ABOUT US:

GOAL: To Foster student leadership through curricular and co-curricular activities that assist social service agencies meet the challenges of the current economic downturn and their long term needs for leadership development and sustainability.

Student initiated and led community grant program that identify community needs and contacts nonprofit and social service agencies to learn, evaluate and fund selected programs and services. The purpose of the projects is to promote learning through active engagement with need-based agencies.

Participating faculty assist students in organizing a “Student Philanthropy  Board.”  Community nonprofit organizations are alerted with a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and encouraged to apply for funding. Faculty will oversee the process and ensure that communication and timelines are met. Students may assist the organization in applying. Finalists are chosen and invited to address the class about their proposal and funding needs. Each Board is required to interact with people in the nonprofit sector  to inform their decision making. Each BOARD will then make final evaluations and render a decision regarding which proposal they will select and fund via the Citizen Scholar Service Project Grant. Faculty will select an appropriate methodology for learning assessment and grading.

The program encourages social commitment and action among students and lays a foundation of civic involvement, benefitting nonprofit leadership and succession by developing future leaders who will continue to engage with human service agencies following graduation as staff or super volunteers.