**Please note that Unorthodox Philanthropy is temporarily suspending acceptance of new submissions. See here for more information about UP's COVID-19 response.**
How do I submit my idea to Unorthodox Philanthropy?
If you received a note about this opportunity from someone you know, use the submission form link and code in his/her email to submit your idea. Please ask your contact for the submission link and code before contacting us. Submission links and codes do not expire. If you did not receive an invitation to submit, but have an idea that meets our criteria, contact us.
What happens after I submit?
You will see a confirmation page saying “Thank you for your submission,” but will not receive a separate email. For submissions that seem like a good fit, we will request additional information and/or a full proposal. All applicants will be notified of their status within 4-6 weeks of the submission period deadline.
Are only 501(c)(3)s qualified for Unorthodox Philanthropy funding?
No. We are open to submissions from any sector and type of organization. We have found that most purely non-profit endeavors are likely not a strong match if they rely on donations to sustain and grow, but that does rule out non-profit endeavors from applying.
Who will see my submission and will it be kept confidential?
Your submission will be reviewed by the Unorthodox Philanthropy team and shared with a select group of reviewers and peer funders. We never share submissions publicly without consent. If your proposal contains sensitive information that you do not wish to be shared, or if you wish for only the UP team to have access to your submission, please let us know.
How will funding be disbursed?
We will fund ideas selected based on their need - whether that is $50,000 or $5 million. For projects that require more than $1 million, funding will likely be disbursed in stages based on the achievement of mutually predetermined benchmarks.
Does Unorthodox Philanthropy have a policy on overhead or indirect costs?
Yes. We restrict overhead or indirect costs to 10% of total direct costs for universities and 15% for non-profit organizations.
Can I resubmit an idea in a subsequent review period?
We discourage applicants from re-submitting an idea unless there is significant new information related to results or evidence of potential impact, feasibility, or the pathway to scale with a finite amount of philanthropic capital.
If you received a note about this opportunity from someone you know, use the submission form link and code in his/her email to submit your idea. Please ask your contact for the submission link and code before contacting us. Submission links and codes do not expire. If you did not receive an invitation to submit, but have an idea that meets our criteria, contact us.
What happens after I submit?
You will see a confirmation page saying “Thank you for your submission,” but will not receive a separate email. For submissions that seem like a good fit, we will request additional information and/or a full proposal. All applicants will be notified of their status within 4-6 weeks of the submission period deadline.
Are only 501(c)(3)s qualified for Unorthodox Philanthropy funding?
No. We are open to submissions from any sector and type of organization. We have found that most purely non-profit endeavors are likely not a strong match if they rely on donations to sustain and grow, but that does rule out non-profit endeavors from applying.
Who will see my submission and will it be kept confidential?
Your submission will be reviewed by the Unorthodox Philanthropy team and shared with a select group of reviewers and peer funders. We never share submissions publicly without consent. If your proposal contains sensitive information that you do not wish to be shared, or if you wish for only the UP team to have access to your submission, please let us know.
How will funding be disbursed?
We will fund ideas selected based on their need - whether that is $50,000 or $5 million. For projects that require more than $1 million, funding will likely be disbursed in stages based on the achievement of mutually predetermined benchmarks.
Does Unorthodox Philanthropy have a policy on overhead or indirect costs?
Yes. We restrict overhead or indirect costs to 10% of total direct costs for universities and 15% for non-profit organizations.
Can I resubmit an idea in a subsequent review period?
We discourage applicants from re-submitting an idea unless there is significant new information related to results or evidence of potential impact, feasibility, or the pathway to scale with a finite amount of philanthropic capital.