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Pitch 4 Progress: Student Pitch Competition for Community Impact

Pitch4Progress is a social innovation pitch competition designed to fund student-led community service projects through microgrants. Submissions are due by Oct. 30.

  • published: 2025/09/19
  • contact: Robyn Loos - Office of Engagement
  • email: rloos@unomaha.edu
pitch 4 progress logo

Do you have an idea to make a difference on campus or in the community?
Pitch4Progress gives you the chance to design a project, present it to a panel, and win funding to bring it to life.

Selected students will pitch their ideas at a live event on November 21, 2025. Winners receive microgrants and leadership stipends to launch their projects between January–May 2026.

Submit your ideas using this online application by Oct. 30.

Why Apply?

Pitch4Progress is more than funding—it’s real-world experience that helps you:

  • Make a tangible impact in your community

  • Gain career-ready skills: grant writing, budgeting, public speaking, teamwork, and project management

  • Build your resume and expand your network

What You Could Do

Not sure where to start? Think about what matters most to you:

  • Business-minded? → Expand local food pantry services or create workshops for families

  • Passionate about the environment? → Lead a recycling drive, campus clean-up, or sustainability project

  • Focused on health & wellness? → Build mental health awareness, fitness, or nutrition initiatives

  • Creative & justice-driven? → Paint a community mural, run inclusive arts workshops, or host a performance highlighting a social issue

Your project can focus on education, health, the environment, social justice, or any area where you see a chance to create change.

No idea is too big or small—Pitch4Progress is your opportunity to make it happen.

What You’ll Receive

  • $2,000 microgrant to fund your project

  • $1,000 stipend for the project lead (shared if it’s a team)

  • Guidance and support from UNO’s Office of Engagement

Who Can Apply

  • All UNO students (individuals or teams of up to 4)

  • Must be enrolled now and through May 2026

  • Projects must partner with at least one Nebraska-based community organization (e.g., nonprofit, school, public library, corporate responsibility office)

⚠️ Not eligible: international service, fundraising, political campaigns, partisan organizations, course-related service-learning, or overhead/salary expenses

Key Dates

  • Application Due: October 30, 2025

  • Finalists Announced: Week of November 3, 2025

  • Live Pitch Competition: November 21, 2025

  • Project Implementation: January–May 2026

Application Snapshot

When applying, be ready to provide:

1. Project Overview (150–200 words)

  • Your idea + the community need

  • Partner(s) info and role

2. Project Design & Impact

  • Impact (150 words): What difference will it make?

  • Success (150 words): How will you measure results?

  • Sustainability (100 words): How could it continue beyond the grant?

3. Budget & Timeline

  • Budget (~$2,000) + draft timeline (Jan–May 2026)

4. Reflection & Leadership (100 words)

  • Your skills/strengths

  • How this project connects to your goals

Support & Questions

Need help shaping your idea or finding a partner? Reach out anytime!

📧 Email: aspethman@unomaha.edu
📍 Office: UNO Office of Engagement, Volunteer & Civic Engagement Programs

👉 Ready to apply? Submit your idea using this online application by Oct. 30, 2025!