START

What is START?

Have a project idea that could benefit your nonprofit organization? Partner with an IU Bloomington student volunteer through the Student Agile Response Team (START) to turn your ideas into action and help move your organization's goals forward. You can apply anytime but applications are reviewed July for the Fall and December for the Spring.

Partner Project Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed in July for Fall projects and December for Spring projects.

Key features of START projects:

  • Students are matched to projects based on their academic interests and career goals.
  • Projects are primarily remote, reducing the need for travel time.
  • Students gain valuable, real-world experience that connects classroom learning to community impact.
  • Projects have a clear start and finish, typically lasting 6–8 weeks.
  • Each team receives guidance and support from IU staff, faculty, and peers.
View past projects

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Fall 2026 START projects

All Fall 2026 START projects are currently full. Want to see what students are working on this semester? Explore the projects below to learn more about this semester’s community partners and volunteer opportunities.

Community Partner: Hoosier Asian American Power (HAAP)

The Hoosier Asian Voter Education and Storytelling initiative, developed in partnership with Hoosier Asian American Power (HAAP), is a culturally tailored marketing and voter education campaign designed to engage Asian American communities across Indiana, with a primary focus on Chin-speaking voters. Executed over a six-to-eight-week period by a student team, the project prioritizes the production of broadcast-ready video scripts and storyboards for commercials to air on Chin TV International. To complement the broadcast media, the team will also conduct a target audience analysis, perform a SWOT evaluation of current outreach strategies, and design multi-platform assets, including print-ready flyer templates and social media graphics. Ultimately, this initiative will deliver a cohesive strategic marketing plan and media toolkit that equips HAAP to effectively communicate the importance of voting and distribute accessible, educational resources throughout the region.

Community Partner: Bloomington Volunteer Network (BVN)

The Strategic Comprehensive Marketing project, developed in partnership with the Bloomington Volunteer Network (BVN), is a multi-faceted marketing initiative designed to evaluate and expand the organization's reach within the greater Bloomington community. Executed over a six-to-eight-week timeline by a dedicated student team, the project focuses on conducting an in-depth audience analysis, updated market strategies, a competitive SWOT evaluation, and strategic partnership recommendations to guide BVN's resource allocation. A core priority of the strategy is increasing engagement among the 18–30 demographic through an evaluation of current social media effectiveness, as well as developing tailored outreach tactics to connect with younger audiences beyond digital platforms. Ultimately, the team will deliver a comprehensive written strategic plan, customizable templates, and a detailed presentation slide deck outlining actionable recommendations for BVN.

Community Partner: The STEAMery

The Greenhouse Lab Data Analysis and Program Management project, developed in partnership with The STEAMery, aims to build an operational and educational framework around the organization's new deepwater hydroponics Greenhouse Lab. Executed over a six-to-eight-week period by a student team, the project focuses on designing core program curricula, community engagement strategies, event planning, and a sustainable funding pipeline through grants, memberships, and sponsorships. Additionally, the team will develop a data dashboard system and analytics framework to track and optimize hydroponic growth and operational metrics. Ultimately, the initiative will deliver a comprehensive program management playbook, formal operational onboarding documentation, a SWOT analysis, and a functional analytics system to support long-term sustainability.

Community Partner: The STEAMery

The Project Fish AI Course Material Evaluation project, developed in partnership with The STEAMery, focuses on refining a 10-week workforce development initiative that trains Brown County small business owners to leverage AI tools. Over a six-to-eight-week timeline, a student team will evaluate the existing curriculum, workshop materials, and participant resources to improve usability, accessibility, and overall learning outcomes. The project involves identifying content gaps, gathering participant feedback, and designing an implementation strategy to incorporate continuous feedback loops into future cohorts. The final deliverables include a thorough course evaluation report, an updated curriculum package with enhanced instructional guides, and strategic recommendations for ongoing program delivery.

Community Partner: The STEAMery

The Social Media/Marketing Strategy + AI Agent Utilization project, developed in partnership with The STEAMery, is designed to build a scalable digital marketing execution engine that matches the organization's expanding physical and lab offerings. Carried out by a student team over six to eight weeks, the project centers on auditing current social media channels, analyzing competitor strategies, and optimizing an existing Social Media AI Agent System for automated content generation and scheduling. The team will establish a multi-channel content calendar targeting donors, local participants, and Brown County visitors across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Ultimately, the project will deliver a comprehensive social media playbook, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and configured AI workflows to maintain a consistent digital presence without increasing staff overhead.

Community Partner: The League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe Co. (LWV)

The Voter Education Marketing Campaign, developed in partnership with The League of Women Voters of Bloomington and Monroe Co. (LWV), focuses on designing innovative, non-electronic advertising and outreach strategies to engage potential voters across Monroe County. Executed by a student team over a six-to-eight-week period, the project includes an audience analysis and a SWOT evaluation of creative outreach channels—such as utility bill inserts, local business collateral, and targeted mailings—to reach hard-to-contact populations while maintaining national LWV branding standards. To assist voters with nonpartisan election information and local logistics, official guidelines and resources are available through the Indiana Election Division portal and the local Monroe County Election Board. Ultimately, the team will deliver an interim status update and a final strategic report featuring cost evaluations, implementation timelines, and recommended outreach strategies.

A sampling of our student's skills

We have over 50,000 undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students at IU Bloomington, each with their own unique skillset and passions. Each of our students are at different places in their learning journey, constantly learning new skills and enhancing existing ones. Throughout the entirety of the START workflow process, it is indescribably rewarding to see each student's individuality and creativity come to life. Our professional staff will come along with you throughout this experience. 

Below is a small sampling of skills and potential project themes organized by school that you may consider utilizing for your specific needs. Our students' skills are not limited to this list.

Team Leads: Lisa-Marie Napoli and Mark Fraley

Political and Civic Engagement (PACE) students, within the College of Arts + Sciences, develop expertise in leadership, communication, effective citizenship, and public decision making. Here is a quick snapshot of their past work:

  • Practicing facilitation skills to lead discussions about contentious public issues
  • Supporting civic, non-profit, and government-related projects utilizing leadership skills
  • Participating in electoral engagement projects such as voter registration, non-partisan voter education, and voter turnout
  • Engaging advocacy skills to impact change
  • Planning and implementing workshops on restorative justice, leadership, and other related topics
  • Modeling and teaching civic skills as informed and engaged participants in democracy

Team Lead: John Racek

The Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design houses 14 different areas in art, architecture, design, and merchandising. Some examples of their past work and ways they can serve include:

  • Graphic design (printed materials)
  • Signage, wayfinding design
  • Feasibility studies, architecture
  • Research/ideation, architecture

Team Lead: Alain Barker, director of Music Entrepreneurship and Career Development

Jacobs is one of the most comprehensive and acclaimed institutions for the study of music. They play a key role in educating performers, scholars, and music educators who influence music performance and education around the globe. Their students may serve your organization in the following ways or areas:

  • Music clinics for high school band and orchestra programs
  • Music clinics for choral ensembles and vocalists
  • Collaborative performances (from recitals to large ensembles) in community spaces
  • Audio recording clinics for emerging artists
  • Career preparation sessions for performing arts
  • Strategic planning for performing arts organizations and community committees

Team Lead: Courtney Bidwell, director of Kelley Institute for Social Impact

Fostering social change is important to Kelley School of Business faculty, staff, and students. As the hub of social impact for business-minded students, the Kelley Institute for Social Impact empowers socially conscious undergraduate students to make a difference in local and global communities.

For more than 30 years, business-minded students from a variety of majors have used their skills to contribute to social impact organizations. Projects range from a single afternoon of brainstorming to a full semester of team consulting, and they span business areas including but not limited to:

  • Marketing
  • Digital and Social Media
  • Branding
  • Business Analytics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Digital Technology Management
  • Operations
  • Strategy
  • Consulting
  • Sustainable Business
  • Supply Chain
  • Management
  • Accounting
  • Finance

Samples of previous student projects:

  • Net Impact projects
  • 180 Degrees Consulting Engagements
  • Social Enterprise Engagement at Kelley Consulting Roundtables
  • Kelley Impact Competition

Team Lead: Tiana Iruoje, director of student engagement and success

Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering is one of the world’s largest, broadest, and best technology and information schools. They shape the future through interdisciplinary research and education that make the impossible possible and solve the problems of tomorrow today.

The students can do any of the following and more:

  • Build and update websites
  • Upgrade security and networks
  • Install different technologies to assist with any task one may have

The students are trained to sit down and help you complete any task within a specified budget.

Team Lead: Randi Edmonds, director of student affairs

Maurer School of Law was founded in 1842 and is the ninth oldest law school in the U.S. Students serve the community in the following areas: 

  • Landlord/tenant disputes via the Tenant Assistance Project
  • Advising and filing protective orders for victims of domestic abuse via the Protective Order Project
  • Tax preparation assistance via the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) project
  • Family law issues, including divorce, establishment of paternity, guardianship, adoption, parenting, and custody via the Community Legal Clinic
  • Intellectual property issues via the IP Clinic
  • Advocacy training for LGBTQ+ communities and allies and support for changing gender markers on official documents via the LGBT+ Project
  • Legal research and advocacy for incarcerated individuals via the Inmate Legal Assistance Project
  • Mediating disputes involving children in family law cases through the Mediation Program and Viola J. Taliaferro Family and Children Mediation Clinic

Team Lead: Brian Seavey, director of undergraduate student engagement

The O'Neill School brings together management skills, science, policy analysis, and the humanities. They focus on governing, managing, and leading. A sampling of skills include:

  • Management
  • Statistics 
  • Microeconomics 
  • Law 
  • Budgeting 
  • Community and economic development 
  • Energy
  • Environmental policy and natural resource management
  • Health policy
  • Information systems
  • International development
  • Local government management 
  • Nonprofit management 
  • Policy analysis 
  • Public financial administration
  • Public management
  • Sustainability and sustainable development

Team Lead: Tyna Hunnicut, director of the Office of Clinical Experiences

The School of Education is known for preparing reflective, caring, and skilled educators who make a difference in the lives of their students in Indiana, throughout the United States, and around the world. Their students focus on the following projects and skills:

  • Educational consulting, curriculum development, instruction systems design, pedagogy
  • Counseling and Educational Psychology department that has a counseling center and researchers in various areas, including Gratitude (and has been talking about using this as a tool during this pandemic)
  • IST and a makers space with a makers space head faculty leader
  • Higher ed and student affairs specialists
  • Art education, which also focuses on community art uses and using art in various settings to increase understanding and expression
  • Special education, a few faculty members and a graduate student have been working with schools on how to support SPED students in this quick transition and its importance despite the push to change the law to reduce this requirement
  • Our makers space made face shields with a Music Faculty member for local health folks
  • Our librarian is fantastic at working with faculty and students on educational research, grant writing, implementation, and programming for undergraduate and graduate students

View some work samples from School of Ed:

Team Lead: Kim Alexander Decker, clinical associate professor community and health systems and program director of Dr. Anita Aldrich Community Health Promotion Project

The School of Public Health-Bloomington takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to disease prevention, wellness, and teaching with an emphasis on robust, reproducible, and transparent research. Some examples of their past work include:
  • Statistical modeling
  • Epidemiological methods and research design
  • Population health and public health policy/research/assessments 
  • Intervention and program design/evaluation 
  • Behavior change theories and communication 
  • Planning and management to promote health
  • Event planning
  • Recreation and leisure services 
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Human performance and athletic training

Team Lead: Nicki Williamson, BSW field coordinator

The IU School of Social Work is dedicated to developing competent, caring professionals who are qualified to assume leadership roles in social work practice, and who strive to enrich the lives of the people they touch. Their students enrich lives in the following ways:  

  • Community engagement
  • Active listening
  • Bridging diverse groups together
  • Needs assessments
  • Program development
  • Bio-psycho-social histories
  • Mini mental health/depression/anxiety screenings
  • Care plans
  • Advocacy
  • Policy briefs
  • Broker/advocate for needs on behalf of those who aren’t able to
  • Socio-emotional support for children/teens/families who have experienced trauma
  • Outreach/home visits/hospice
  • Support group curriculum development and skill based delivery of services
  • Coordinate small projects, etc.
  • Voter registration/ID processing/fraud prevention education for vulnerable folks
  • Disability applications assistance
  • SNAP benefits
  • Medicaid enrollment and prescription drug plans
  • Housing assessments, etc.

Eliza Erxleben, Director of Student Services

The Media School, which is housed in IU’s College of Arts and Sciences, provides a variety of community engagement opportunities. Field experience courses (X478) offer students a curricular option to apply their learning within communities around the world within the familiar structure of a for-credit course. Other courses integrate service-learning into the curriculum by pairing students with local agencies for in-class assignments.

The school also supports service-learning through Alternative Service Break trips, both internationally and domestically, through a growing partnership with the National Park Service. Media School students can participate in a variety of service-project programming driven by the school’s Experiential Education department. 

View some work samples from The Media School: