I Don't Want It To End!

To try and put all of the knowledge, emotions, and action of this past term in the Students4Giving Class into one blog post is beyond my writing capacity. It was the best class I've taken so far in my academic pursuits! And it all led up to yesterday with the Awards Ceremony. It was the celebration of the gift we were given by the Learning By Giving Foundation and the Portland Community College Foundation- the ability to give to back to our community.  We were lucky enough to have some esteemed faculty members and former students speak during the ceremony and share their insights and inspirations with us. Thank you to: Maki Yoshinaga, a former student in the Students4Giving class; Phil Seder, the Dean of the Business Department; Lisa Avery, the President of the Sylvania Campus; and Ann Prater, the Executive Director of the PCC Foundation for joining us.
And the most exciting part and the reason for our hard work this term, handing out those big checks to three awesome organizations! Portland Homeless Family Solutions, Community Transitional School, and Right 2 Dream Too were the recipients this year of the Students4Giving grant. It was not an easy decision, because every organization that sent in a proposal was worthy of our grant money. I have a new-found respect for people that have to make these decisions everyday. It was a difficult balance between subjectively pulling heart-strings, objectively rating financial statements, and all the while sticking to our community needs focus.
 Our journey there was led by our knowledgeable and kind instructor, Cynthia Killingsworth. We learned how to analyze non-profit financial statements,  how to write a request for proposal,  how to create a grant evaluation rubric, and then most importantly, how to use all of this information to responsibly select a non-profit, or non-profits in our case,  that would have the best social return on our investment.
I want to thank my classmates who were insightful, professional, and helpful. I loved our discussions, and I learned heaps from you all! It gives me faith that we can be productive in alleviating suffering in our community.

Reflection

 Before entering this class I had very little knowledge about the inner workings of nonprofits, I only knew the end results. This class has changed all of that. I now know the hours of work that goes into running a nonprofit and the stress and frustration that can bring. I also know that it can be rewarding beyond belief.
  Seeing the passion that many of the presenters had was really inspiring. This is not just a job for them. They truly care for and believe in what they are doing.This class has further solidified my dream of working in a nonprofit for the rest of my life.
 Students4Giving is a truly unique experience.I enjoyed being able to read the grant proposals for every organization. I loved going on a site visit to see where our money would go. The fact that we were involved every step of the way was something you don't really get anywhere else.
 I have had an amazing time in this class. The people I met, as well as the experiences I had will really stick with me in the future. I am sort of sad that this is the last class. I will miss seeing everyone's faces every Tuesday and Thursday.

Reflections

This is one of those rare classes that I'm sad is coming to an end and wish I could take it over and over again.   The experience has been a humbling one, witnessing people of various backgrounds work together towards a common goal.  When someone spoke in this class, they were heard and respected, every time. Not one person, no matter how passionate, ever attempted to force their agenda on anyone else. It always felt like a safe and comfortable space to speak and listen.  We had some difficult decisions to make, and we did it together with open ears and hearts.  It was an honor to work with these folks.
I've been inspired by this class to more aggressively pursue making meaningful social change. Volunteer work has been important to me for a long time but this course has readied me to work in more challenging environments where I can make the most direct impact. This class taught me that I can be an important part of the community and that philanthropy is more about heart than money.
I had the opportunity to visit Right to Dream Too with two of my amazing classmates and that is an experience that will move me for years to come
This class renewed my hope, taught me practical skills, and has inspired me to inspire others. I would recommend this course to anyone with the slightest desire to make a positive impact on their community.

We’ve finally arrived at the final week of classes. This 10 week term has really flown by, looking back I’m amazed at everything the Students4Giving were able to accomplish. When I first heard that non-profits and philanthropy was offered as a class once a year I was immediately interested. The experience was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I was interested in taking the class not because of altruistic desire or an interest in the non-profit community, I was interested because I thought it would give me an opportunity to see what my classmates and community valued and prioritized. Working so closely with other students and learning about what organizations and causes inspired and motivated them was the highlight of my term. I would have never thought such a diverse collection of students could have such an easy time working together and making hard decisions. While we had some lively discussions I was always impressed by our ability to reach conclusions and compromise and collaborate.

I wasn’t just surprised by my classmates and their beliefs and dedication, I was surprised by people’s response to the Students4Giving outside of class. Aside from visiting non-profit organizations in the community, explaining our objective and learning about their causes, the Students4Giving always intrigued members of my immediate community who learned about what we were trying to learn and accomplish. Throughout the term, I must have explained the class and curriculum over 100 times to other students, family, and co-workers. Usually when people ask what classes I’m taking or what I’m studying it’s just a pleasantry, but the response to Students4Giving was very different, everyone I told immediately became interested and engaged and I found myself explaining enthusiastically and offering updates to people in my community throughout the term. The response and support from the community at large was the most surprising aspect of this class for me.

Prior to this class I had volunteered but never really considered the critical impact and importance of non-profit work. Learning the scope of philanthropy, the volume of organizations and the importance and necessity of the services provided made me think twice about my long-term career goals. I’ve been inspired not only to volunteer more but to be more deliberate in the way I volunteer, there’s an opportunity to contribute value and learn skills volunteering that I had never previously considered. I’m also seriously considering the possibility of a career in non-profit work or starting an organization myself someday; six months ago, I would have never considered this an option, the whole process of starting-up and the regulation governing non-profits seemed too daunting.

I learned a lot over the last three months. Most importantly I learned the power of community. I also learned a little something about myself. For me, true happiness is giving back to others.

Class Reflection~

A friend recommended this course to me because she knew I had recently started a nonprofit. From the very first class I realized that I was in store for a new kind of educational experience.  I was surprised to find out that the classes would be primarily student-led and I wondered how much we could learn from this. To my delight, I found that we would acquire so much. We learned about nonprofits and how they are run, but most importantly we learned how to work together in a student community to accomplish something great.

These classroom interactions were a highlight for me. We had some very tough conversations about what should be prioritized and whose experiences mattered most. As if you can really make those kinds of decisions for anyone. But, we were required to make those decisions and we ultimately did.  During those discussions, we learned a lot about each other and I know that I learned much about myself.

I will remember most that we had the privilege of granting $10,000. And as many friends and family asked me “ten thousand real dollars?” I was able to proudly answer, “yes, ten thousand real dollars” It has been an honor to be trusted with making these important decisions and that feeling will be a part of me for the rest of my life.

Now I get to use the new tools that I acquired from this course along with what I learned from working with others and being introspective of myself, in my own nonprofit work.  I feel like my classmates really supported and challenged me to be better and I hope to take that with me and accomplish great things in the nonprofit community.

My reflection

In PCC, the Students4Giving program has been one of the most remarkable experiences that I've ever had in a class. Therefore, the most highlighted moment of the class was when we had the option to go to site visits. I went to Candlelighters, an nonprofit organization that helps out families with children that have cancer. It was a heartwarming visit to Candle Lighters because the motivation and heart behind them really showed me that they would do anything in their will to help others out. Basically, after have visiting them and hearing stories of other classmates experiences in site visits, I've learned that a majority of nonprofit organizations actually do care about the cause and that anything helps.

Significantly, the moment during this class that mattered the most to me was the engagement and thought my classmates put towards on which organization deserves the most help from us. Evidently, we would even take about a whole class period, which was an hour and fifty minutes to go through every little flaw or interest that we had towards organizations that we thought were worthy enough for our help. Those long discussions were awesome, mainly because everyone's points were heard and that there weren't any disputes.

Futuristically, In the world on nonprofits and philanthropy, I would put my time in and help out the community by volunteering in non profit organizations. The reason towards that approach is that I wanna feel more involved and apart of the cause. Furthermore, which brings me into another of my reasons on  why volunteering for nonprofits and philanthropy is a great idea. And, it's that organizations nowadays have so little staff that they help way less people and by volunteering more, we all know it could help anyone out a ton.
Strangely enough, the only thing I would probably remember in the next five years from this amazing class is how much fun we had and how much nonprofits and philanthropies really do help out the community.

Students4Giving

Students4Giving

Introduction to NonProfit and Philanthropy is different from what I though. I thought this class would be as a lecture class, but it doesn’t. This class is amazing. It brings me to see the world in another side. I have no experience about nonprofit or volunteer. I have learn from this class that I can make this world more beautiful by giving. There are many people around the world are looking for helps and opportunities to improve their lives. Even though what I can do might be a little, it is better than do nothing. It also make me feel good when I give.

I love the moment when classmates were discussion in the classroom. I can feel the passion that everyone think about others and try to help them. That makes me to look back myself. What I am doing. How I can help. Their passion surprised me.     

Fix Out by Coldplay is my theme song for this experience. It is a nice song and meaningful. I am sure I interpret in right, but I believe it means that when your life is failure, tries to move on. If you never tries to move on with it, you'll never know what she's worth, and I( Students4Giving) will help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXq-14lV79s

After taking this class, I realize that If I can helps, helps. I have home, family, friends, and money. I have everything while someone has nothing even family or place to sleep. Look back what are you doing. Trust me you will feel good about yourself when you GIVE...:)

Nattawan P.

10th Anniversary - Reflections & Growth

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What will I remember most about this class in 2022  --

My classmates exemplified heart & soul during the class discussions about what social issue to address and which nonprofit organizations should be funded and why. They divulged their struggles with poverty, lack of meals, growing up on food stamps, being homeless, mounting bills, and surviving abuse. They stood their ground to dispel common notions – more like damning with faint praise – that are merely ingrained stereotypes about the homeless eschewing job opportunities, incapable of working, and preferring to live on the streets as being carefree. They enlightened us about why the homeless must retain their pets and about how survival depends more on keeping families together than having a bed for the night.

My classmates walk their talk – they pay it forward by volunteering, advocating for the poor, and fashioning a college education and career that dovetails with their passion for social justice and their dream – actually expectations - for a better world. During heated discussions, a handful of classmates – males and females -- would become teary. I witnessed raw pain, still ever glaring many years later. I was touched that they spoke frankly about their childhood. This poignancy and their grace will live with me. I am honoured.

What did I learn from this experience?

On first blush, I learned the nuts & bolts of being a funder or grantmaker, even though we weren’t awarding large grants. I appreciated more what my grant writing professors taught me and what professional grant writers struggle with – engender the grant application to come to life, yet be succinct, don’t bore the reader, and instigate curiosity about their clients so that they would be tapped for funding. That’s the clinical, analytical and rational sides of me when learning about and working in the sphere of nonprofits.

The gritty aspects of grants encompass separating the wheat from the chaff. I clashed with classmates, drilled down on financial reports, peeled away expenses listed in budgets, and posed cutting queries of applicants. Obtaining and confirming factoids, numbers, and details contained in grant applications that I’ve assisted with crafting did annoy me at times. However, in this class, I embraced those inputs, outputs, and outcomes, both the small and large figures.

A few lessons were felt in my gut. Denying a worthy applicant. Turning down help for children with cancer. Sorrow for those grant writers who toiled for nothing to show for. My gut churned at times because I’ve been that person who was rejected and who felt dejected. On a cheerier note, I was most impressed about the nonprofit applicants and their programs, successes, and growth. It was auspicious that so many people in Oregon volunteer, work with nonprofits, and/or donate. One in three Oregonians volunteer.

  

What did I accomplish?

I am but a cog in a wheel.

This class accomplished something intangible – granting the ability for children to anticipate frivolity and stability while at Community Transitional School. With expenses for a van covered for the summer of 2017, they can stay in school, partake in a carefree season of activities, and remain with their friends, parents, and teachers.

To anticipate fun means the world to homeless children.

Too often, children without homes become friends with hunger, chilled nights, weird smells, intrusive strangers, scratchy blankets and interrupted slumber. They cannot afford to anticipate. To do so would mean that they carry hope, which is the kernel to budding daydreams, entertaining future plans, and sparking confidence to feel secure about themselves and about their world.

Having transportation may seem so pedestrian of an accomplishment. Funding a van isn’t flashy nor makes a splash in brochures or on a website. But to allow a child to anticipate a summer of fun is most precious. We honour the sacredness of a child’s heart and whim.

What surprised me the most?

Several things surprised me. First, how much passion my younger colleagues showed every week during class, for the applicants, for the homeless, and for our selections. I realized that I was holding onto stereotypes of young students (teens and early 20s) of being indifferent, or worse, too self-absorbed. Not true.

Another surprise was the harsh reaction of one of the finalists. The executive director lashed out in an e-mail and voice message to our instructor upon learning about being denied a grant. This executive director apparently believed that being a finalist meant that the nonprofit organization was already selected, with the amount of the grant as the only unanswered question. Portland is a small world, and the sphere of nonprofits in Oregon is even smaller. Many of us were stunned by such unprofessionalism.

Lastly, what surprised me the most was the depth of services for homeless families. The number of housing units in the Portland metropolis was much larger, and some key organizations provide a plethora of wraparound services, a variety of education/courses for clients & their children, and maintain rental homes in nicer neighborhoods. By nestling homes in better school districts and near mass transit, their clients will have greater success to remain in their homes and with their families. It’s not just about putting a roof over their heads.

I hope that other students, especially on the community college level, will be able to take this Students For Giving course, as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary. I graduated from a major university with a science degree and am blessed to have taken courses at this thriving community college. Portland Community College is the only community college among 40+ universities to participate in this innovative and moving course sponsored by the Learning by Giving Program. I am deeply grateful for this support and selection of our community college among major universities and highly lauded colleges nationwide.

My experience

Last fall when I spoke with my academic advisor to do my forecasting for my time at PCC she told me about Students4Giving. From the moment I heard about it I knew I needed to take this class, and couldn’t wait until spring term which is when it is offered. I was so worried it would fill before I was able to register for it. Luckily, I was able to get in and what an experience this has been. I knew it would be impactful but didn’t really know what to expect or exactly how powerful it would be.

I have spent the majority of my adult life volunteering in some way for over 16 different philanthropies. I have served on boards and ran committees as a chairperson. My desire has always been to start a non-profit. This is why I have returned to further my education, and this class has just strengthened that desire and made me realize that my dream is within reach. I am working towards a degree in Community Development with a certificate in nonprofit business with a minor in Spanish. This class has given me the motivation to continue on this path.

As I said in my last blog, there are 14 students in this class. We each come with our own life experiences, motivations, and perspectives. Even though we are all so different, we have at least one thing in common and that is our passion. This came through very clearly with each decision we made, from selecting which nonprofits to ask to apply for the grant, to narrowing it down to the five who we would go on site visits to, and then the final decision of which of those we would fund. We knew it would not be an easy decision and it ended up being even more difficult than any of us anticipated. I believe we all walked away knowing our voice was heard and we stayed true to our convictions. Each of cast our vote in the way we believed would have the best impact on our community not just in the short term, but for years to come.

I have learned so much in this class. From the book we read, learning about RFP’s (Request for Proposal), how to start a nonprofit, reading 990’s, the guest speakers, site visits, and more. This class has been invaluable.

The song I connect this class to is Fight Song by Rachel Platten ;)

Students4Giving Reflection

Non-Profit and Philanthropy class was very special, it taught me the true meaning helping others and the power of collaborative work. During this class, we had the opportunity work together as a team in order to identify critical issues affecting our local community. During this process, we worked strategically and collaborate to come up with solutions while learning from local organizations that are currently addressing such issues. Lucky for me this class was filled with very smart individuals who share the same passion of social responsibility that make the process a whole lot more efficient.

Most important during this class I was able to understand what nonprofits are really all about. I learned about the immense amount of work that it's required to run a productive nonprofit. As i discovered In some cases, the leaders of organizations had to play many roles and take over many jobs in order to keep the organization alive.

We learned about financials and key roles of board members in an organization, we also had the great pleasure and opportunity to listen to some of the best people who currently server and run our local’s nonprofit. We learn where money comes from and how it gets disburse while addressing its core mission. We learned that organization allocation money is crucial. Because, not only does it show an organization commitments to its mission but the organization's ability to stay alive. In addition, we also learned about the consequences of poorly managing nonprofits money.

Overall, I am very lucky to have worked with likeminded people who seeks to encourage civic responsibility. In addition, Students4Giving has taught me that people "need a hand up and not a handout". I also learned about the many issues that come up as a result of inadequate housing. Finally, I am very satisfied by the amount of commitment and effort the team brought to the table. I will continue to seek out for opportunities where I can serve others.