Student-Driven Change: Strategic Philanthropy Course Awards $31,750 to Local Organizations
The Strategic Philanthropy course at the University of Arkansas, a collaborative effort between the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and Sam M. Walton College of Business, has again empowered students to become informed philanthropists.
The course concluded its second semester with a giving ceremony, awarding nearly $32,000 to several nonprofit organizations in Northwest Arkansas.
The Northwest Arkansas Land Trust received the primary gift of $30,000. This organization works to preserve the natural resources and beauty of the region by protecting local land, water, and wildlife.
Additional gifts of $250 each were given to other local charities, including the Peace at Home Family Shelter, Hub of Hope, Magdalene Serenity House, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund, the Children’s Safety Center, the M & N Augustine Foundation, and the Compassion Ministries LTD Compassion House.
The student-driven course promotes hands-on philanthropic giving. Each semester, students evaluate 20 charities based on their impact and mission to decide how to allocate class funds.
Rogelio Garcia Contreras, one of the course creators, emphasizes the importance of student-led decision-making.
“Essentially, there is no judgment, evaluation, or strategy presented to them,” Contreras said. “[The organizations] become case studies for the class, for our students, to conduct these assessments.”
“We are intentional about the idea of giving students full agency on all the decisions that are made around the money that the class can distribute and how that money is distributed,” he added.
The giving ceremony took place on Dec. 10, in Gearhart Hall. Attendees included:
- Charles Robinson, chancellor
- Julie Olsen, senior director of the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations
- Mark Power, assistant dean for philanthropy
- Alan Ellstrand, associate dean at Walton College
- Gary Peters, senior associate dean at Walton College
- Representatives from the Land Trust
- Participating students
Students shared remarks about their experiences during the ceremony, highlighting how the course developed their understanding of impactful philanthropic practice.
“The strategic philanthropy course that I took last semester was one of the greatest learning opportunities I have ever engaged in, and it reaffirmed my commitment to pursuing public service in my career,” said Victoria Hudson, a Strategic Philanthropy student. “It was amazing to learn as hands-on as the class allowed and to make decisions that had incredible weight and real-world impact tied to them. It’s not often as a student that I am entrusted with such meaningful decisions.”
“I am so thankful for my involvement in this class and the continued opportunities I am pursuing within the Philanthropy Lab,” she added.
Classmate Mabrie Baldwin agreed, and said the class is “one I would recommend to every student, regardless of their major. It is thoughtful, impactful, and one of the best courses I have ever had the privilege of taking.”
“We were taught how to live every day as a true philanthropist capable of positive change within our community and the world,” she added.
Contreras, a Walton College professor, and Daniel Levine, professor of world languages, literatures, and cultures and Fulbright College Honors Council member, created this course in the fall of 2023 in collaboration with the Philanthropy Lab. This partnership encourages students of all majors to participate in this unique educational opportunity and understand the importance of collaboration and informed decision-making.
“The professors were an important factor in my learning and enjoyment of the course, as they are both such educated individuals with a clear passion for helping students,” Hudson said.
For more information or to sign up for future iterations of the Strategic Philanthropy course at the U of A, contact professors Daniel Levine at dlevine@uark.edu and Rogelio Garcia Contreras at rogeliog@uark.edu.
To contribute funds or participate in the philanthropic aspect of the course, contact Becca Bradley at beccas@uark.edu or Mark Power at mepower@uark.edu.