Program Improvement Grant

Our piggy. Your ideas.

As a member, you make AIGA Minnesota the first place to turn for inspiration, professional development, and excellence in design—and now we want your bright ideas to make our chapter even better. This year, instead of putting some of last year’s profits aside, we’re putting the money where our mouth is. How are we doing it?

Through the Program Improvement Grant (PIG):

The PIG is your vision.
The PIG is your voice.
The PIG is our bank, your opportunity.

AIGA Minnesota assets, such as dues and program income, belong to our members—which makes this opportunity to improve our programming by re-investing these assets a snap. With the support of an AIGA Minnesota committee, members are invited to pitch their ideas for improving chapter programming, producing new opportunities, or reaching new audiences. We’re seeking trackable and targeted proposals that add value to the chapter and increase investment over the course of four to eight years.

Ready to innovate?

Grant applications should be submitted to the chapter’s vice president and will be accepted twice each year, on March 1st and November 1st. Submitted applications will go before the board’s programming council for review and recommendation for funding. The board will then cast a final vote to allocate funding to approved applications. For the November 2012 application period, up to $6,000 in total funding is available.

Successful PIG-funded projects that eventually become financially solvent and sustainable will no longer be eligible for future PIG funding; projects will only remain eligible for future funding until they become regular or expected (for a definition of “regular or expected” see the application).

Here’s your checklist:

• If you’re not already an AIGA Minnesota member, join online today for as little as $50.
• Grab a pencil and get your ideas down.
• Join or create a committee that supports your vision:
  • Design For Good
  • Education Committee / Student Designers
  • Emerging Designers
  • Expert Designers
  • In-House Designers
  • reDesign
  • Solopreneurs
  • UX Designers
    
  • Legacy Events — any of AIGA Minnesota’s big, signature events; contact Sam Michaels for more information
  • Programming Opportunities — completely new ideas, possibly produced with the help of an external partner; contact Rick Dupre for more information
• Download the brief application form, submit your application—and go! The application deadline is 5:00 PM CST on Friday, March 1.

Questions?

Whether it’s a small question, or a big idea, email AIGA Minnesota’s Vice President, Jenny Price, at any point in time. She can help you formulate your idea, get your details into the application, and champion your cause.

Hashtag:

#aigamnpig

Credits

• Design and Strategy by Florafauna
• Copy Editing by Jessica Conrad