Elevate Ventures has invested in Civic Champs, a Bloomington-based startup that enhances volunteer management through innovative technology, as part of its Community Ideation Fund initiative.

Target Information

Civic Champs is a Bloomington-based social enterprise focused on enhancing the volunteer experience through technology. Established in February 2019 by CEO Geng Wang along with co-founders Michael Jeffery and Ryan Underdahl, the company aims to simplify volunteer management, allowing nonprofit organizations to allocate their time and resources more effectively. Civic Champs' flagship product is a mobile application that utilizes geofencing technology to automate the tracking of volunteer hours, thereby minimizing the manual clerical work typically associated with volunteer management.

As of now, Civic Champs comprises a team of four full-time employees and has collaborated with 23 nonprofits. The company's growth goal is ambitious; Wang envisions increasing the number of partnered nonprofits to 200 within the next 18 months. By expanding its platform, Civic Champs intends to automate various aspects of the volunteer journey, including scheduling, onboarding, and waiver tracking, while also introducing gamification features such as leaderboards to boost volunteer engagement.

Industry Overview in Indiana

The nonprofit sector in Indiana has experienced robust growth, driven by an increase in community involvement and a heightened need for efficient volunteer coordination. This growth is facilitated by a supportive ecosystem that includes various funding initiatives aimed at empowering st