The NonprofIT program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), School of Information Studies (SOIS) is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. These funds will support the expansion of the program which provides non-profit organizations in the Milwaukee area with Information Technology (IT) support and services.
The NonprofIT program at SOIS empowers local non-profit organizations with comprehensive IT support while at the same time creating valuable internship opportunities for UWM students. Through the NonprofIT program, students work as a team along with local IT business mentors and SOIS staff to develop, implement, and evaluate a customized strategic IT project – such as a new website, improved database, or a secure network. By addressing their technology needs and aspirations, small participating non-profits can focus their energy where it’s needed most – by advancing their mission and helping the communities they serve.
NonprofIT Program Coordinator, Senior Lecturer Adam Hudson has been leading teams of students since the program launched in the fall of 2014. Hudson is thrilled about the opportunity and support provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation and states, “The grant will allow us to grow the size of the NonprofIT program in a way which both benefits the non-profit community of greater Milwaukee and the students involved. The expansion means that NonprofIT will be able to work on more projects thus increasing our reach and assistance into the Milwaukee non-profit community. More students will be afforded the opportunity to engage in this unique undergraduate experience which helps them to build their tech skills, social skills, and confidence.”
The collaborative nature of the NonprofIT program is strongly rooted in the mission of SOIS. As Dr. Tomas A. Lipinski, Dean of the School of Information Studies explains, “NonprofIT relates to SOIS’ mission of being a collaborative school that advances knowledge and prepares students to be successful information professionals within their communities. It is a collaborative venture, open to students across campus and in partnership with the local nonprofit and business IT community. It provides our students with first-hand experience, working in a team on a real world project and problem but foremost helps students connect their classroom skills with client’s real needs and solutions. It offers students an opportunity to test the waters so to speak in a learning environment under academic and professional tutelage. It also allows potential employers to observe our students at work and not just across the desk in an interview. In that sense it’s the best interview a student could hope for as it provides an opportunity to demonstrate their true potential; we believe our IT mentors feel the same”.
For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,300 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region. Established in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world and is now among the largest.
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The School of Information Studies (SOIS) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers several degree programs including a Bachelor’s in Information Science and Technology, an ALA accredited Master of Library and Information Science and a PhD in Information Studies. With a growing student body of more than 900 students SOIS strives to be a premier international school that shapes knowledge and information technology through innovative research and teaching. SOIS is a leader in advancing knowledge and preparing students from diverse backgrounds to be successful information professionals within their communities. For more information about the School, its faculty and its programs, see ischool.uwm.edu or call 1-888-349-3432