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

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.

Fund Constraints:

• The DDF is open to all actively enrolled students not studying abroad.
• Funding must be approved in advance of the program or expenditure. Application requests will not be honored retroactively.
• Funding can be used for conferences, symposia, summits, pitch competitions, hackathons, or other related events that are in line with the mission of the CIL.
• Funding can be used to support students who are actively working on their own projects or ventures for small project costs.
• Students may receive funding up multiple times per academic semester, depending on the available funds.
• Funding for international travel expenses is not available at this time.
• Approved funding does not constitute approved absence from classes.

Post-Event Requirements: Reimbursement and Reflection:

• A post-event Google form will be emailed to students once they are approved for reimbursement.
• Students must attach all receipts to the Google form with a brief explanation of each expense.
• The Reimbursement and Reflection form must be submitted within 10 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.