2023 Public Interest Technology University Network Challenge

Overview

The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) Challenge seeks to encourage new ideas, foster collaborations, and incentivize resource- and information-sharing among a national network of universities working to create a robust Public Interest Technology field. In 2023, the Challenge will build on this foundation by focusing in on two specific areas: 

• Educational Offerings, especially those that foster cross-disciplinary perspectives, and credential completion 
• Career Pipeline/Placement efforts to develop the Public Interest Technology workforce in government, industry and social impact organizations.

Projects may include: 

• Experiential learning opportunities, such as clinics, fellowships, apprenticeships, or internships that give students real-world exposure to the practice of Public Interest Technology. 
• 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.

The PIT-UN Challenge will prioritize projects that center the needs of communities that have historically been denied access to new technologies, systematically left out of conversations at the
intersection of technology and policy, and denied opportunities to join the technology workforce. PITUN will prioritize these projects in an effort to further the positive social impact of technology for all communities. Projects may demonstrate centering community needs by creating a space for
communities to play a role in shaping these technologies’ development. Successful applications will:

• have meaningful and equitable partnerships with one or more of the following entities:
  • other educational institutions outside of the PIT-UN network in particular MinorityServing Institutions as well as two-year, community college institutions
  • affinity groups or organizations that support academic leadership among communities of color 
  • 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.
• have clearly articulated major barriers to equity and access related to Public Interest Technology and identified gaps in the workforce pipeline that lead to exclusion of the majority of people of color, women, and people with disabilities in the current tech workforce
• have project objectives and methods to address the articulated barriers and gaps, ensuring that aspects of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic diversity and equity are reflected in the design and reach of the project (i.e., students served) as well as the staffing of the proposed project team
• have a project team demonstrates the ability to serve ethnically, racially, socioeconomically diverse and underrepresented populations, perhaps supported by an actionable plan to use this funding to engage and serve those populations that is informed by best practices

New Network members (2022 cohort) can submit a total of three (3) proposals for new
projects, only one of which can fall within the funding Tranche 2 (up to $180,000). Apply to ASU's internal limited submission competition on InfoReady.

A person may be listed as the Principal Investigator (PI) on only one Challenge application, but
individuals may be listed as collaborators on multiple applications. 

Budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs.

PIT-UN is inviting proposals in two funding tranches. Budgets should be inclusive of an indirect rate, set at 20% of total direct costs.

Tranche 1: Up to $90,000 ($0-$90,000) for direct and indirect costs

Tranche 2: Up to $180,000 ($90,001-$180,000) for direct and indirect costs 

Projects that are a partnership between two or more universities should submit one single application. Projects should explain the nature of the partnership including the division of labor and funds in the proposal.

Timeline

● March 31, 2023 Public announcement of the Challenge
● April 7, 2023 Live Zoom Sessions. Open Office Hours to answer RFP questions start
   weekly on Fridays 12:00 pm -1:00 pm EDT
● April 14, 2023 RFP Questions due by 12:00 pm EDT to [email protected]
● April 21, 2023 RFP Question answers posted to Network Challenge webpage
● May 15, 2023 Applications due in Submittable by 11:59 pm EDT. No late
   submissions will be accepted.
● September 2023 New Venture Fund notifies grant recipients of their upcoming
   award.
● October 1, 2023 Grant term starts
● May 31, 2024 Mid-Grant Interim Reports Due
● January 30, 2025 Grant period ends
● March 30, 2025 Final reports Due