Small Grant Opportunity

Sara Fine Institute Small Grant Opportunity for Programming

Apply for funds from the Sara Fine Institute to support an event!

With the Year of Data and Society, we saw vibrant programming across our campuses that explored the impacts of data on our lives and communities. To support continued conversations around data, technology, and our lives, the Sara Fine Institute invites applications for small grants to support programming.

Applicants may apply for funds to host lectures, workshops, reading groups, panels, and community conversations around themes such as:

  • Social justice and technology
  • Relationship between people and technology
  • Social responsibility and data methods
  • Exploration of the impacts of data and its uses
  • Mitigating and redressing harm in data work and using data for good
  • Understanding and accounting for the social relationships, biases, and power dynamics behind data practices

The Sara Fine Institute will make available awards up to $1000 to support such programming.

Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis beginning October 1, 2022 until these programming-dedicated funds are exhausted. Funds may be used, for example, to support honoraria for visits by speakers or expenses of event/project design and execution. The lead applicant should be a Pitt staff, student, or faculty. Events that are open to the public will be given preference.

Proposals should include:

  • Name of the program
  • Name, title, affiliation, and email address of the proposal author
  • Event/project date(s), and whether these are proposed or confirmed
  • <500 word description of the proposed programming or project and its connections to the SFI 
  • Brief budget listing item and requested amount for program (Please note: funds should support event expenses such as honorarium, books for reading groups, and food. Funds are unable to support staff or faculty salary.

Proposals should be sent as a PDF or Word Doc to Nora Mattern, Director of the Sara Fine Institute (emm225@pitt.edu). Please place in the email subject line: SFI funding request

Those receiving funds will agree to cite the Sara Fine Institute on event publicity.

Please reach out to Nora Mattern with questions.