Strengthening Communities Through Student-Led Philanthropy

The Pay it Forward: Strengthening Communities Throught Student-Led Philanthropy grant, administered by Ohio Campus Compact in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement, helps students learn how to be engaged citizens and to understand the important role philanthropy plays in the health of our communities, of our nation, and of the world. OCC is offering $5,000.00 mini grants to UC faculty for course development that integrates student philanthropy into community-based pedagogy.

Course Selection
Selected courses will receive $5,000 per course: $4,500 will be invested in local nonprofit agencies through a mini-grant process at the determination of the students in the course.  The remaining $500 will be used to support course activities related to the project. Faculty from all disciplines are invited to participate. Students in the four selected courses will have the opportunity to explore communities different from their own.  They will select a local nonprofit that meets community needs and offer monetary program support.

Education Benefit
Throughout the process, students will engage in meaningful interactions and discussions with nonprofit leaders, identify community needs, issue and evaluate requests for funding, and attend an awards ceremony recognizing students and funded organizations.  Faculty members will have the opportunity to use the Pay it Forward: Strengthening Communities Throught Student-Led Philanthropy as a vehicle for teaching their subject matter, while integrating the philanthropic model into the course.

Interested Faculty
This opportunity is available to any faculty teaching a course Winter or Spring quarter 2010 who would like to incorporate the philanthropic model into that course. Download the Faculty Intent form here. If you have any questions regarding course development, please contact Michael Sharp, Director of Community-Engaged Learning at Michael.Sharp@uc.edu or 556-1533. 

Faculty Intent forms should be submitted via email to Kathy Dick, Director of the Center for Community Engagement at Kathy.dick@uc.edu by Wednesday, October 28. Act fast! Only four courses will be selected!

 2007-2008 Philanthropy Classes

• Systemic Innovation II - Entrepreneurship through Interdisciplinary Innovative Applications in Technology and Community Service
  George Suckarieh, PhD, Brian J. Resnick, PE, and all
  Community Partner: Corporation for Findlay Market
• Research in Social Work
  Gary Dick, PhD
  Community Partner: ACT, Inc. 
• Community-Based Environmental Art
  Flavia Bastos, PhD
  Community Partner: Memorial, Inc. 
• Developing Leadership Through Service
  Maria Curro Kreppel, PhD
  Community Partners: Pro Seniors & Big Brothers/Big Sisters

2008-2009 Philanthropy Classes

• Journalism Seminar: Urban Online Documentary
  Elissa Sonnenberg
  Community Partner: Urban Appalachian Council
• Introduction to Sociology I
  Leslie Elrod
  Community Partners: HCESC Pathways & Visionaries and Voices
• Climate Change: Think Globally, Act Locally
  Eric Gruenstein & Dan Oerther