Pay it Forward

Pay it Forward: Strengthening Communities through Student-Led Philanthropy

The Pay it Forward grant for student philanthropy helps students learn how to be egaged citizens and to understand the important role philanthropy plays in our communities, our nation, and of the world.

Ohio Campus Compact *  Kentucky Campus Compact * Michigan Campus Compact

Now Accepting Applications!  

The Pay it Forward grant will help develop a new generation of philanthropists through a course-based service-learning environment by engaging college students in hands on philanthropy, grant-making, and volunteer service while providing community nonprofits with much needed assistance in the current deflated economic environment. Campuses will be selected to participate in the Pay it Forward initiative based on the application process outlined in this document.

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT

The Pay it Forward: Strengthening Communities through Student-Led Philanthropy grant for student philanthropy is sponsored by Ohio Campus Compact in collaboration with Kentucky Campus Compact and Michigan Campus Compact.  The Pay it Forward initiative will address critical economic needs in communities through student-led grant making and volunteerism.  The project will focus efforts in three needs areas: children and youth programs; neighborhood development and revitalization; and hunger, homelessness, and health issues.

$5,000 dollar grants will fund courses infused with a philanthropy component providing students with the intellectual knowledge and practical experiences needed to manage philanthropic funding.  Each course will award $4,500 to up to three (3) local non-profits [501(c)3] as chosen by the class; $500 may be used by the course for administrative expenses. Students will identify community needs and research the non-profit sector in an effort to select organizations meeting the identified community need.  Students will issue and evaluate Requests for Funding Proposals (RFP’s) and engage in a group decision-making process to award funds. Students will be required to serve at least 15 volunteer hours with a non-profit agency during the course.

Participating campuses can apply for funding for up to four (4) courses and will demonstrate institutional commitment through the formation of a campus team.  The campus team is made up of the following roles: the campus liaison, a development officer, a community liaison, and all participating faculty.  At the end of each term, participating students, faculty, and community partners will complete an assessment in an effort to advance knowledge and practice in the area of student philanthropy. The Pay it Forward student philanthropy grant will fund approximately 54 philanthropy courses at institutions of higher education in Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan each year.

PROJECT GOALS

• Award charitable dollars to worthy non-profit organizations with strong proposals that address immediate economic needs.
• Build stronger communities through a skill based volunteer force that contributes both hours served (15 per student) and financial resources ($4,500 per course).
• Provide students with the intellectual knowledge and practical experiences needed to manage philanthropic funding, including skills such as conducting needs assessments, establishing funding criteria, researching local nonprofits, interviewing community members, and developing writing, decision-making, accounting, and evaluation skills.
• Engage students and faculty with local communities in order to promote understanding and connectedness.
• Serve as a model for passing along the practice and knowledge of philanthropy and volunteerism.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Student learning will occur within a credit bearing academic course, consistent with the course content and goals.
• Faculty will infuse the study of philanthropy as a course-based component where the ideology of philanthropy is experienced in real time meeting real needs. The intent is to have the study of philanthropy embedded in courses across the curriculum in diverse disciplines.
  • In alignment with the course objectives, philanthropy topics should include identifying community needs, establishing funding criteria, data gathering, and outcome assessment.
• The grant making, research, volunteering, and advocacy are all student led.
• Students will be required to volunteer at least 15 hours with a non-profit agency during the term.
• Students will be engaged in a way that allows them to build the capacity of local community organizations that have a direct impact on the economic crises that are plaguing communities.
• Courses will grant $4,500 in funds to support up to three non-profit organizations addressing community needs. Only organizations with a 501(c)3 nonprofit tax exemption are eligible.
• Each campus and/or course will conduct an awards ceremony before the end of the project term to celebrate the philanthropic process.
• Participating campuses will collect data using the following three methods: student survey, faculty evaluation, and community partner evaluation. Funded campuses are required to obtain necessary Human Subjects/IRB approval in order to collect necessary data.
• Technology, particularly social media, will be incorporated into the campus project in an effort to further service and student philanthropic goals.
• Awarded campuses must provide a 100% match (1:1 match) of cash or in-kind support. Matching contributions can include faculty/staff time, in-kind contributions (e.g. materials, equipment and/or supplies), and cash donations.
• Participating institutions agree to work toward creating a sustainable philanthropy program.

DESCRIPTION OF MINI-GRANT/FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Pay it Forward mini-grants will fund the development and implementation of course-based service-learning that engages college students in the study of philanthropy. Additional guidelines will be given to selected institutions.

• Selected campuses will receive $5,000 for each awarded course.
• $4,500 of the grant must be invested in local non-profit 501(c)(3) agencies through a mini-grant process at the determination of the students in the course.  Ohio Campus Compact will make an advance payment of $4,500 per approved class to the campus.
• The remaining $500 will be used to support course activities related to the project. Campuses are prohibited to use the $500 dollars as a faculty stipend or other personnel costs.
• Each selected campus will also receive $500 dollars to be used for campus technical support.  The $500 for course support and the $500 for campus technical support are on a reimbursable basis.
• Grants are renewable up through spring term 2012 pending a successful completion of all grant requirements and yearly funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• All funds awarded require a 100% match of cash or in-kind support.  More information regarding tracking the match will be provided to awarded institutions.

PAY IT FORWARD SUPPORT
Funding for Pay it Forward is made possible through The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)/Learn and Serve America Higher Education. The CNCS improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Learn and Serve America provides support to schools, higher education institutions and community-based organizations, hat engage students, their teachers, and others in service-learning.  For more information, please visit: http://www.nationalservice.gov.