2010 Practicing Philanthropy
PHILANTHROPY COURSES
Practicing Philanthropy Class Announces
Four Grants to Boston Area Nonprofit Organizations:
Students at the Heller School participated in a semester long experiential philanthropy course, HS260b Practicing Philanthropy. Last Monday they announced that they have recommended grants of $10,000 a piece to four Boston area nonprofits. The class was comprised of eleven students from three degree programs in the class. They were divided into two "families" who then went through the lengthy process of figuring out what was important to them, researching organizations, writing RFPs, assessing proposals, going on site visits and finally making decisions.
The students were so engaged in the process and personally invested in the experience that one student felt it was like having to choose between her children on decision day. Below are their mission statements and the organizations that each "family" selected to receive $10,000. Three of the four organizations selected were able to attend the student presentations.
The Heller Initiative for Power and Possibility
Our mission is to be a catalyst for constructive social change, by giving power and possibility to young adults. In pursuit of this goal we invest in organizations in the Greater Boston area that develop leadership skills and civic engagement in order to broaden understanding, foster justice and impact their communities.
Selected Organizations: Young Black Women's Society and the Jewish Organizing Institute
Heller Students for Youth Empowerment 
Our mission is to support youth development programs in Boston. We empower mission driven organizations to create vibrant and rich local experiences in under-served communities. We believe that through these programs youth will be given the tools and skills to advance their community and have a positive impact on society.
Selected Organizations: Generation Citizen and Generations Incorporated
Global Giving and Practicing Philanthropy
In the Sillerman Center's 2010 Practicing Philanthropy course for Heller graduate students, GlobalGiving.Org partnered with the Center to engage students in philanthropy. Students developed a competition to engage their peers in the decision making around $20K of "global giving cards" made available in grants to four U.S. Universities.
Four projects were selected by students from the Global Giving.org website Students created videos to bring the projects to life and to entice other students and people in their personal networks to vote or donate to the projects. Funds were allocated based on the voting percentages. Watch this page for soon-to-be released videos! Students' efforts resulted in over $1,000 additional funds (over the allocated $20K and attracted a large "voting" public.