Creative Good Fund

The Creative Good Fund supports ETC students in applying their skills to meaningful, real-world challenges. Each summer, selected student(s) receive funding to work with a nonprofit partner, developing projects that create positive social impact through technology and storytelling.

Eligibility

The Creative Good Fund is open to current students in the Entertainment Technology Center. Applicants must be in their first year of the ETC master’s program at the time of application.

Funding

Recipients receive funding to support a full-time summer internship with a nonprofit partner. Funding is intended to offset living expenses during the summer internship period.

In addition to financial support, students gain access to:

  • Mentorship from ETC faculty and alumni
  • Ongoing project guidance and feedback
  • Connections to ETC’s professional network

Timeline

Fall Semester

  • Program announced to ETC students
  • Previous recipients share project outcomes and research

Spring Semester

  • Students identify nonprofit partners and develop proposals with faculty guidance
  • Applications due early spring
  • Recipients selected and notified by mid-spring

Summer

  • Students complete their internship and project work
  • Regular check-ins with faculty and alumni mentors

Early Fall (September)

  • Final deliverables submitted
  • Project outcomes shared with the ETC community

Application Process

Interested students work with ETC faculty to identify a nonprofit partner and develop a proposal.

Applications are submitted in the spring semester and include a written proposal outlining the project scope, impact, and feasibility. A limited number of awards are granted each year.

Send applications to Brenda Bakker Harger, Teaching Professor [bharger@andrew.cmu.edu].

Proposal Requirements

Proposals (approximately 1,000 words) should clearly articulate:

  • The nonprofit partner and their needs
  • The proposed project and expected outcomes
  • The student’s role and qualifications
  • The anticipated impact on the partner organization and its audience

Proposals should also include:

  • A defined scope and timeline
  • Budget considerations (if applicable)
  • Expected engagement with faculty and alumni mentors

Strong proposals demonstrate both creative ambition and practical feasibility.

Deliverables

By September following the summer internship, recipients are expected to submit:

  • Project Report
    • Overview of implementation
    • Evaluation of goals and outcomes
    • Client feedback
  • Research White Paper
    • Audience interaction and response
    • Key insights and learnings
  • Project Documentation for ETC Website
    • Content suitable for inclusion in the ETC project archive

Recipients are also expected to contribute to the ETC community by sharing their experience and mentoring future participants.

Mentorship & Support

Creative Good Fund recipients work closely with ETC faculty and alumni throughout the summer. This mentorship ensures students are supported while maintaining ownership of their work. Support may include:

  • Regular progress meetings
  • Project feedback and strategic guidance
  • Introductions to relevant industry and alumni networks

Expectations

Recipients are expected to:

  • Commit fully to the summer internship experience
  • Manage project execution and communication with their nonprofit partner
  • Deliver high-quality work that reflects the ETC’s standards and values

Additional Information

  • This opportunity is supported through donor funding and managed as an endowed initiative
  • Faculty and alumni serve as advisors; students are responsible for project execution
  • Students should ensure their project plans are feasible within available resources and constraints

Steering Committee

  • Brenda Bakker Harger, Teaching Professor, Entertainment Technology Center
  • Evan Tahler, ETC Alumni Class of 2006, Director of Technology, TaskRabbit
  • Joshua Jeffrey ETC Alumni, Class of 2007. Producer for Experience Centers, Google