Indirect Giving to Nonprofit Organizations: An Emerging Model of Student Philanthropy

Abstract

Student philanthropy is an experiential learning approach that provides students with the opportunity to study social problems and nonprofit organizations, and then make decisions about investing funds in them. The limited literature on student philanthropy has focused on the original model, called “direct giving,” which provides students with funds to make small grants to nonprofit organizations. But the literature has not addressed an emerging model, called “indirect giving,” which partners a class with a corporation or foundation, and has students evaluate “real” grant proposals and make funding recommendations. This article examines the impact of an indirect-giving program on MPA students at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). A majority of students indicated that the program helped them to become more aware of social problems (64.8%) and nonprofit organizations (77.8%), learn the curriculum (75.7%), apply the course principles (75.7%), and gain academic skills or knowledge (62.1%). The article also discusses some “lessons learned” about the indirect-giving model of student philanthropy.

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Notes on contributors

Julie Cencula Olberding

Julie Cencula Olberding is an assistant professor in the MPA program and Nonprofit Management certificate program at Northern Kentucky University. She teaches Foundations of Public Administration, Resource Acquisition and Management, Volunteer Management, and other courses. In addition to student philanthropy, her research has focused on collaboration among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector for economic development. Her research has been published in the Journal of Public Affairs Education, Public Administration Review, the International Journal of Public Administration and Economic Development Quarterly. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Julie Cencula Olberding, MPA, Ph.D., Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, Northern Kentucky University, 424E Founders Hall, Highland Heights, KY 41099.