To help students understand that not all organizations spend their philanthropic dollars wisely and to teach them effective ways to assess the different approaches. 

To introduce students to examples of the major types of nonprofit organization: arts, education, environment, health, religion, and social services.  Each site is representative of a nonprofit category and the visit is to give students an example of opportunities for giving.

To understand the workings of a large foundation that distributes major capital gifts and programmatic gifts like scholarships for higher education.

To introduce students to grantmaking and the work of community foundations. 

To introduce students to volunteering through a local nonprofit or the service program at their school so that they understand the importance of giving their time to make a difference in the greater community.

To continue the study of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s influence on American culture. 

To introduce students to a significant community donor and to learn about various motives for giving, a vision for philanthropy, and why and how young people should learn philanthropy. 

To introduce students to Andrew Carnegie as one of the outstanding early philanthropists of the United States.    

To identify the intersection between students’ passions, community needs and the effectiveness of organizations selected. 

To create student awareness about philanthropy in daily life throughout the world using a variety of topics and sources.