From this unit the students will gain a working knowledge of philanthropy and foundations and their importance to our community and society. This lesson also introduces students to Youth Advisory Committees (Y.A.C.) that are made up of students who recommend youth-centered projects for the community foundation to fund. The students write a grant proposal to a Youth Advisory Committee for their own service project. Ideally, their experience with the grant writing will motivate the students to seek to be on a Y.A.C. in future years.

The learner will:

• define philanthropy as giving or sharing time, talent or treasure for the common good.

• identify acts of philanthropy.

• recognize the value of community capital in his/her classroom and community.

• design a poster illustrating the definition of philanthropy.

• define foundation as a nonprofit organization that distributes funds through grants for charitable activities for the common good.

• become familiar with the resources available on the Learning to Give Website.

• name at least three charitable organizations in the community.

• take detailed notes from the representative of a community foundation.

• write thank-you letters that summarize some of the speaker’s key points.

• Locate a grantmaking foundation.

• Choose a youth-centered project to carry out.

• Write a grant proposal to fund the chosen project.

• Lesson One: “Phil”-ing Good – Read student journal entries to determine whether they understand the definition of philanthropy and the positive effects for both the giver and receiver.

• Use the rubric provided in Lesson One (see Assessment) to assess the student posters.

• Lesson Two: Solid Foundation – Assess student notes and letters for comprehension of the foundation’s purpose.

• Lesson Three: Let’s Write a Grant Proposal! – Monitor students’ Internet research and evaluate their notes (Lesson Three, Attachment One: Community Foundation Research).

• Assess students’ problem-solving, group-cooperation and writing skills and adjust instruction accordingly.

In advance of Lesson Two: Solid Foundation, invite a representative from a local community foundation to speak to the class. (If possible, invite representatives from two or three community foundations on consecutive days.) Give the speaker a copy of Lesson Two, Attachment One: Foundation Speaker Notes so he or she knows what is expected. Some resources for finding these speakers include the local chamber of commerce, www.guidestar.com (search by local zip code) or call your local community foundation directly. Directions for finding the community foundation nearest you are in the Instructional Procedure of Lesson Three: Let’s Write a Grant Proposal! and at the following Website: http://fdncenter.org/funders/grantmaker.