The DDF is open to all actively enrolled students for off-campus excursions, conferences, and events, and/or to access to resources that support their personal development as leaders and innovators. Students may apply for funding as individuals or as a group through a Google form application. The DDF is a reimbursement process and students will be required to submit funding requests prior to the start of the program or expenditure. In order to receive a reimbursement, students will be asked to submit all relevant receipts and a personal reflection via Google form. The full terms and conditions are outlined below.

CIL Mission: The CIL cultivates co-curricular opportunities at the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, and management for students to develop into creative, adaptable, ethical individuals.

Timeline: DDF is available to students only during the academic year.

This fund will open mid August 2026 and close mid March 2027 or when funds run out.

Fund Constraints:

• The DDF is open to all actively enrolled students not studying abroad.
• Up to $200 a semester, twice an academic year as a starting point, with the opportunity to raise the request cap to as much as $1,000 with additional CIL program participation 
• No retroactive funding 
• Proposals must be sumbitted 2-3 weeks before event or project date to ensure enough time to review. Proposals under 2 weeks may result in denial of award. 
• Funding can be used for conferences, symposia, summits, pitch competitions, hackathons, courses, meet-ups, student venture/projects or other related opportunities that are in line with the mission of the CIL.
• Student venture, project or course proposals are required to have a pre-application consultation with a CIL staff member.
• Students must each submit their own individual and unique application, even if the funding goes towards a group trip or project.
• Funding for international travel is not available at this time.
• Approved funding does not constitute approved absence from classes. 

Post-Event Requirements: Reimbursement and Reflection:

• A post-event/project  Reimbursement and Reflection Form will be emailed to students once their proposal is approved
• Students must attach all ITEMIZED receipts to the form with a brief explanation of each expense. Failure to do so can resault in those expenses not being reimbursed. Bank Statments are NOT reciepts. 
• Provide at least one artifact from your event/project/venture  
• The Reimbursement and Reflection Form must be submitted within 10 business days of the event to be reimbursed.

Pre-Travel Requirements: 
If traveling, each student requesting funding is required to complete the Swarthmore College Assumption of Risk Waiver of Liability Form.

Additional Information To Note:

• The CIL reserves the right to confirm your terms, attendance, and performance at funded conference, training, or workshop
• Reimbursement will not be processed without a report 
• The report, either in part or in whole, may be shared with relevant academic departments, college offices and/or alumni

The CIL will support select summer experiences with a stipend of $6,000 for students pursuing opportunities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The experience must be tied to the CIL’s mission to cultivate co-curricular opportunities at the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, and management for students to develop into creative, adaptable, ethical individuals.

Interested students must submit an application detailing the proposed opportunity, including information on where the experience will take place and how it will contribute to their academic coursework and time at Swarthmore. Students must be in good standing in both their academic program and student conduct. As part of the application process, students must consent to a review of their student records to determine eligibility.

This funding can support opportunities in social ventures, non-profit leadership, startups, technology innovations, management development, global leadership development, creative industries and more. If you want to learn if an opportunity is eligible, please make an appointment with CIL staff. 

Timeline:

• Applications open January 12, 2026
• Applications close February 22, 2026
• Decisions will go out via email by end of March
• Students must accept funding by April 1st
• Funding is meant to support an experience of 10 weeks between May and August

Requirements:

• Application
• Resume
• Transcript (unofficial)
• Be in good standing both academically and in student conduct
• Students awarded CIL summer funding will be required to produce a report at the end of their summer experience
• CIL Summer Funding is intended for unpaid summer experiences