#  Homepage 

 



##  President's Administrative Innovation Fund 

 PAIF 

The President’s Administrative Innovation Fund (PAIF) was created to catalyze administrative innovation and collaboration across Harvard by investing in staff-generated, creative solutions that support our faculty, students, and staff colleagues. Since 2016, the PAIF has invested $750,000 in 69 projects involving 220+ administrative innovators across the University.



 

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##  Each year, the PAIF supports ideas that exemplify administrative innovation: 

 



 ### Academic Excellence

 

 ### Talent Deployment

 

 ### Service Delivery

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Process

### Applications to the President’s Administrative Innovation Fund may be for projects that are at different stages of the innovation process. 

 

This may include **Seed** funding for projects that are new and will move toward launch with President’s Administrative Innovation Fund support; **Sustaining** funding for projects that have been implemented and are seeking ongoing operation; and **Scaling** funding for projects that have had initial success and are positioned for expansion to other schools/units at the University.



 [ More About the Fund arrow\_circle\_right ](/about) 

 





 

 

 

 

   

Harvard is fortunate to have an administrative staff that is constantly striving to improve its support for faculty, students, and staff colleagues.

The President’s Administrative Innovation Fund invites University staff to advance their innovative ideas and to make a positive impact across schools and units.

By building on the expertise of Harvard staff and enabling innovation and collaboration, we can expand and deepen the University’s commitment to administrative excellence.

 

Meredith Weenick

Executive Vice President

 

 



 

 

 

 

### Eligibility, Funding & Timeline 

 

**Most projects request $5,000 to $15,000 in funding.**

**One or two exceptional projects may receive up to $25,000 in funding.**

**Projects must be completed within one year.**



 





### Who Is Eligible To Apply? 

 

All benefits-eligible Harvard administrative/professional, support, or service and trades staff member may apply.

Faculty, post-doctoral fellows, temporary employees, students, and co-ops are not eligible.

**Questions?**



 [ Email us about eligibility arrow\_circle\_right ](mailto:administrative_innovation@harvard.edu) 

 



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### Application Process 

 

**1- Application Submission**

**2- Proposal Evaluation**

**3- Selection of Awardees**

**4- Project Launch**

**5- Ongoing Advising and Progress Reporting**



 





 

 

 

 

##  Judging Criteria 

 



 Criteria Acknowledgement 

## Criteria

**Projects will be judged according to the following criteria:**

• The proposal represents an innovative approach to an administrative challenge.  
• The proposal is expected to have a measurable impact once implemented.  
• The proposal highlights a persistent administrative problem worth solving.  
• The intended outcome reflects the proposed type of innovation (Seed, Sustain, Scale).  
• The initial plan outlines action the team can execute within a year.  
• The proposed budget is informed, practical, and reasonable in alignment with the scope of work and the goals of the project.

**Projects will be judged according to the following criteria:**  
• The proposal introduces an innovative solution to an administrative challenge that presents the potential for a future project  
• The proposal offers a systematic approach to exploring the innovative idea, which could include conducting research, interviews, and other activities to inform future direction  
• The proposal presents a plan and a budget (up to $5,000) to produce a report within one year that would inform the prospects for the innovation  
• Ideas with the potential for cross-school and cross-unit potential are encouraged.

 

 

 

## Acknowledgement

**By submitting your innovation, you are acknowledging a few things:**

1. You and your co-applicants are benefits-eligible Harvard administrative/professional, support or service and trades staff members. may apply. (Faculty, post-doctoral fellows, temporary employees, students, and co-ops are not eligible.)
2. You have spoken to your manager(s) about this idea and they are supportive of you spending time to lead its implementation.
3. Your idea will be shared among judges and other administrators across the University (and will be attributed to you.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mailing List

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Questions?

### Contact Us 

 

Reach out with questions about the application process.



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