Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact
Receives Grant from Principal Foundation
for Social Changemaker Challenge

For immediate release (Des Moines, IA): Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact today announced a new $20,000 grant award from Principal Foundation to pilot the college-student focused Social Changemaker Challenge. The Challenge will be held in November 2020 and engage business students to solve complex social problems using emerging business skills. Students teams will have a day to propose innovations to meet challenges posed by nonprofit organizations. Working with coaches from Principal, student teams will present their ideas and one will be selected for prize funding for implementation.

“Changemaking continues to take hold in higher education as a key skillset for student success,” said Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact Executive Director Emily Shields. “This event will help match that skill set with current nonprofit and community needs to spur real change and real learning.”

The Challenge will build on an existing partnership with Principal and Iowa Campus Compact. Over the last three years, Iowa Campus Compact has selected more than 50 students as Principal Community Scholars. These students have implemented community projects and received scholarships. The success of that program led to new ideas for offering students even more meaningful experiences through the challenge experience.

“We are proud to partner with Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact helping empower changemakers in innovation and social change,” said Director of Principal Foundation and Community Development Mandi McReynolds. “Principal aspires to improve financial well-being in every community we work in and are excited at what the Changemaker Challenge will bring.”

Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact is seeking other business and organizational partners to support more student teams in implementing their projects. Those interested should contact Director of Development Justin Ellis at jellis@compact.org.

Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact strengthens the capacity of colleges and universities to fulfill the public purposes of higher education through its network of 57 campuses. This includes educating students through community and civic learning experiences and making an impact in communities through reciprocal partnerships that address community-identified goals. IAMNCC creates partnership opportunities, supports quality programming through professional development, and promotes the importance of the civic mission. For more Minnesota information visit iamncampuscompact.org. For Iowa opportunities, visit iacampuscompact.org.