Ivory Innovations
Ivory Innovations is a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit that runs the annual Ivory Prize, integrates housing innovations into its Utah developments through Fieldworks, and is building approximately 1,554 affordable homes across seven Utah communities funded by a $380M+ philanthropic partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ivory Innovations does
Ivory Innovations is a private nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by builder Clark Ivory and his daughter Abby Ivory, headquartered at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Its mission is to catalyze innovation in housing affordability through a dual model: a national thought-leadership platform that identifies and elevates external innovators, and direct real estate development that puts those innovations into practice.
The organization operates four core programs. The Ivory Prize is an annual national competition (nominations September–December, winners selected January–May) awarding up to $300,000 across three categories—Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform—with a portfolio of 172 supported companies and 1,100+ solutions evaluated over seven years. Fieldworks, launched in 2025, integrates third-party innovations from builders, technology vendors, and materials startups into Ivory's own affordable housing developments in the Salt Lake City metro area. Hack-A-House is a 24-hour student pitch competition drawing participants from 130+ colleges and universities. The Student Associate Program places University of Utah students on Ivory Prize workstreams with pathways to paid summer internships. Through the Call to Innovations partnership with The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation and the Call to Action Foundation, Ivory Innovations is developing approximately 1,554 affordable homes across seven Utah communities (Lehi, South Jordan, Draper, Magna, Salt Lake City, Francis, Park City), backed by $380M+ in committed capital.
The business model is philanthropic: revenue comes from foundation grants and corporate sponsorships (Innovators Circle, Legacy Partners, and Current & Past Supporters spanning ~25 named institutions including Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, Zions Bancorporation, Builders FirstSource, and Weyerhaeuser), supplemented by rental income from completed workforce-housing developments such as Innovation Park at Holbrook Farms, where units start at $1,231/month for essential workers. Ivory Innovations does not develop proprietary technology; it serves as a curation, capital-bridging, and implementation platform that channels third-party solutions into real housing projects and markets them through an annual summit, digital channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), and content products including annual Impact Reports and the December 2025 publication 'The Little Book of Low-Cost, High-Impact Housing Solutions.'
Ivory Innovations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ivory Innovations
- Legal name
- Ivory Innovations
- Website
- https://ivoryinnovations.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ivory Innovations is a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit that runs the annual Ivory Prize, integrates housing innovations into its Utah developments through Fieldworks, and is building approximately 1,554 affordable homes across seven Utah communities funded by a $380M+ philanthropic partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ivory Innovations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Development and Innovation
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Educational Support Services (611710), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Mobile Homes (2451)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Ivory Innovations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Ivory Innovations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Philanthropic/Grant Funding: As a nonprofit, Ivory Innovations is funded through private philanthropy. Lead investors include The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation and the Call to Action Foundation. Additional support comes from sponsors at various tiers (Innovators Circle, Legacy Partners, Current & Past Supporters).
- Housing Development: The organization develops affordable housing units in Utah through the Call to Innovations partnership, creating approximately 1,554 affordable homes across seven communities. Rents at developments like Innovation Park at Holbrook Farms start at $1,231 for workforce housing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Ivory Prize award program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Ivory Innovations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ivory Innovations is a nonprofit that catalyzes housing affordability innovation through four core programs: the Ivory Prize (an annual national award contest recognizing housing solutions in Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform), Fieldworks (an implementation program that integrates third-party innovations into its Utah affordable housing developments), Hack-A-House (a 24-hour student pitch competition), and direct affordable housing development across seven Utah communities under the Call to Innovations partnership with The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation and Call to Action Foundation.
Product overview
Ivory Innovations is a nonprofit organization based at the University of Utah that catalyzes innovative solutions in housing affordability through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Ivory Prize (an annual award contest recognizing innovations in housing across Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy categories), Fieldworks (an implementation program that integrates innovations into their own Utah housing developments), and Hack-A-House (a student pitch competition). The organization also publishes resources like 'The Little Book of Low-Cost, High-Impact Housing Solutions' and operates a Student Associate Program. Through the Call to Innovations partnership, Ivory Innovations develops affordable housing communities across seven Utah cities, putting innovation into practice through real-world construction projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Ivory Prize: An annual national contest organized by Ivory Innovations that identifies and elevates promising solutions to housing affordability, awarded in three areas: Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform.
- Fieldworks
- Hack-A-House
- Student Associate Program
Products and services
- Ivory Prize Annual national award contest that identifies and elevates promising solutions to housing affordability across three focus areas: Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform. Winners receive recognition, networking, pro bono consulting, sponsored interns, and financial grants. No application fee is required to participate.
- Fieldworks Implementation program that integrates breakthrough housing innovations from external builders, technology companies, and materials startups into Ivory Innovations' affordable housing developments in Utah. Targets market-ready solutions for projects of 6-100 units, providing innovators with real-world deployment pathways.
- Utah Affordable Housing Developments Affordable housing communities being developed across seven Utah cities (Lehi, South Jordan, Draper, Magna, Salt Lake City, Francis, Park City) through the Call to Innovations partnership, designed for essential workers and workforce housing. Plans call for delivery of over 1,554 affordable homes. Rents at developments such as Innovation Park at Holbrook Farms start at $1,231/month.
- Ivory Prize Summit Annual summit event bringing together housing entrepreneurs, policymakers, developers, and researchers to catalyze progress in housing affordability. Features keynote addresses, panel discussions, the Hack-A-House competition, and networking opportunities.
- Hack-A-House Annual 24-hour pitch competition where students from 130+ colleges and universities develop innovative solutions for the housing affordability crisis. Held at the University of Utah with virtual participation available. Has engaged over 1,500 students across its history.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,500+ affordable units in progress across Utah
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ivory Innovations
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ivory Innovations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ivory Innovations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- David Eccles School of BusinesscoreAcademic partner at the University of Utah where Ivory Innovations is located. Provides research support and student pipeline through the Student Associate Program.
- Enterprise Community PartnersmajorResearch collaborator and housing innovation partner working with Ivory Innovations to identify solutions and publish insights on the housing crisis.
- Housing Innovation AlliancemajorPartner in organizing the 2026 Ivory Prize Summit and collaborating on housing innovation initiatives.
- Joint Center for Housing Studies (Harvard)majorResearch collaborator partnering with Ivory Innovations to identify solutions and publish insights on the housing crisis.
- HUDmajorResearch collaborator and government partner working on housing innovation and affordability solutions.
- MOD XmajorPartner in organizing the 2026 Ivory Prize Summit at Arizona State University, focused on housing innovation ecosystem development.
- ARCHESmajorPartner in organizing the 2026 Ivory Prize Summit at Arizona State University.
- Morrison Institute for Public Policy (Arizona State University)majorPartner in organizing the 2026 Ivory Prize Summit at Arizona State University, providing research and public policy expertise.
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)minorCollaborator in housing research and industry initiatives.
- Terner LabsminorCollaborator in housing innovation research and startup ecosystem.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ivory Innovations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit focused on affordable home construction and homeownership pathways for low-income households. Comparable as a nonprofit operating at scale to deliver affordable housing units while engaging volunteers, donors, and policymakers.
- Mercy Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer operating across the United States. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit that develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing for low-income families, seniors, and people with special needs.
- BRIDGE Housing: Nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income housing, primarily on the U.S. West Coast. Comparable as a nonprofit organization that develops affordable housing at scale while pursuing innovation in design, finance, and resident services.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National nonprofit community development financial institution that finances affordable housing and community development. Directly comparable as a nonprofit intermediary channeling philanthropic and capital market funding into affordable housing projects across geographies.
- Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that invests capital and expertise into affordable housing developments, and is a current research collaborator of Ivory Innovations. Directly comparable as a nonprofit housing affordability organization operating both thought leadership and on-the-ground development.
- Housing Innovation Alliance: Industry alliance working to accelerate housing innovation, and a current partner of Ivory Innovations on the 2026 Ivory Prize Summit. Comparable as a housing-innovation ecosystem convener bringing together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and developers around new housing solutions.
Broad incumbents
- Fannie Mae: U.S. government-sponsored enterprise providing liquidity to the multifamily affordable housing market. Comparable as a broad incumbent enabling affordable housing production at scale through financing programs that intersect with nonprofit developers like Ivory Innovations.
- Freddie Mac: U.S. government-sponsored enterprise that finances affordable housing through multifamily lending programs, and is a current Legacy Partner sponsor of Ivory Innovations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the affordable housing finance ecosystem that supports nonprofit and mission-driven developers.
Others
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Trade association representing the U.S. home building industry, and a current collaborator with Ivory Innovations on housing research. Comparable as an industry ecosystem participant whose members build the housing stock that Ivory Innovations seeks to make more affordable through innovation.
Emerging players
- Terner Labs: Housing innovation research and startup support organization that collaborates with Ivory Innovations on housing innovation research. Comparable as an emerging player focused on innovation in housing development and the housing startup ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ivory Innovations social profiles
Digital presenceIvory Innovations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ivory Innovations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Ivory Innovations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ivory Innovations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ivory Innovations
What does Ivory Innovations do?
Ivory Innovations is a nonprofit that catalyzes housing affordability innovation through four core programs: the Ivory Prize (an annual national award contest recognizing housing solutions in Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform), Fieldworks (an implementation program that integrates third-party innovations into its Utah affordable housing developments), Hack-A-House (a 24-hour student pitch competition), and direct affordable housing development across seven Utah communities under the Call to Innovations partnership with The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation and Call to Action Foundation.
Is Ivory Innovations a public or private company?
Ivory Innovations is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ivory Innovations founded?
Ivory Innovations was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ivory Innovations based?
Ivory Innovations is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ivory Innovations make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic/Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are housing Development.
Who are Ivory Innovations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Habitat for Humanity International, Mercy Housing, BRIDGE Housing, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Enterprise Community Partners and Housing Innovation Alliance. Broad incumbents are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is listed as an others. Terner Labs is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ivory Innovations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ivory Innovations.
What industry is Ivory Innovations in?
Ivory Innovations's product category is Affordable Housing Development and Innovation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAH, Environmental Education & Outreach. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.