DifferenceMakerTM is a campus-wide program that engages UMass Lowell students in creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Jacquie Moloney with Brian and Kim Rist at the opening of the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute

Thank you Kim and Brian Rist '77, Manning School of Business, for supporting the DifferenceMaker Program with a generous contribution and the establishment of the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute.

Three students and a professor hold an enlarged check for the People's Choice Winner at UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker competition

Attend the Idea Challenge Finals

Join DifferenceMaker in supporting the 10 finalist student teams as they pitch their creative ideas at the Idea Challenge Finals!

Register to attend the Idea Challenge Finals today:

DifferenceMaker Event Registration

Student standing on stage at a DifferenceMaker event.

Attend the Preliminary Pitch-off

Join DifferenceMaker at the Preliminary Pitch-off, where the Semi-Finalist teams will pitch their ideas for a chance to advance to the $50,000 Idea Challenge Finals!

  • Date: April 3
  • Time: 5-6 p.m.
  • Location: O'Leary Library Mezzanine, South Campus

Register to attend the Preliminary Pitch-off today:

DifferenceMaker Event Registration

Are you a DifferenceMaker?

Do you have an idea? Do you see a problem you want to solve? Do you want to make a difference in your community, or in the world? Do you want to join a team and work with other students? Sound like you?

Get involved with DifferenceMaker:

DifferenceMaker Event Registration

Real-Life DifferenceMakers

  • Benji Ball
    DifferenceMakers

    Benji Ball, the 2019 Capus-wide DifferenceMaker, is a baseball training tool for children that is composed of a bat and ball with the ball having multiple sides, each side showing the different outcome of an at bat.

  • eNABLE
    DifferenceMakers

    eNABLE is an international organization that makes 3D printed prosthetic hands for children in need.

Support DifferenceMaker

Gifts at any level make a direct impact on thousands of UMass Lowell students and faculty every day.