The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC

What The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC does

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) is an academic research and civic engagement unit housed within the University of Illinois Chicago's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA). Founded in 2008 and operating with a core staff of approximately 9, IPCE runs the Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF), a paid undergraduate program that enrolls roughly 24 students per cohort, places them in internships with government offices and nonprofits, and pairs the experience with weekly seminars and a research symposium. Beyond the fellowship, IPCE produces research reports on civic engagement topics, hosts civic education programming (Space to Engage dialogues, Civic Engagement Lunch Talks, the Civics Unlocked video series), and provides community engagement services to government and philanthropic clients.

The institute's core technology is non-proprietary; it is a program-delivery and research-production organization rather than a software platform. Its outputs include Consent Decree public engagement reports for the Chicago Police Department reform process (14 community roundtables), On the Table national research commissioned by the Knight Foundation across 10 cities and regions, and program data compilation and NOFO support for the Illinois Department of Human Services. There is no public API, mobile application, or commercial software product.

IPCE is funded through university allocations, state appropriations, and competitive grants (e.g., Knight Foundation, the COVID-19 & Racial Justice Community Scholar Research Pilot Award pool of $50,000 co-funded with the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy). It does not disclose revenue, charge fees for the UPPF fellowship (which pays students up to $6,000 for completion), or operate as a commercial entity. Primary customers and partners include Chicago municipal and Cook County agencies, Illinois state government, national civic-engagement funders, and a long tail of community-based nonprofit internship hosts.

Name

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC

Legal name

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC

Website

https://ipce.uic.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC is a university research institute within UIC's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs that runs the Urban Public Policy Fellowship for underrepresented undergraduates and produces civic engagement research and community engagement services for government and nonprofit clients in the Chicago region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement and Public Policy Research

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (923110)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADADAI

Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYEDADAKAH

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Institutional Governance & Administration (School/College/University Admin)

SECONDARYEDADAKAN

Communications, Marketing & Government/Community Relations Administration

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Institutional Governance & Administration (School/College/University Admin)

Keywords

• Civic engagement research
• Public policy education
• Community engagement services
• Democratic education programs
• Urban policy fellowship

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: The institute operates as part of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA), funded through university allocations, state funding, and grants. The UPPF program provides paid internships up to $6,000 for satisfactory completion.
2. Grant Funding: IPCE receives grant funding for civic engagement research awards, community engagement projects (e.g., Chicago Police Consent Decree public engagement reports, Illinois Department of Human Services projects), and research initiatives (e.g., Knight Foundation On the Table national reports).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) at the University of Illinois Chicago conducts research on vital public issues, delivers civic engagement and democratic education programming, and administers the Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF) for undergraduate students. It also produces research reports for government agencies such as the Chicago Police Consent Decree and Illinois Department of Human Services, and supports faculty-led civic engagement research through competitive awards.

Product overview

The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC is an academic institute that serves as a catalyst for learning and participatory action in discourse, research, and educational programs. Rather than a technology product platform, it offers a portfolio of civic engagement programs including the Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF), which provides undergraduate students with seminars, internships, and research opportunities in public policy. Additional offerings include Civic Engagement Lunch Talks featuring research presentations, Space to Engage dialogue sessions, Civic Engagement Research Awards funding academic research, and various research report series including Consent Decree Public Engagement Reports, On the Table Research Reports, and Illinois Department of Human Services Reports. The institute also produces the Civics Unlocked video series and Nonpartisan Voter Resources for democratic education. These programs collectively support civic engagement capacity, education, and leadership development within the UIC community and broader Chicago area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF) A leadership development fellowship for historically underrepresented minority undergraduate students at UIC, combining weekly seminars on public policymaking, advocacy, community development, and service provision with paid internship placements at community partner organizations and a required research project. Fellows are paid up to $6,000 for satisfactory completion.
• Civic Engagement Lunch Talks A regular presentation series featuring UIC researchers and external experts presenting on civic engagement topics such as immigrant-origin student support, census participation, food insecurity, and environmental justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 students successfully complete UPPF program annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 22nd Ward Office, Alderperson Michael D. RodriguezcoreOthersUPPF internship site for the 2025-2026 cohort. Fellows placed in aldermanic offices gain hands-on experience in local government and policy implementation.
• 26th Ward Office, Alderperson Jessie FuentescoreOthersUPPF internship site. Fellows gain experience in constituent services, policy research, and community engagement at the ward level.
• Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPPF internship site providing exposure to legislative processes and policy advocacy within the Latino community.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPCE assists with program data compilation, technical assistance to grantees, and hosts NOFO sessions. The institute also supported IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) through UPPF placements.
• Cook County Office Bureau of Asset Management/Build Up Cook ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPPF internship site providing experience in county-level public policy and community development programs.
• Office of State Representative Norma HernandezcoreOthersUPPF internship site and keynote speaker at the 2025-26 UPPF Research Symposium.
• African American Academic Network (AAAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPCE partners with AAAN to recruit and support UPPF fellows from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Latin American Recruitment and Education Services (LARES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPCE partners with LARES to recruit and support Latino students in the UPPF program.
• UIC Great Cities Institute (GCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPPF internship site and research collaboration partner within the UIC ecosystem.
• Urban Growers CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in climate justice events exploring circular economy and sustainable urban agriculture on Chicago's South Side.
• 12th Ward Office, Alderperson Julia RamirezcoreOthersUPPF internship site for 2025-2026 cohort.
• Children's Legal CentersupportingOthersUPPF internship site providing exposure to child welfare policy and legal advocacy.
• Hispanic FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPPF internship site focused on advocacy and services for Latino communities.
• Illinois PIRGsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPPF internship site providing experience in public interest research and advocacy.
• Safer FoundationsupportingOthersUPPF internship site focused on reentry services and criminal justice reform.
• Office of the City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-ErvinsupportingOthersUPPF internship site providing exposure to municipal finance and fiscal policy.
• United States Probation OfficesupportingOthersUPPF internship site providing experience in federal probation services.
• Tree House Humane SocietysupportingOthersUPPF internship site (2025-2026 cohort).
• Brilliance and ExcellencesupportingOthersUPPF internship site (2025-2026 cohort).
• Office of State Senator Celina VillanuevasupportingOthersUPPF internship site (12th District).
• Office of State Senator CervantessupportingOthersUPPF internship site.
• Office of State Senator Omar AquinosupportingOthersUPPF internship site.
• Cook County Department of Research, Operation and InnovationsupportingOthersUPPF internship site providing research experience in county government.
• National Association for Community Restoration (NACOLE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPCE presents webinars for NACOLE's professional development series on community engagement and police reform topics.
• Chicago United for Equity (CUE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Vote Equity Project for the 2019 Chicago Mayoral election, designing innovative voting processes to identify community-driven ideas for equity.
• Metropolitan Planning CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Vote Equity Project, bringing planning expertise to equity initiatives.
• Generation AllsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Vote Equity Project focused on education equity in Chicago.
• Grassroots CollaborativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Vote Equity Project, bringing grassroots organizing perspective.
• Brighton Park Neighborhood CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the Vote Equity Project representing a specific Chicago neighborhood.
• Interactivity FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to collect key questions for mayoral and aldermanic candidates using a digital survey platform to increase voter education.
• BallotpediasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide candidate answers on key civic questions to inform voters about Chicago residents' priorities.
• UIC Center for Clinical and Translational SciencesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of the COVID-19 & Racial Justice Community Scholar Research Pilot Award program totaling $50,000 across five grants.
• UIC Institute for Research on Race and Public PolicysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of COVID-19 & Racial Justice Community Scholar Research Pilot Award program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Civic League: Established national nonpartisan organization promoting civic engagement, deliberative democracy, and community participation — comparable civic engagement mission at a broader national scale.

Direct peers

• Loyola University Chicago Center for Urban Research and Learning: Chicago-based university institute that conducts community-engaged research and partners with community organizations on public policy issues — directly comparable mission and operating model to IPCE.
• Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics: Premier university-based civic engagement and public policy institute that runs fellowships, public opinion research, and convenings — directly comparable in mission and programmatic structure to IPCE.
• University of Illinois Chicago Great Cities Institute: UIC's sister urban research institute that collaborates with IPCE on civic and urban policy research — closely comparable operating model and parent-institution affiliation.
• Northwestern Institute for Policy Research: Chicago-area university-based policy research institute that conducts original research on urban, civic, and social policy issues — comparable research output model to IPCE's Consent Decree and On the Table reports.
• University of Chicago Institute of Politics: University-affiliated institute that fosters civic engagement, public policy education, and leadership development among students — highly comparable model to IPCE's UPPF fellowship and civic programming, although housed at a private university.

Emerging players

• Chicago Community Trust: Chicago's community foundation that runs the On the Table civic engagement initiative for which IPCE produces research reports — a key funder/partner whose civic programming overlaps with IPCE's engagement work.

Regional players

• DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies: Chicago-based university research center producing policy-relevant research on housing and community development — comparable research-institute model serving overlapping community stakeholders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uicipce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/uicipce/feed
• Facebookfacebook.com/UICIPCE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-policy-and-civic-engagement
• Instagraminstagram.com/uicipce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC