Have you heard of UIDEA?
Twice per year, the University of Illinois Foundation provides seed funding for initiatives that will enable the University advancement program to adapt rapidly to changing industry or customer needs. These quick-to-market strategies, programs, products, or technologies represent new ideas or entirely new spins on old ideas in the higher education advancement or charitable giving spaces.
UIDEA (University of Illinois Development and Engagement Accelerator) was designed to embed a spirit of innovation throughout the advancement enterprise, reflective of the innovation exhibited by the students, faculty, and staff at our great universities. Strategic and annual planning and budgeting activities provide the opportunity to address immediate gaps or to adopt best practices from other institutions. Accelerator initiatives by contrast:
- tackle new areas of growth for UI (especially where the University of Illinois can lead the nation in particular markets);
- translate societal and consumer changes from other industries to higher education advancement;
- introduce new ways of doing business; or
- disrupt the nonprofit industry.
UIDEA creates a space for teams to design or pilot new advancement strategies, technologies, programs, and processes to benefit the University of Illinois. It is just one component of a larger innovation ecosystem that spans the University System. The accelerator offers another avenue for innovation at Illinois and is meant to fast track advancement innovation initiatives where desired and when other resources may not be available. It’s a way to experiment where failure is a known and acceptable risk and where success can transform our universities and industry.
Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2020 (S20) batch of UIDEA teams. The application deadline has been extended to January 24, 2020.
Get more information about UIDEA at the program website.
