̨ÍåSwag’s Institute for Government and Nonprofit Innovation, Training, and Evaluation (IGNITE) enhances the capacity of nonprofit organizations, coalitions, governmental entities, and foundations to adapt to ever-changing service, funding, and regulatory environments.
IGNITE connects ̨ÍåSwag faculty and students with community stakeholders to provide high-quality, affordably priced applied research and professional development services. More than 100 ̨ÍåSwag students have participated in capacity-building projects, preparing the next generation of social sector leaders.
With support from the John R. Oishei Foundation, ̨ÍåSwag’s Curtis Hall was renovated to serve as IGNITE’s headquarters—a vibrant hub of learning, training, and innovation. Renovations included technology upgrades, expanded training facilities, and improved accessibility, enabling IGNITE to extend its reach and deepen its partnerships.
Since its founding in 2015, IGNITE has completed over 200 projects with more than 120 organizations across Western New York and the Northeast. Through this work, IGNITE has generated more than $1.2 million in cost savings for clients and helped to secure over $8 million in grants and contracts for community partners—providing essential needs assessment, program design, and proposal writing support.