Wells Fargo bank and Weyerhaeuser Company have $10,000 in grants ready for one or more Lane County nonprofit organizations.
But who receives the money is up to the 22 University students in the Freshman Seminar in American Philanthropy class.
The once-a-year course, now in its fourth year, is designed to teach students about philanthropy in the United States and to get them out of the classroom to establish ties in the community at the beginning of their studies.
Ultimately, the class will decide what nonprofit organization will receive the grant, and whether the $10,000 will be split between more than one local organization.
“It’s pretty cool because personally I don’t have that much money, but now I’m in charge of giving out $10,000,” Nick Luallin said.
This is the first year Weyerhaeuser has contributed to the project.
“When I saw the media coverage of the project last year, I called the professor and said, ‘We’d like to be a part of this,’” Weyerhaeuser spokesman Mike Moskovitz said. “This is a great learning experience for the students.”
A number of students in the class agreed that they want to limit the number of organizations to two because splitting the money more than two ways won’t make a profound impact on any organization.
Applications for the grant are due on Jan. 30.
“It won’t just be those that apply that will be considered,” University Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and class instructor Paul Elstone said. “Students will choose certain local groups that they want to be considered,” Elstone added. “Then they will go through a narrowing process where the students will get into groups, research different organizations and then persuade each other how certain organizations are unique and impact the community.”
Students are expecting many different opinions to surface during upcoming conversations.
“Of course, everyone is going to want their organization to be picked,” University student Rebecca McKinley said.
“I think it will be better that way because kids will do more research to make better presentations,” Luallin said.
When the class agrees on four finalists each organization will be assigned to a team of students. Each team will then visit the organization headquarters, meet the staff and see firsthand how it impacts the community. Group members will present their research to the class as a Powerpoint presentation. The final decision will be announced at the end of the term.
Moskovitz and a senior officer from Wells Fargo will give a short presentation to the class about the giving criteria and philosophy of the two companies.
“It’s more than us just giving them the money. We will take an active role in the entire process,” Moskovitz said.
To be eligible for a grant, an organization must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, have a program in operation in Lane County that a team can visit and fit within at least one of the donor companies’ charitable giving guidelines in Oregon.
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