The Fellowship provides up to $7000 for group projects and up to $5000 for individual projects. Students can use all the funding for supplies and expenses to implement the project, or designate some of their award as a tuition scholarship. The amount students are able to receive and designate as a scholarship varies based on the length of their project.

Funding for project development and implementation will be sent to the academic advisor’s department to be disbursed through their purchasing process and/or reimbursed based on the submission of receipts for the expenses. Receipts need to be submitted to the students’ academic advisor and/or their department’s financial contact. If all funds are not needed for project supplies and expenses, Wisconsin Idea Fellowship students can qualify for a scholarship award of between $1,000 – 5,000. See below:

Student Academic Award Breakdown

Individual Projects

Summer – $2,000
– Up to $1,000 can be designated as scholarship
Fall Semester – $3,500
– Up to $1,500 can be designated as scholarship
Spring Semester – $3,500
– Up to $1,500 can be designated as scholarship
Summer & Fall – 4,500
– Up to $2,500 can be designated as scholarship
Academic Year – $5,000
– Up to $3,000 can be designated as scholarship

Group Projects

Summer – $3,500
– Up to $2,500 can be designated as scholarship
Fall semester – $5,000
– Up to $3,000 can be designated as scholarship
Spring Semester – $5,000
– Up to $3,000 can be designated as scholarship
Summer & Fall – $6,000
– Up to $4,000 can be designated as scholarship
Academic Year – $7,000
– Up to $5,000 can be designated as scholarship

How and when do I get the funding?

If student award recipients choose to designate a portion of their award as scholarship, the first half of that amount will be transferred to the Bursar in mid to late July of the award year (unless your WIF project begins in the summer), and the second half the following May after completion of the project, unless the student is graduating in December. This final funding is released only also after completing a 5-page reflection paper as stated in the project requirements awardees receive.

The “project supplies and expenses” are separate from the scholarship that student Fellows can choose to receive. Those funds will be sent directly to the department you are working with. Students will be reimbursed based on the submission of receipts, or in some cases your department can make purchases for you. Check with them because they can often purchase supplies at a UW discount, and tax-exempt. Receipts need to be submitted to the students’ academic advisor and their department’s financial contact.

You will need to prepare a final budget report that lists how the project budget was spent. If you do not need all of the funding that was placed in that account, your department must transfer the leftover funds back to the Morgridge Center for Public Service.

Please make sure you submit as accurate a budget as possible. Scholarship funding will be distributed into your tuition account and cannot be used as reimbursement for project expenses.

Funds will be dispersed at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. They can be done in the summer if needed; however, a 4 weeks notice is needed

Do I pay tuition if my project occurs over the summer?

Yes. You must enroll in three credits of independent study if all of your project occurs during the summer, or at least one credit if a portion begins then. The academic award can be used to defray this cost.

Will a WIF award affect my financial aid?

Yes, the academic award or scholarship portion of the award will become part of your financial aid award. For further information, please contact the UW-Office of Financial Aid at 608-262-3060.

What other awards prohibit me from receiving WIF funding?

You may not simultaneously receive a Wisconsin Idea Fellowship and any of the 3 following awards:
Hilldale Research Fellowship
Holstrom Scholarship
Kaufmann Entrepreneurship Community Internship