Oregon Innovation (OI) Award

From Portland State Universitys Mark O. Hatfield School of Government

PSUs Center for Public Service (CPS) in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government invites nominations
for our first annual Oregon Innovation (OI) Award. This award is made possible through the generous
gifts by friends and colleagues to one of three CPS funds: the Founders Fund, Pioneers Fund and the
Executive Seminar Program (ESP) Fund.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The OI Award is designed to recognize and honor the active pursuit of public service
breakthrough innovation through collaborative partnerships between one or more public service
organization(s) and the Hatfield Schools Center for Public Service.
The award is designed to enable forward-thinking governmental and non-profit organizations to further
identify, co-produce and scale-up breakthrough innovations in their organizations and
communities. The OI Award represents an exciting opportunity for CPS to further its vision of Making
an enduring difference in advancing public legitimacy and trust in our public service institutions.
WHATS IN IT FOR YOU?
The award provides up to 1,000 hours of collaborative consultation and innovation facilitation from CPS
faculty and fellows over the course of one year. One awardee will be announced at the Celebrating
Public Service Gala on April 18, 2015. For more information on this event, please go to
www.pdx.edu/cps/celebration.
HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY
Nominations are now being accepted only by online application and must be submitted no later
than February 6, 2015.
Applicants must be from public service organizations who have identified a breakthrough
innovation which meets the following 5 criteria:
1. Requires perseverance in the face of challenging obstacles.
2. Contributes to a meaningful public service legacy.
3. Is grounded in the principles and values of representative democratic governance.
4. Balances perspectives that engage citizens and stakeholders in public decision making.
5. Incorporates both theory and practice, which will be achieved through a collaborative partnership
with the Center for Public Service.
The public organization applying must be able to implement their breakthrough innovation within a 12month time frame. Applicants must be willing to partner with CPS in disseminating information about
their innovation and its progress through social media and other outlets. This communication will better
inform public service practitioners, researchers and the general public on how innovation can actually
make a difference.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Professor Marcus Ingle
Phone: 503-725-8202
Email: mingle@pdx.edu
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE QUESTIONS REQUIRING RESPONSES TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE
APPLICATION
1. Briefly explain the public service challenge that your organization confronts for which a
breakthrough innovation is required (e.g. 100-200 words).
2. Give a brief description of your public service breakthrough innovation that addresses the
challenge specified in question #1 above.
3. Please identify the person in your organization who will lead this breakthrough innovation and
their suitability for the task.
4. What is the value of this innovation for citizens and stakeholders, and how will this innovation
contribute to a meaningful public service legacy in that community?
5. Explain how your proposed innovation is grounded in the principles and values of representative
democratic governance. How does it engage top level executives as champions as well as midlevel professionals who will be responsible for planning and executing this public service
innovation?
6. The Oregon Innovation (OI) Award requires a willingness and commitment on the part of the
recipient organization to co-produce the innovation with the Center for Public Service. How will
this collaboration ensure the success of your public service breakthrough innovation?

Center for Public Service: Contract