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PIT-UN Tech for Change Hackathon 2024 Request for Proposal
Application is now closed - winners announced soon!
The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) is seeking proposals from its member institutions to host a Tech for Change Hackathon to engage students from across disciplines in solving community needs. TFC Hackathons are civic-focused, community-driven, and deployed by students to address local injustices.
Eligibility
Responses to this RFP are limited to PIT-UN member institutions that have not previously hosted or co-hosted a Tech for Change Hackathon before. Host should have documented experience in hosting hackathons or co-hosting a hackathon.
While an institution might submit multiple proposals for hosting a Tech for Change Hackathon, an institution can only be awarded one grant. Proposals that are a partnership between two or more universities should submit a single application from the lead institution. Projects should explain the nature of the partnership, including the division of labor and funds in the proposal.
Awards
Total anticipated funding for this RFP is $100,000. Issuance of this RFP in no way constitutes a commitment by PIT-UN to make grant awards.
Applications will be evaluated after the due date, and PIT-UN reserves the right to issue partial awards as determined to be in the Network’s best interest. Maximum amount of grant funding requested can be no higher $25,000 for total costs (indirect costs are capped at 20%). Proposals for funding must include all revenue and expenses associated with an institution hosting a hackathon.
Winning proposals for a PIT-UN Tech for Change Hackathon will be supplied with a sponsorship packet that includes Tech for Change logos and graphics to be included in communications and promotional marketing materials.
PIT-UN seeks Tech for Change Hackathons that clearly define topical and relevant public interest technology focuses such as:
Healthcare
Elections
Bias (Racial or Gender)
Education
Alternative Models for Internet Access
Student Participation and Partnerships
Winning proposals must include participation of students from across technical and nontechnical disciplines.
PIT-UN encourages a multiple institution or regional approach to Tech for Change Hackathons as well as intentional community outreach to produce a successful event.
Photos from the 2024 Tech for Change Hackathon, co-hosted by Boston University and Howard University
The Tech for Change Hackathon is a project of the New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that supports innovative and effective public interest projects.
Tech for Change Hackathon Core Elements
Work toward equity cannot happen in a vacuum. As such, Tech for Change Hackathons should be intentional about forming and maintaining engaging partnerships with members of your community. When you are hosting a Tech for Change Hackathon, we encourage you to be mindful of equity and inclusion at every step along the process.
Winning proposals must include a plan for participation of students from across technical and nontechnical disciplines. The better a hackathon team is organized, the better the outcome of the hackathon. Elements of a well-designed Tech for Change Hackathon include partnerships and community engagements, social justice theme(s) and tracks, mentors and judges, and inclusive communication and marketing.
Tech for Change Hackathon. proposals should include potential judging categories such as:
- Sustainability: Teams develop a hack that provides an innovative and practical technical solution that is sustainable over a period of time either financially, or environmentally.
- Accessibility: Teams develop a hack that promotes accessibility and inclusion.
- Data: Teams produce subject-specific data visuals with the larger hack or use data in a unique and innovative way.
- App or Portal Hack: Teams build a decentralized application or portal as open source and share it with the world.
- AI Hack: Teams use or improve AI responsibly and creatively to solve for community needs and all teams need to be very upfront in what was created versus public tools you utilized in the final project.
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Opportunity Timeline
RFP submission window opens
Submission windows opens through the grant portal site Submittable
Weekly Friday Open Office Hours
Senior Manager Brenda Mora Perea will answer answer RFP questions weekly on Fridays, noon–1 p.m. EDT over Zoom. Fridays August 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Extended Deadline for Applications due in Submittable
No late submissions will be accepted.
Winners Notified
Late October through early November
Grant Term Starts
Grant Term Ends
Final Reports Due
Final reports (narrative and financial reconciliation) are due January 15, 2026
FAQs & Questions
Grant informational sessions will be held weekly on Fridays using Zoom, starting on August 9, 2024, from noon EST through 12:50 pm EST until the grant RFP close date on August 30, 2024.
Questions about this RFP can be sent to [email protected]
QUESTION: What Due Diligence form are REQUIRED?
PIT-UN Network Members who are current Year 4 2022 Network Challenge grantees do not need to resubmit their institutions: List of Board of Directors/Trustees, the institution’s 990, audited financials, or letter of determination for the Career Fair application process, however, you will need to upload:
- a list of main staff for the project
- a completed W-8BEN-E IRS Form
- AND the NVF Electronic Funds Transfer form if your proposal is selected.
Use these links to blank copies of the W-8BEN-E form and the NVF Electronic Funds Transfer [EFT] form.
If your institution is not a current PIT-UN Year 4 2022 Network Challenge grantee, you will need to upload:
- a list of main staff for the project
- a list of the Board of Directors/Trustees
- the institution’s 990
- audited financials, or letter of determination
- a completed W-8BEN-E IRS Form
- AND the NVF Electronic Funds Transfer form if your proposal is selected.
Use these links to obtain blank copies of the W-8BEN-E form and the NVF Electronic Funds Transfer [EFT] form.
QUESTION:Can our institution submit more than one proposal?
Yes, however only one grant is awarded per institution.
QUESTION: What is the time frame for holding a hackathon?
Any grant-funded Tech for Change Hackathons must be completed between December 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025. final reports are due by January 15, 2026.
QUESTION: Do we need to have a student chapter of Tech for Change in order to apply?
PIT member institutions do not have to have a Tech for Change student club to submit a proposal. The RFP specifically mentions that institutions collaborate with student groups to organize a Tech for Change Hackathon.
For instance, other student groups are eligible to apply to host a Tech for Change Hackathon, such as a collaboration between Women In Computing (WiC) and the Computing Organization for Multicultural Students (COMS).
QUESTION: I noticed on the portal that it said the portal would close after 30 applications had been submitted. Could you please share how likely that is to happen?
We do not expect all 63 PIT members to submit proposals, and the previous hosts of a Tech for Change Hackathon cannot be awarded funding. Our earlier survey of members who might want to apply for grant funding is approximately 10 proposals. However, if, at any time, 15 proposals have been uploaded to the grant portal, we will send out a notification to alert the membership that half of the proposal call limit has been submitted.