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A class of service-minded students awarded $5,000 in grants to two deserving non-profit organizations during an end-of-semester ceremony for Framingham State’s new Philanthropy Program created in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Initiative
The course focused on the hot-button issue of rising economic inequality in the United States. Students learned about the social contexts that give rise to the problem as well as the nuts and bolts of how to do philanthropy effectively.
The course was co-taught by Sociology Professor Ira Silver and Ms. Susan Nicholl, the chair of the MetroWest Nonprofit Network and executive director of the MetroWest Visitors’ Bureau.
“This course provided a tremendous learning opportunity for the students,” says Dr. Silver. “It familiarized them with one of the most crucial problems our society now faces – the growing economic opportunity divide – as well as illustrated why philanthropy does not adequately address this problem. The course, moreover, did something innovative: it empowered students to do something about this problem. They learned the nuts and bolts of grant making, such as how to read a funding proposal and conduct a site visit. And then, they had the satisfaction of giving away money to organizations working to mitigate the economic opportunity divide.”
The Highland Street Foundation, a private nonprofit organization which supports a wide range of charitable causes, funded the program. In addition to Framingham State, the Foundation partners with a number of other colleges, high schools, middle schools and community organizations on this initiative.
“Framingham State has been a wonderful partner,” says Blake Jordan with the Highland Street Foundation. “The students and faculty have really worked hard to make it a success.”
The students invited 21 organizations to apply for the grant money and received 10 applications. Six site visits were conducted. Senior Heather Strickland says classroom discussions became heated and passionate during the process of choosing an organization to support.
“There were times I left class upset and confused,” she says. “We learned what it was like to fight for something you believe in.”
During the ceremony, the class announced it was splitting the $5,000 award between Families First, a parenting education group out of Cambridge, and the Resiliency for Life program at Framingham High School, which assists academically struggling students. Sociology Major Kendra Sampson says the Philanthropy Course was a perfect fit for her because it combined two of her passions - learning and service.
“I didn’t fully realize the value and potential of this sort of unconventional learning,” she says.
Sampson plans on conducting a thesis next semester, under Professor Silver’s direction, in which she will develop a service-learning course that she will propose to the University. Several students in the class say they plan to pursue careers in the non-profit industry.
