Program Development Grants

PDG Chair:and Chair-Elect: pdg-chair@swe.org

Your SWE group must meet the following to be eligible for PDG Funding. If your event has occurred or received funding in the past, the committee will evaluate for event development, growth, and work to find future funding. If the event has not grown or obtained new funding, second time events will receive a maximum of 50% of funding. Third time and greater will not be eligible for funding.

1. The proposal must be sponsored by a SWE organization.
   SWE organizations include: Sections, MALS, Global Affiliates or Affinity Groups.
2. The event must be SWE or SWE-Affiliate led.
   For the vast majority of applicants, this means that your local SWE section must be leading this event. PDG Funding cannot be used for events run by an individual or organization not affiliated with the Society.
3. The SWE organization requesting funds must be in good standing with the Society.
   If you are a section, you must be in good standing to submit a PDG grant. This does not directly apply to global affiliates or affinity groups. The event manager and Treasurer or fiscal authority must be active (paid) SWE members to submit a PDG grant.
4. The annual report must be completed.
   Sections must have submitted their annual report through the SWE Leader Portal at the close of the last fiscal year (as required to be in good standing), and this information will be used to determine financial need as requested in the grant application. Global affiliates, affinity groups, etc will use the EZ Financial Form to determine financial need as requested in the grant application.
5. The proposal submission.
   The proposal must be submitted by an active (paid) SWE member.  The project must be led/managed by an active (paid) SWE member.
6. Youth Protection Training. The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all participants in SWE-sponsored youth focused programs throughout the world. Ensuring the safety of participants in SWE events is the most critical responsibility of SWE staff and event volunteers. All volunteers working with youth under age 18 at SWE events must complete SWE’s Youth Protection training prior to the event. Please visit swe.org/youthprotection to access the required training. This training must be completed every three years.
7. The outstanding limits.
   SWE organizations requesting funds may have a maximum of three outstanding PDG reports, deliverables, or outstanding unused funds totaling up to $15,000.
8.  

For your application to be complete, your SWE organization treasurer or fiscal authority, who is a paid SWE member, must complete the PDG grant application verification form by doing the following:

• If you are a section, you must be in good standing to submit a PDG grant. This does not directly apply to global affiliates or affinity groups, but you must be a registered group to be eligible for a PDG grant.
• Sections must have submitted their annual report through the SWE Leader Portal at the close of the last fiscal year (as required to be in good standing), and this information will be used to determine financial need as requested in the grant application. Global affiliates, affinity groups, etc will use the EZ Financial Form to determine financial need as requested in the grant application.
• If you are a section, verify the Concur information. If are not a section, please provide the contact information for payment.
• Verify the SWE Organization does not have any outstanding grants or too many open PDG Grants (more than three active PDG Grants).

You will need to provide the name and email address of your current SWE Organization treasurer or Fiscal Authority during application. Without their verification, your request will be incomplete and will not be considered.

SWE organizations must demonstrate sound fiscal stewardship and responsibility in the use of funds to qualify for funding from the SWE Program Development Grant (PDG) Committee. The SWE PDG places a priority on requests where there is a high financial need.

To demonstration financial responsibility, the PDG Committee requires sections be in good standing. (Video Link) This does not directly apply to global affiliates or affinity groups, but you must be a registered group to be eligible for a PDG grant.

In order for your application to be reviewed and funding by the PDG Committee, you must use the below criteria with your Financial Report (if you are a section) or EZ Form (link) (if you are a global affiliate, affinity group, MAL, etc) to determine financial need criteria. This can be done by the organization’s treasurer or fiscal authority. Each year, the demand for funding from the PDG Committee far exceeds the funds available to distribute.

This calculation allows the PDG Committee to understand how much funding your SWE organization has in reserves or if it is operating with a deficit.

• HIGH NEED CRITERIA: If your net assets are between 50 percent and 200 percent of your expenses, your request will receive a High Need score. For example: If your expenses are $100,000 (on line 13) and your estimated net assets are between $50,000 or $200,000 then your request is High Need.
• MEDIUM NEED CRITERIA: If your net assets are below 50 percent of your expenses, the request will be awarded a Medium Need score. This demonstrates less than exemplary fiscal stewardship as it indicates the organization does not have enough in reserves to cover operating expenses in the case of no or limited income. For example: If your expenses are $100,000 (on line 13) and your estimated net assets are $49,999 or below then your request is Medium Need.
• LOW NEED CRITERIA: If your assets are between 200 percent and 300 percent of your expenses, the request will be awarded a Low Need score. This demonstrates another case of less-than-exemplary fiscal stewardship for a non-profit: having a larger reserve (without earmarked future large expenses such as growing endowed scholarships, etc.) For example: If your expenses are $100,000 (on line 13) and your estimated net assets are $200,001 to $300,000 then your request is Low Need.
• FURTHER REVIEW CRITERIA: If your expenses are greater than your income and assets or your assets are over 300 percent of your expenses, then your request will receive a zero score we will request your section pay for at least half of the total budget cost for your project. Your request may also be ineligible. In both cases, under PDG guidelines, the organization is demonstrating significantly less-than-exemplary fiscal stewardship of SWE funds. For example: If your expenses are $100,000 (on line 13) and your estimated net assets and income are in negative digits or your assets are over $300,001 then your request will be flagged.

Please answer the questions below based on the data from your organization’s most recently EZ Form filed with SWE-HQ.

Please visit the Resource Center under Volunteer Forms for media release forms for use during your PDG events: 

• Minor Media Release Form
• Adult Media Release Form

PDG Covid Guidelines Update Document

Hosting PDG events during COVID

What changes do I need to communicate after the award?

Communicate major changes. The grant author/project manager is required to communicate with SWE HQ and the PDG Committee Leadership Team if any of the following occurs:

• The grant author/project manager changes for the event,
• The Treasurer or official organization mailing address changes for your sponsoring group,
• The event is cancelled, or
• The event is rescheduled more than 1 month.