Leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship

Prepare bold leaders and innovators to turn ideas into action and create positive change in the world.

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Your support fuels discovery and invention

Thanks to your support, students and faculty at Carolina are devising solutions to today’s most pressing needs. Through entrepreneurship, research, startups and industry partnerships, innovators are moving discoveries from campus to market to address real-world challenges and create lasting economic and social impact across North Carolina and beyond.

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Developing leaders

Help students emerge as leaders in their respective fields through extracurricular programming and resources.

Driving innovation

Connect students with the technologies that will help bring their ideas to fruition.

Cultivating entrepreneurship

Provide support to transform ideas into market products and services.

Investing in technology

Equip scholars with the emerging technologies that will deepen field knowledge.

Bringing research to market

Bridge the gap between research findings and market solutions.

Solving real-world challenges

Support initiatives that provide solutions to real-world problems.

A Thorpe Undergraduate Internship allowed D.J. Murphy to pursue a lifelong dream and passion

Through the UNC School of Education’s Human and Organizational Leadership Development (HOLD) program, D.J. Murphy built upon his academic and professional interests through interactive experiences that cultivated his leadership skills and knowledge in public safety.

Read D.J. Murphy's story

Your support in action

See related stories

Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

4 min read

Eyes on the brain

Carolina researchers use smart glasses to peer into the mind.

Person stands at a group of table with two others.

Arts, Culture & Humanities

3 min read

Carolina alum brings art and business together

Inspired by her own experience, Ami Patel founded Gallery Box, a company that hosts artist-led workshops where people live or work.

Five ACRED members stand behind a table.

Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

5 min read

Alumni Q&A with Oliver Pau

The founder of the plant-based food business Dojo Fresh shares his Carolina story and why he volunteers as a member of ACRED.

Support leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship

Your support can bring the innovation happening at Carolina to the next level. Help pave the way for students and faculty alike to bring ideas to the forefront of public conversation.

See related funds

The Institute for Convergent Science Program Fund

Supports faculty committed to groundbreaking basic research and the translational work needed to move discoveries into the world through translational excellence.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center

Provides discretionary support for the Energy Center at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center promotes achieving an effective, consensus national energy policy that addresses the dual energy challenge — providing plentiful, affordable and secure energy while materially reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and educating students in all sectors of the energy industry.

The Chancellor's Science Scholars Fund

Provides support for merit-based scholarships, access to cutting-edge research opportunities, professional development, leadership training, mentorship and programming designed for academic and future success.

Innovate Carolina General Fund

Support Innovation for all Carolina faculty and students. Provides funding for priority entrepreneurial and early-stage initiatives at the discretion of UNC’s Chief Innovation Officer.

Contact us

Have questions or want to explore how your giving can make the greatest impact? We welcome the opportunity to connect and learn more about what inspires you. Reach out to start a conversation about your philanthropic goals and how you can support leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Send us a message