Through a very creative gift to St. Thomas, a young couple has chosen to help students find out what it is like to act as a philanthropic foundation. The couple made a contribution so that 11 students could turn right around and give a significant portion of it away to local nonprofit organizations in need.
The participating students already had completed Business 200, a required community-service course for all students who major or minor in business. In addition, the students were chosen through a rigorous application process. Organizations that have partnered with the Business 200 program in the past, benefiting from the volunteer service of St. Thomas students, were invited to apply for a grant.
The 11 students served in the role of a foundation board. They determined the criteria for the recipients and spent hours at a time narrowing down the list of applicants. In groups of two or three, the students visited 15 of the more than 100 nonprofit organizations that applied.
After completing their site visits, the students reviewed their findings and chose five awardees to receive a $5,000 grant each: AchieveMpls, Faith’s Lodge, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Perspectives Family Center and Twin Cities RISE!
In early February, St. Thomas hosted a luncheon to celebrate the completion of the process and the awarding of the grants. Representatives from the nonprofits met with the donors, the student participants and St. Thomas administrators. Immediately after the lunch, the students met with the donors to discuss what they learned through the process.
The donors intend to continue this program in future years, and St. Thomas is grateful for their generosity, creativity and concern for helping students to learn. Also grateful are the nonprofit organizations who participated in this process.
“You are seeding our future leaders,” said Mary Pat Lee, executive director of the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, as she thanked the donors for their gift. “We’re going to be a better, stronger, more whole community because of your efforts, and the efforts of these wonderful students.”