In September 2016, building off the success of the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, the Do Good Institute was launched, transforming the University of Maryland into the nation’s first Do Good campus. The Institute, housed in the School of Public Policy, provides education, opportunities and resources to develop the next generation of nonprofit leaders, social innovators and civic-minded students.
Maryland students from across the university’s colleges and schools can take undergraduate and graduate nonprofit leadership courses; add a minor in nonprofit leadership and social innovation; participate in multiple grant and prize competitions; earn fellowships designed for emerging nonprofit leaders; and grow promising start-ups at the Do Good Accelerator with stipends, mentoring and coaching. Today, thousands of students participate in the Do Good curriculum and programming each year.
Terps have found many ways to make a difference, from fundraising and advocacy to innovation. These students are dreaming up the fearless ideas that will move us fearlessly forward. Their imagination, motivation and determination are examples to all of us on how to pursue excellence and advance the public good.
Use Do Good Institute to…
The Do Good Institute offers developmental programming and funding to enable promising UMD students, nonprofit leaders, projects and socially-minded businesses the chance to grow their reach and impact. They achieve this through curriculum and programs that guide students through a pipeline to enhance their social impact. There are a number of ways students at UMD can explore what it means to do good:
- Explore what it means to ‘Do Good’ - Join Changemaker Pathways to discover more about social impact, be a part of Impact Bootcamp to bring your ideas for social impact to life, become an Impact Intern at a nonprofit organization, advance your impact as an Accelerator Fellow and compete for a share of nearly $40,000 at the Do Good Challenge.
- Turn ideas into impact - Have an idea that aims to create positive social change, working on an impact project, need help with your model, marketing, fundraising, stakeholder engagement or anything else? Impact Bootcamp is a program where participating students and teams will work with the Do Good Institute to develop and/or refine a plan to create impact. Each week, students will devote time to refining their plans to do good. In the final week of the program, every participant will come together, and you will get a chance to share your new and improved plans with the cohort and receive feedback. Current students engaged in classes, teams, projects and organizations that emphasize social impact are eligible to receive coaching support.
- Scale up existing projects and ventures - The Do Good Accelerator offers an eight-week program during the fall, spring and summer semesters, designed to support students where they need it most, as they work diligently to increase their impact. The Accelerator Fellows program provides students with space, resources and opportunities to transform their ideas into impact. Each week, students will spend time participating in 1:1 coaching sessions, working independently on their projects and participating in developmental activities and programs that provide insights into valuable tools and resources, such as workshops, panel discussions and other community events that increase project development and impact. Students receive a general stipend for their participation in the program.
- Apply for funding - The Do Good Institute provides funding for the development and implementation of student-led, student-run proposals that aim to create a positive social or environmental impact through our Mini-Grants program. Students or groups chosen receive up to $500 to support their project or venture! Funding is also available through the Do Good Campus Fund and Accelerator Fellows to scale up projects.
- Make an Impact with a nonprofit internship - Impact Interns is a professional development and leadership program that connects Do Good students to paid social impact-based internship opportunities with alumni organizations and partners of the Do Good Institute. Interns will join a cohort of like-minded peers and participate in additional professional development workshops and opportunities throughout their internship.
- Collaborate/sponsor research projects - Check out Do Good Institute research to discover some of the most current & informative research being done in the social impact sector. The Institute activates signature research and thought leadership that will shape the design of our hands-on, educational initiatives and spark approaches and actions that create a better world. Our Do Good Lab team addresses key gaps in the existing knowledge on philanthropy and explores foundational questions in the study of volunteering, philanthropic behavior, and civic engagement.
- Do Good Plaza - At the University of Maryland, Do Good Plaza, powered by the Do Good Institute and located in front of Thurgood Marshall Hall, is a dynamic, interactive space designed to showcase and inspire social impact. At its entrance, visitors encounter five towering 12‑foot sensor‑activated “Do Good Rings” that glow and play recorded stories from UMD students, faculty, staff and alumni as people walk through them, highlighting initiatives like food recovery, water sustainability, mental health advocacy and global service projects. Inside the plaza sits an illuminated three‑dimensional “Do Good” sculpture and the Students Change the World exhibit, featuring touchscreen storytelling stations that immerse viewers in the journeys of Terps who have turned ideas into real-world change. Together, these installations serve as a welcoming gateway and powerful testament to UMD’s commitment to fostering a generation of changemakers.
Use Do Good Institute to…
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Find a lab/office for my venture
The Do Good Institute offers a number of training, developmental and networking opportunities to enable promising UMD students and alumni nonprofits, projects and socially-minded businesses the chance to grow their reach and impact. We do this by hosting classes, workshops, programs, and panel discussions, and by providing membership to our Do Good Accelerator.
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Find an entrepreneurship program
The Do Good Accelerator offers an eight week fellowship program, Do Good Accelerator Fellows, as well as a 1-year mentorship program, Scale Your Impact. Students accepted into the Do Good Accelerator program are eligible to receive up to $3,000. Find entrepreneurship events throughout the academic year, a number of workshops, gatherings, and social-impact events to support all students. In addition to the Accelerator's own events, the Institute offers workshops in conjunction with organizations including Candid. To keep up with all events, visit the Do Good calendar of events.
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Find entrepreneurship events
As the home of the nation's first-ever Do Good Campus, the Institute engages students from orientation to graduation in "Do Good" events, projects, courses, and academic programs that help grow their knowledge, expertise and experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, social innovation, and civic engagement. Throughout the academic year, the Do Good Institute holds a number of workshops, gatherings, and social-impact events to support all students. In addition to its own events, the Institute offers workshops in conjunction with organizations including Candid. To keep up with all events, visit the Do Good calendar of events.
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Identify/apply for funding & grants
The Do Good Institute provides funding for the development and implementation of student-led, student-run proposals that aim to create a positive social or environmental impact through our Mini-Grants program. Students or groups chosen receive up to $500 to support their project or venture! Funding is also available through the Do Good Campus Fund and Accelerator Fellows to scale up projects.
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Learn about entrepreneurship
As the home of the nation's first-ever Do Good Campus, the Institute engages students from orientation to graduation in "Do Good" events, projects, courses, and academic programs that help grow their knowledge, expertise and experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, social innovation, and civic engagement. The Do Good Campus serves as a catalyst to ensure all University of Maryland students graduate equipped and motivated to do good in their careers, their communities, and the world.
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Recruit interns & hire future grads
Impact Interns is a professional development and leadership program that connects Do Good students to paid social impact-based internship opportunities with alumni organizations and partners of the Do Good Institute. Interns will join a cohort of like-minded peers and participate in additional professional development workshops and opportunities throughout their internship.
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Collaborate/sponsor research projects
Check out Do Good Institute research to discover some of the most current & informative research being done in the social impact sector. The Institute activates signature research and thought leadership that will shape the design of our hands-on, educational initiatives and spark approaches and actions that create a better world. Our Do Good Lab team addresses key gaps in the existing knowledge on philanthropy and explores foundational questions in the study of volunteering, philanthropic behavior, and civic engagement.