Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
Duration:
One to Two Fifty-Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- locate information about a local or state United Way or member agency and relate it to the public policy issue it represents.
- design an informational pamphlet for the selected agency and create entries that satisfy United Way or Agency Executive Director Sample Qualifications and Tasks (see Attachment Two).
- as an agency director, present information to the class about why the service his/her agency provides is critical to the community in terms of helping others and improving our society.
Service Experience:
Students participating in the academic service learning will choose the agency with which they will work.
Materials:
- Sample List of United Way Agencies (see Attachment One),
- Sample Qualifications and Tasks for United Way or Agency Executive Director (see Attachment Two), and,
- Additional student acquired material.
http://www.uwmich.org/
http://www.unitedway.org/
http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask the students, "If you could have a job as Director of the local or state United Way or one of its member agencies, which will you choose to be and why?"
Students may respond orally or in journals.
- Facilitate class discussion reviewing public policy issues.
- Distribute Local Member Agencies list (Attachment One) making sure the member agency that students discuss relates to the public policy issue it represents.
- From your Local Member Agencies list (Attachment One), students should discuss and decide which director's job they would like to research and role-play.
- Distribute United Way or Agency Executive Director Sample Qualifications and Tasks (Attachment Two). Using accumulated research, students will create suitable job description entries.
- Students will design a tri-fold pamphlet that explains:
a) what the agency does,At least one paragraph should be devoted to the public policy issue the agency represents.
b) its service audience,
c) why the agency is important to the community,
d) what jobs are available for prospective employees, and,
e) additional information the student feels is important.
Assessment:
Completed job description, pamphlet and public policy issue connection.
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Have students list and describe two other job titles in the agency and describe what they do.
Bibliographical References:
Web sites of interest:
http://www.uwmich.org/
http://www.unitedway.org/
Lesson Developed By:
Libby BrownJackson Public Schools
Jackson High School
Jackson, MI 49201
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Local Member Agencies
- American Red Cross — South Central Michigan Chapter
- Aware, Inc.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, Inc.
- Boy Scouts Of America — Great Sauk Trail Council
- Breakout Drug Education Program, Inc.
- Catholic Social Services
- Center for Family Health, Inc.
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service
- Council For The Prevention Of Child Abuse & Neglect Of Jackson County
- Family Service & Children's Aid
- Florence Crittenton Services
- Hospice Of Jackson
- Irish Hill Girl Scout Council
- Jackson Child Care Center
- Legal Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc.
- Lifeways
- The Salvation Army
- Starr Commonwealth — Jackson
- Y Center
- Citizens For Better Care
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Hemophilia Foundation Of Michigan
- Kenny Foundation
- Michigan League For Human Services
- Multiple Sclerosis Society Of Michigan
- National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence Of Michigan
- National Kidney Foundation
- Second Harvest Food Bank Of South Central Michigan
- United Way Of Michigan
Handout 2Print Handout 2
United Way or Agency Executive Director, Sample Qualifications and Tasks
Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelors Degree in social sciences, English or related liberal artsExperience:
Masters Degree preferred
Non-profit management experience and/or United Way program experience preferred including supervisor experienceSkills:Fund-raising experience including: annual giving, pledge management, grant writing, and direct donor relations required
Proven leadership experience of a volunteer oriented organization
Proven experience in nonprofit management and aware of current issues confronting the nonprofit sector
Proven experience in strategic planning, and in implementing plans.
Excellent written and oral communications skillsCommitment:Ability to work with community teams as a servant-leader
Proven ability to communicate and work with a wide diversity of community representatives including senior corporate management, labor representatives, community volunteers, minority group leaders, and other members of the total community.
Strong analytical skills and program planning skills to identify and meet the needs of the local community.
Understands and supports the mission of the United Way or member agencyTasks:
Chief Executive Officer responsibility for the organization including:
United Way or agency representationSupport to the voluntary Board of Directors Support to committees of the Board of Directors Budgeting, financial management, and operating administration for the agency Management of the planning process Responsible for the implementation and reporting on the plan Hiring, firing, supervision, and organizational responsibility for the Staff Coordination of the work of the organization Planning, organizing, motivating, implementing and managing the annual United Way or agency pledge drive Responsible to help establish and then to meet the annual goal Primary responsibility for all donor relations
Serve as the primary spokesperson for the United Way
Unit Contents:
Overview:Opportunities in Philanthropy Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Investigating How Our Community Needs Are Served
- 2.
- Linking Community, Core Democratic Values and Public Policy Issues
- 3.
- Becoming a United Way or Member Agency Director
- 4.
- Who Cares About Needs in the Community?
- 5.
- Answering the Question of Serving Community Needs
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) introducing nonprofits as a viable job opportunity.