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 $650,000 in 58 projects involving 200+ administrative innovators across the University.

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.

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?

Application Process

1- Application Submission

2- Proposal Evaluation

3- Selection of Awardees

4- Project Launch

5- Ongoing Advising and Progress Reporting

Judging Criteria

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.
•    Project teams must include members from at least three schools and/or CADM units.

 

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

Stay up to Date

Sign up to receive emails with more information and deadline reminders.

032211_LAMONT_LIBRARssY_006_183121.jpg
Questions?

Contact Us

Reach out with questions about the application process.

032211_LAMONT_LIBRARY_006_183121.png