January 5, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

The Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of Foundation & Corporate Relations seek ideas for a university submission to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Racial Equity 2030 Challenge. This global challenge in honor of the Kellogg Foundation's 90th anniversary is a call for bold solutions to drive an equitable future for children, their families, and communities. 

While the term "racial equity" has specific connotations within the United States, in a global context, this Challenge seeks to advance equity within hierarchies, structures, policies, systems and practices of dehumanization that perpetuate disparities for racial/ethnic groups in a local context.  Also, through the examination of historical impacts of colonialism in perpetuating structural racism, we can understand racism as a global issue and seek anti-racism strategies to decolonize systems through this challenge.

The Challenge invites ideas from anywhere in the world and will scale them over the next decade to transform the systems and institutions that uphold inequity. Solutions may tackle the social, economic, political, or institutional inequities we see today. Teams of visionaries, change agents, and community leaders from every sector are invited to join. 

Up to ten Finalists will be identified and receive $1 million planning grants along with nine months of capacity-building support to further develop their project and strengthen their application. Final Awardees will be selected from the pool of Finalists. At least three Awardees will receive grants of $20 million each, and at least two Awardees will receive $10 million each.

Drexel will unify around one outstanding project as the University's official applicant.
To be considered for the university submission to this challenge, please submit a 2-page project description by Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:59 pm via the Drexel University Limited Submission and Funding Portal.

Your description should address the following questions:

1. What makes your solution bold, and how will it drive an equitable future for children, families and communities?
2. How does your project embrace and reflect commitments to racial equity, racial healing, community engagement, and leadership?
3. Is your solution led by an experienced team that centers lived experience and includes communities closest to the issue as part of project leadership?
4. How would your project bring transformational change in policies, processes, institutions or power structures?

The full proposal will be due February 25, 2021. 

For more information on or questions related to this challenge, please contact fcrcompetitions@drexel.edu.