In September 2016, building off of 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 can take undergraduate and graduate nonprofit leadership courses across the university’s colleges and schools; add a minor in nonprofit leadership and social innovation; participate in multiple prize competitions; earn fellowships designed for emerging nonprofit leaders; and grow promising start-ups at the Do Good Accelerator with grants, mentoring and coaching to scale-up students’ ideas. Today thousands of students enroll in Do Good courses each year and compete in the annual Do Good Challenge.
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…
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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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Get business advice for my venture
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? Join us for Tune-Up Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to take your idea, project, or venture to the next step.The Accelerator is pleased to offer additional support for current UMD students, through coaching, to inspire action and impact. Current students engaged in classes, teams, projects, and organizations which place an emphasis on social impact are eligible to receive coaching support.
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Identify/apply for funding & grants
Scale Your Impact is an advanced, year-long mentorship and project development program for current and alumni Terps. The signature program provides customized support that focuses on effective partnership cultivation and development, fundraising strategy, and impact measurement to University of Maryland students and alumni looking to extend their reach and create a larger social impact. Scale Your Impact is seeking groups who have already begun implementation, have had success to date, and are ready to scale. During the fall, spring and summer semesters, the Do Good Accelerator offers an eight week fellowship program, designed to support students where they need it most, as they work diligently to increase their community impact.
The Do Good Accelerator Fellows program provides students the space, resources, and opportunities to explore, test, and scale up their initiative. The ideal student for this program is one who is in the implementation phase.
Do Good Mini-Grants can provide funding for the development and implementation of student-led, student-run proposals which aim to create a positive social or environmental impact. Receive up to $500 to support your project or venture! Read about teams that were awarded Mini-Grants last year: Spring 2022 Recipients and Fall 2021 Recipients
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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 domestic and global research efforts address key gaps in the existing knowledge on philanthropy and address important questions essential to the future.