Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment

The Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment is a competitive grant program that fosters public engagement and the advancement of the Wisconsin Idea, the notion that the knowledge and solutions generated at UW-Madison will benefit the people of Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.

Proposals are encouraged for new outreach and public engagement activities that partner with community and off-campus organizations to extend and apply our research, education and practice-based knowledge to help solve problems or take advantage of opportunities.

The Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment supports the development of:

• New and innovative projects
• New dimensions to existing translational outreach
• Public engagement activities
• Community-based research

The grant program honors the legacy of Ira Baldwin and Ineva Reilly Baldwin and their deep commitment to the Wisconsin Idea. Learn about the Baldwin family.

Priority will be given to projects for which other funding sources (such as research grants, corporate support) are not available or are limited.

Funds are not intended to:

• Duplicate existing outreach projects
• Provide bridge funding for established programs
• Replace activities that are a part of a unit’s normal operation
• Support the development of new undergraduate or graduate courses or student recruitment programs including pre-college programs

Eligibility

All UW-Madison faculty, staff, and students are eligible to apply.

Grant Types

The Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment offers two types of grants: Project Grants and Seed Grants.

The total amount granted each year is determined by the annual income from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment. The committee will consider awarding approximately a dozen Seed Project Grants of $4,000 or less, in addition to 6-8 larger Project Grants of up to $120,000 each.

Project Grants

• Maximum award amount: $120,000
• Project duration range: 1-3 years

Learn how to apply for a Project Grant

Seed Grants

• Maximum award amount: $4,000
• Project duration: Varies
• Ideal for smaller projects or preliminary efforts to foster innovation and experimentation

Learn how to apply for a Seed Grant

Reporting Requirements and Guidelines

All Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment grant recipients – for both Project Grants and Seed Grants – are required to submit a final report in their final year of funding. Grant recipients of the larger (and often longer in duration) Project Grants are also required to submit annual progress reports for the duration of their projects to continue to receive funding over multiple years. See further details and instructions.

Contact

For technical assistance, contact Rachel Niles, reilly-baldwin@provost.wisc.edu.

All other inquiries, including eligibility, proposal preparation, reporting, contact Catherine Reiland, creiland@wisc.edu.