Congratulations to our 2025 DavenFund Winners!
(By Prize Money)
- Brett Windsor - $1,000
- Lynda Cribari - $996
- Jodi Chycinski - $825
- Tracy Dutcher - $666
- Jodi Colby - $655
- Laura Ayotte - $540
- Kathy Aboufadel - $390
- Candice Romzek - $300
- Leslie Elliott - $299
- Jessica Dunn - $240
- Patricia Finerty - $200
- Meaghan Polega - $200
- Aimee Boillat - $200
- Mary Reif - $192
- Nevaeh Moore - $159
DavenFund Rules and Process
Each applicant may request between $100 to $1,250 to improve their work at DU. Examples include: attending an online training or conference, equipment such as a standing desk, a second computer monitor, software with IT approval, etc. Requests must be a one-time expense. Recurring requests, such as software maintenance or annual subscription fees, are not permitted.
The program will begin on or around January 1st each year and have a total of at least $7,000.
All applications must be completed through our online application.
One application is allowed per person per fiscal year (July-June). Team Building events need to be submitted by supervisor or above. Professional Development needs to be submitted by each individual or supervisor or above.
Application submissions cannot include items that are able to be funded through the department budget, special accommodations, or other scholarship and grant possibilities.
Applications will be accepted for 6 weeks starting the beginning of January. A review period will follow to allow for any feedback or request for additional information with current submissions. This will create a final pool of DavenFund Applications.
The final selection process will occur the last week of March and will be done by random selection until funds have been allocated.
The random selection will be live-streamed for remote viewing. Winners will be selected randomly, at the event, until funds have been exhausted. The final winners will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the purchase. Applicants are still eligible to resubmit the following Fiscal Year. In the event that you leave DU, all equipment, software or other tangible items will continue to be owned by DU. For any employee that has been awarded attendance at a conference/training and leaves DU employment prior to attending, the committee reserves the right to re-evaluate the award.
Six months after your request has been awarded, or the activity has been completed, you will be required to provide a summary of how the funding through DavenFund has positively impacted your performance at DU.
Disclaimer: The committee reserves the right to dismiss any application that does not fall in line with the mission and intent of DavenFund or Davenport University Policies and Procedures.
DavenFund FAQ
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What is the purpose of the program?
DavenFund was created to help employees fund professional development, software, or equipment that will improve employee effectiveness at DU.
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Who is eligible to apply for DavenFund?
All full-time and part-time Davenport employees are eligible. This does not include adjunct faculty, student workers, temporary employees, and contract staff.
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Are student workers allowed to participate in departmental team-building activities funded by this submission?
If your departmental team includes student workers and wins a team-building event, the student workers may participate. However, if the submission is for a team composed only of student workers, or for an event solely for student workers, the application will be denied.
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What information do I have to provide?
Your e-mail address, name and department are required. You must provide all information and documents that support your proposal request or proposal cost. If applicable, please provide an updated quote for the items that you are requesting, spec sheets or links where the information can be found, as well as written approval as needed.
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What kind of requests are technology (hardware or software) items?
According to DU policy, any requests for computers, software, audio/video technology or something else IT-related are technology (hardware or software) items that need to be analyzed and approved by IT, and thus such submissions will be routed that way.
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What kind of requests are Physical property (facilities)?
According to DU policy, any service required for maintenance, repairs, construction, renovation or modification of any DU facilities must be reviewed and approved by the facilities staff. Physical equipment requests may include a stand-up desk, storage unit, specialized work area, and desk chairs. All such submissions should be tagged as Physical property (facilities) and will be routed that way.
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What kind of requests need ADA approval?
According to DU policy, any requests that meet ADA criteria must be reviewed and approved by the Human Resources staff. Please email Benefitsu@davenport.edu.
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Do I need to let my supervisor know what I am applying for?
We strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your supervisor before you apply to DavenFund. Please consider that if you get selected for funding to a training conference, for example, you may impact your department or colleague's workload while you are gone. You may need to identify the best date for your training attendance.
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Does my submission improve workplace effectiveness?
All submissions must explain how they would improve workplace effectiveness. A good way to think about this is: By receiving the funding, I will be able to (add improved performance) by (add date improvement will be met). For example: By receiving this funding, I will be able to save 2 hours per week, by August 15.
An estimated improvement must be explained in the application. This can be based on your experience and expectations. A post-award evaluation on how the funding has helped you or your department will take place six months after the funded item or activity has been completed, including a summary of how the funding through DavenFund has positively impacted your performance at DU.
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When can I submit an application?
The application process starts at the beginning of January and runs six weeks ending mid-February.
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How are the winners selected?
It is a random selection that will be live-streamed through DavenFund. Once the winners have been identified, an announcement will go out. If you did not win, you can re-submit your application the following Fiscal Year.
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What happens during the review process? When is the review process?
The review process is facilitated by the DavenFund Committee. This committee will be responsible for reviewing all the proposals to be sure they meet the criteria and all needed information is included with the submission.
This process will happen after the application time frame is closed, beginning mid-February through the end of March.
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What happens if I win?
The final winners will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the purchase. In the event that you leave DU, all equipment, software or other tangible items will continue to be owned by DU. For any employee that has been awarded attendance at a conference/training and leaves DU employment prior to attending, the committee reserves the right to re-evaluate the award.
For any other questions, e-mail davenfund@davenport.edu.