UIDEA Frequently Asked Questions
What is UIDEA? UIDEA is an accelerator intended to fuel new ideas in advancement (fundraising, engagement, marketing, and related services) that benefit the University of Illinois.
When is the next UIDEA? The 12-week program runs every year during the Spring semester. In 2022, it will kick off on January 25, and Demo Day will be on April 26.
Who can apply? Anyone. Advancement staff, students, faculty, alumni, etc. We do encourage teams to have one advancement staff person as a team member or at minimum, a very close advancement advisor.
What kind of ideas do you accept? UIDEA is intended to design or launch ideas that are new to the advancement industry or new takes on old ways of doing business.
I'm not sure if my idea fits. Can I talk to someone? Of course. Feel free to grab 30 minutes on Katie Blum's calendar.
What if I don't have a team? No problem. We can help you build a team that works for you and your idea. Schedule a 30-minute chat to discuss or check out 10 Tips for Building a UIDEA team.
Does my idea have to be a startup? Absolutely not. Most ideas are internal to the advancement program or the university. Ideas can be new strategies, technologies, business processes, trainings, etc.
What if I want to create a company with my idea? Cool! We love ideas that might be able to be commercialized and have the potential to disrupt the entire advancement industry. We do, however, encourage you to refrain from incorporating until you have completed the UIDEA program.
Who decides which teams to admit? The UIDEA Selection Committee. You can read more about their role here.
What kind of time commitment is this? It's not an insignificant amount of time. You're doing the equivalent of building the first version of a new product or program or company in 12-ish weeks, while also learning how to pitch and message your idea. Each week, you'll have one required one-hour (sometimes 90-minute) meeting for the UIDEA program along with whatever other work your team decides it needs to do to actually launch your idea.
Do I get time off to do UIDEA? UIDEA is an above-and-beyond program, not terribly different than other professional development opportunities, in the sense that your regular work still needs to get done.
What if my boss doesn't like my idea or doesn't want me to participate? If you work in advancement, you do not need supervisor approval to be part of the UIDEA program although we do encourage you to speak with your manager. We acknowledge that certain ideas may not gain traction where time and financial resources are limited or when there are competing day-to-day or strategic objectives. UIDEA was designed to ensure that we encourage innovation and idea development from anywhere, without limiting innovation by an upward opinion about an idea or by one individual's risk tolerance.
What's in it for me? First and often most enticing, funding. UIDEA teams are funded during the 12-week batch to design or pilot their ideas, which might include travel costs, software or web development expenses, marketing, catering, etc. After the batch, successful teams are funded for the upcoming fiscal year. During the batch, teams are also connected to advisors and coaches both from within advancement and beyond (think: alumni, community members, industry leaders, etc. with an interest in this idea). They also have access to the UIDEA alumni community, receive training and a behind-the-scenes look into the advancement, and have increased visibility with leaders in the advancement program.
How much funding do teams get? The funding varies depending on each team’s needs. Some teams have launched their ideas with next to no funding whatsoever and instead required only time resources.
How are the teams funded? In most cases, the Foundation pays the expenses related to idea development. In the case of teams that decide to commercialize post-UIDEA, the funding is in the form of a SAFE agreement, modeled after the Y Combinator SAFE.
Are there funding limitations? Yes, a few. The ideas have to benefit the University of Illinois advancement program. Funding will also only be granted for the upcoming fiscal year and cannot be used to create new staff positions or to fill budget gaps. And, of course, there is only so much funding available for each batch.
Does the Foundation own the intellectual property created during UIDEA? For teams that opt to commercialize their ideas, the Foundation will waive rights to IP and will discuss investment strategies, including the SAFE. UIDEA participants who are UI students, faculty, or staff will still need to work through the University's own technology management processes.
What if I don't have an idea? We've got you. Check out the home page for a list of upcoming What's the (big) UIDEA workshops or Sparks of Genius sessions, where we spend an hour talking about ways the advancement industry is ripe for innovation. Or request to have an in-house workshop in your own unit.
Can I get involved in other ways? Of course. We always welcome the opportunity to connect the teams with advisors. If you have a particular expertise, or even if you just happen to have certain areas of personal interest to you, please sign up as an advisor. We'll reach out when there are coaching opportunities that fit your interest areas.
