The Student Philanthropy Studio (PD 3060) is an honors' seminar that I took in Spring of 2024. This is the first time this class has ever been offered, and was intended to introduce UC students to philanthropy and ethics while working with organizations benefitted by the UC Foundation. The structure of the class was laid out so that for the first half of the semester, we were in-person, listening to presentations from philanthropists and discussing ethics with our peers. We partnered up and chose a non-profit organization that worked with the UC Foundation, and were assigned the project of advocating for this organization. Our class was given $20,000 that will be allocated to these organizations based on how well we captured the non-profit's story, and this allocation will be voted on after our final presentations.
My partner Kiarie and I chose LevelUp Cincinnati, a non-profit that works with first-generation, low-income, and Black or Latinx students in Cincinnati. They provide mentorship and resources that students of this demographic usually do to receive, including training on financial literacy, networking, and mental health. I have attached my research on corporate partners that I provided for the Executive Director of LevelUp.
Participating in this course was an extremely rewarding experience for me, as I was able to reflect on my experience in philanthropy and plan for my involvement after I graduate. I would to work in the non-profit sector for an environmental cause, and learning about the inner-workings and financial structures of non-profits has been applicable to my future. I also was impressed and inspired by the philanthropies that came and spoke to my class, specifically Payton's Lemonade Stand and Magnified Giving. These are organizations that have inspired young people to participate in philanthropy and encouraging a society where we are constantly giving to others. Working with LevelUp was also rewarding, because I was able to support a cause that directly affects my own university. UC's student body is made up of 25% first-generation students, and the statistic of first-generation students dropping out of college is 50%. I felt that working and advocating for LevelUp made a direct positive on the University of Cincinnati by providing students with opportunities that they normally would not have had.
My partner Kiarie and I chose LevelUp Cincinnati, a non-profit that works with first-generation, low-income, and Black or Latinx students in Cincinnati. They provide mentorship and resources that students of this demographic usually do to receive, including training on financial literacy, networking, and mental health. I have attached my research on corporate partners that I provided for the Executive Director of LevelUp.
Participating in this course was an extremely rewarding experience for me, as I was able to reflect on my experience in philanthropy and plan for my involvement after I graduate. I would to work in the non-profit sector for an environmental cause, and learning about the inner-workings and financial structures of non-profits has been applicable to my future. I also was impressed and inspired by the philanthropies that came and spoke to my class, specifically Payton's Lemonade Stand and Magnified Giving. These are organizations that have inspired young people to participate in philanthropy and encouraging a society where we are constantly giving to others. Working with LevelUp was also rewarding, because I was able to support a cause that directly affects my own university. UC's student body is made up of 25% first-generation students, and the statistic of first-generation students dropping out of college is 50%. I felt that working and advocating for LevelUp made a direct positive on the University of Cincinnati by providing students with opportunities that they normally would not have had.
|
|
