, however they may partner with one or more PIT-UN member institutions on their application.
How many Challenge applications can a university submit?
Additionally, there is a limit to the number of proposals a PIT-UN member university can submit:
- Proposals for up to a total of three new projects. Only one of these can fall within the funding Tranche 2 ($90,001–$145,000).
- Proposals to expand/scale previously awarded projects, outlined in Eligibility section ii, can fall into either funding Tranche 1 (up to $90,000) or Tranche 2* ($90,001–$145,000).
Proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding must include at least 50% in-kind contribution funding from the primary institution. Proposed budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs.
If my institution is collaborating with another institution on a proposal and that institution submits the application on our behalf, is my institution still eligible to submit three new proposals?
Yes, if your institution is not the primary institution and will not be the fiduciary agent of the grant, you are still welcome to submit up to three proposals for new projects. Proposals that are a collaboration between two or more universities should submit one single application, explaining the nature of the collaboration in their application.
What if an institution is interested in submitting more than three applications?
There is a limit to the number of proposals a PIT-UN member university can submit:
- Proposals for up to a total of three new projects. Only one of these can fall within the funding Tranche 2 ($90,001–$145,000).
- Proposals to expand/scale previously awarded projects, outlined in Eligibility section ii, can fall into either funding Tranche 1 (up to $90,000) or Tranche 2* ($90,001–$145,000).
Proposals requesting Tranche 2 funding must include at least 50% in-kind contribution funding from the primary institution. Proposed budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs.
Each academic institution is responsible for its own internal selection process of the applications that they will submit to the Challenge.
Are project proposals that were previously submitted but did not receive funding considered new projects?
Yes, previously submitted projects that have never received Challenge grant funding are new proposals. Please revised the proposal so it will conform to the current year’s purpose, core elements, and outcomes.
Should proposals to continue or expand a previously awarded project be submitted through the same application as a new proposal? Are there any different or additional application requirements?
Note: Proposals can only be funded with Network Challenge funding for three years.
Applicants who were awarded a Challenge grant in past years and are submitting a proposal to continue/expand their project will be asked to answer additional questions throughout the application.
For more details on those specific questions, please reference the RFP or the application in Submittable. In every section, these additional questions will follow the phrase “Previously funded projects only.”
Can the Principal Investigator (PI) on a Year 5 Challenge submission that is an extension of a previously awarded project remain the same—even if the PI has moved to a new institution?
The PI does not need to remain the same, but you should include in your application one sentence about how you will ensure continuity across PIs. Likewise, a PI who has moved can still lead the project; just add a sentence about how you will ensure continuity across institutions.
Please understand the funds must be administered by a PIT-UN member even if the PI has transferred to a non-PIT-UN institution.
Will multi-institutional or multiple partner projects from two or more organizations split one award allocation?
Yes, all institutions and partners named in one application will be awarded a single sum of money from the New Venture Fund. Principal Investigators or project leads will be responsible for disbursing the funds.
Applicants should list all subgrants under the header “Subgrants to Other Organizations” in their budget templates.
What guidance can you provide regarding collaboration with international organizations?
Partnerships with international organizations are welcome. Applicants that are considering regranting a portion of their awarded funds to an international organization should know that it is the Network member’s responsibility to ensure that it has performed sufficient legal and financial due diligence on the international organization. Regranted funds should also be used in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement (i.e., funds are used charitably, funds are not used for lobbying/political activity, and all parties must follow anti-terrorist financing and asset control laws).
Are applicants required to have 501(c)(3) status to be awarded a grant?
No. It is up to the applicant to decide whether to apply through the university or through its associated foundation.
Who should submit the application on behalf of a school?
Each PIT-UN institution should follow its internal process for grant submissions. All RFP responses/applications must be submitted through a registered Submittable account set up by the university designee or relevant office at each school.
I am unfamiliar with the Submittable platform--how do I create an account?
The PIT-UN Network Challenge is accepting proposals only through their dedicated grant management platform Submittable. You will need to create a new account to submit this year’s applications. To view how to create an account on Submittable use this link. For questions related to navigating the Submittable platform, please see here.