Kelley Impact Competition

Make positive community change as a Kelley Impact Competition participant.

The Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI) hosts an annual case competition to bring together socially minded students at Indiana University. Made possible by a gift from Kelley School of Business alumnus Lance Breitstein, BS'11, the Kelley Impact Competition challenges students to find and implement solutions to a social issue in Bloomington, Indiana. 

In addition to monetary prizes for the top three performing teams, the winning team receives up to $10,000 in seed money to support the implementation of their idea and create lasting change in the community.

Interested in learning more? Please contact KISI at kisi@indiana.edu.

Kelley Impact Competition

Application will be open January 18 through February 21, 11:55 p.m. ET.

Apply to participate

2021 Kelley Impact Competition Timeline

  • January 18: Applications open
  • February 21, 11:55 p.m.: Deadline for online submission
  • February 25: Evening kickoff event
  • April 9: Kelley Impact Competition, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m.

All IU Bloomington undergraduates are invited to participate. Teams must consist of four students, with a limit of one senior per team.

Kelley Impact Competition Projects

2020

Partner: National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Bloomington Area (NAMI-GBA)

Case: Develop strategies and solutions that make a difference for the local community in addressing mental illness.

Winning team's solution: A new service-learning course at Indiana University, HON-H238 Planning for Social Impact: Mental Health for All. Now fully funded, their initiative will establish multiple years of support for NAMI-GBA. The second-place team also received funding and created a new website for the organization.

Rapid pivot: When the coronavirus pandemic impacted the competition schedule, the competition’s students, Kelley School staff, local partners, and judges adapted with resilience, transitioning to an online format. 

2019

Partner: Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County

Case: Provide an innovative idea to address affordable housing in Monroe County

Winning team's solution: Convert shipping containers into tiny homes to lower the cost of construction and the homeowner’s mortgage payment. Construction on the first shipping container—a first for any Indiana Habitat affiliate—began in September 2020. 

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The Kelley Impact Competition incentivizes the smartest students in the country to learn more about the issues in their community, find solutions, and make a real difference in the world around them.Lance Breitstein, BS'11, Kelley Impact Competition benefactor