IEEE Tech4Good Projects Call for Proposals
The IEEE Tech4Good program offers funding opportunities to support grassroots technological projects, led by IEEE members, that address local challenges related to sustainable development.
Projects are required to address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Project teams must build a relationship with the partner community to identify a specific need and develop a plan to address it through the implementation of appropriate technology. They take into account the relevant environmental, cultural, socio-economic, and infrastructural issues that could affect the project and its impact. Many times teams partner with local government, NGOs, schools and universities, or companies to effectively deploy the solution.
Technology Impact Categories
HTB recognizes that there is a broad range of challenges in the local communities where IEEE members live worldwide. The starting point for a project should always be the needs of the community as evidenced through dialogue with local community organizations and leaders. Projects must focus on people first, rather than starting with a particular technology that needs to find a use. Applicants will select one of the following Technology Impact Categories related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Funding Specifications
Amount of Funding: Project grants will be between US$2,500 and US$10,000 per project.
Term of Funding: Project implementation plans may be up to six months following the project start date.
Eligibility to Apply
- Each team may submit only one proposal.
- The primary applicant must be an IEEE Professional member or higher in good standing. Student members may be secondary applicants.
- Project teams that received HTB or SIGHT funding for a project in the past may apply if the project has been completed and all reporting requirements fulfilled.
Submission Process
- Applicants will progress through two stages of evaluation.
- The initial Letter of Intent may be submitted using the Online Funding Opportunities Portal starting 20 February 2025 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage applicants to submit their letters of intent as soon as possible.
- Deadline to submit the Letter of Intent: 31 March 2025.
- Applicants with a Letter of Intent that passes the first round of evaluation will be invited to submit a complete proposal. They will have two weeks to submit after receiving feedback from the first evaluation.
Timeframe to Use Funds, Assessment & Reporting
- Funds must be spent within six (6) months from the approved project start date.
- A brief progress report must be submitted every month after the project’s approved start date.
- A final report with an accounting of expenses and impact assessment information demonstrating the successful deployment of the solution must be submitted within 60 days of the project’s completion.
Applicant Resources
Call for Proposals
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire Call for Proposals for more detailed information including eligible budget items, legal and compliance requirements, and proposal requirements.Applicants are also encouraged to review the application prior to beginning their submission. Please keep in mind that only applications submitted through the Online Funding Opportunities Portal will be evaluated.Application Questions (Letter of Intent and complete proposal).
Evaluation Criteria
- Benefits to the local community are well articulated and show clear impact metric targets.
- Project scope is defined and meets technological and sustainable development requirements.
- Team composition demonstrates the strength of team and members’ technical capacity.
- Potential risks have been assessed and the team has prepared a feasible mitigation plan.
- Involvement of local organizations and stakeholders ensures the long-term sustainability of the technological intervention.
- Clear potential for social and environmental impact with attainable success metrics.
- Alignment with IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
What to Include in a Proposal
- Clearly articulate how the project addresses a sustainable development challenge in your local community.
- Focus on the implementation of appropriate, IEEE-relevant technology.
- Demonstrate a connection with your local IEEE organizational unit(s) (OUs) and engage a significant number of IEEE members currently living in the country where the project takes place.
- Ensure your team has the relevant expertise to execute the project.
- Actively involve the local community in determining what is needed and how the project will be designed and executed.
- Include a thorough sustainability plan that includes educational efforts to ensure that local communities can manage the deployed solution after the six months term of funding.
- Clearly articulate the impact of the project and how it will be measured.
What to Avoid in a Proposal
- Proposals that are primarily research or commercial in nature.
- Proposals that are solely focused on STEM education. No direct correlation to a challenge faced by a specific community, or the community is not actively involved.
- No deployment, customization, and/or development of technology.
- Proposals without a clear plan for impact measurement.
- Proposals that solely deal with immediate disaster relief. All projects related to disaster preparedness or recovery should focus on medium- and longer-term needs.
- Proposals focused on developing medical devices or medical device prototypes.
This session on the 2025 Tech4Good program and call for proposals from committee Chair Matthew Imhoff covers planning Tech4Good projects, checklists for applicants, submitting a strong proposal, and an overview of the application and decision process.
Get Inspired
Learn more about other projects implemented with Tech4Good grants in the past.
Funded Project Case Studies
For inspiration, see these three short presentations on projects funded in the past. Prospective project teams are encouraged to get in touch with funded project teams and explore opportunities for replication and/or scaling of successful activities.
Cahaya Budi Luhur, IEEE Indonesia Section
Lighting St. Augustino Primary School Kitohwa, IEEE Uganda Section
Integrated Solar Lighting and Camera Surveillance System, IEEE Sarawak Subsection (Malaysia)
Contact Information
Do you have any questions about the suitability of your proposal or the application platform? If so, please write to tech4good@ieee.org before writing and submitting your proposal.