Pritzker Family Foundation endows faculty innovation fund

A gift of $1.5 million from The Children’s Initiative, a project of the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, has endowed a faculty innovation fund at Erikson Institute.

The new J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Faculty Innovation Fund will support new ideas, pilot projects, development of new skills and interests, and difficult-to-fund research. Thanks to this generous pledge, faculty can pursue those “I wonder” and “what if” questions that lead to new knowledge. With the resources to pursue lines of inquiry not yet eligible for funding elsewhere, they will advance the field of child development and set new directions for Erikson.

Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis in two areas: research and scholarship and practice and infrastructure. Funded research might include early stage studies that require pilot data, investigations of specific practices in early childhood care or teaching, and projects that analyze the impact and role of Erikson’s programs in guiding professional preparation in the field.

The fund will also support policy seminars, brief visits by scholars in residence, training in new methodologies, and development of issue briefs on key policy and practice issues. Faculty may also request funding for specialized equipment, software, and specialized data analysis that will facilitate exploration in new areas.

“We’ve been greatly impressed with Erikson’s applied research, which helps us understand what works in early childhood programs and why. We’re pleased to provide faculty with the capacity and opportunity to explore new ideas and avenues,” the Pritzkers said.

“We look forward to seeing what these inquiring minds will discover.”