Completing its 22nd year, Northern Kentucky University’s initiative to add philanthropy to college classrooms has just invested nearly $30,000 in nonprofits locally and internationally. Students announced the awards this week at the spring celebration of NKU’s Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project.
Students in 15 classes representing 12 different academic disciplines awarded the
funding to 14 nonprofits as part of the project. For a “Mayerson class,” students
research community needs, learn about nonprofits addressing those needs, and then
decide as a class where to invest. Since its inception in the Fall 2000 semester, the
program has invested over $1 million in more than 400 nonprofits.
“The student philanthropy program at NKU is a shining example of how the classroom
blends academics with real world problems helping students prepare for careers while
becoming better citizens of the world and stewards of their own communities,” said
Donna Mayerson of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation in Cincinnati,
which helps fund NKU’s program. “This semester, students donated much needed
funding to nonprofits in their backyards as well across the world. It is incredibly inspiring
to see their passion and commitment.”
The needs of immigrants and refugees emerged as a priority for several classes, with
$11,697 invested in nonprofits serving those populations.
“The funding decisions in this project are student-driven. They decide. Our funders give
us the resources to operate these classes and then trust the students to invest wisely.
And they do,” said Mark Neikirk, executive director of NKU’s Scripps Howard Center for
Civic Engagement, which oversees the student philanthropy project. “Each semester,
different needs arise as more pressing, and students gravitate to those. This year,
refugee and immigrant needs hit students’ radar, as did LGBTQA+ needs. Alongside
those, safety-net services – food and shelter in particular – remain a priority to our
student investors.”
In addition to the Mayerson Foundation, funders this semester included ArtsWave, the
Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Horizon Community
Funds, the Learning by Giving Foundation, and the Scripps Howard Foundation.
Generally, each class awards $2,000 although the amount varies somewhat. Students
in Social Work Practice: Community Organization (SWK 405), supplemented their initial
support with a social media campaign and raised a total of $4,697 for RefugeeConnect
of Cincinnati.
The intention of the Mayerson Project is to align the giving component with the learning
outcomes of each class. So, for example, a communications class studying persuasion
listens intently as nonprofits make a pitch for funding, noticing which ones are best at
persuasion. Later in the semester, students must persuade each other where to invest.
A class this semester studying German immigration, discussed both German
immigration to the United States as well as immigration to Germany, with a particular
focus on the refugee crisis — including of Ukrainian refugees coming to Germany.
“Refugees continue to face particular challenges and the three student groups focused
on minorities such as the LGBTQ+ refugee population, refugee women, and the
physical and mental health of refugees,” said Dr. Andrea Fieler, who taught the class,
GER 480. “The Vereine (German for nonprofits) were all located in Germany, which
gave students the unique experience to interact with native speakers on a project level.
Being able to offer hands-on experiences to students in their target language is an
invaluable contribution to the development of their cultural and language proficiencies.”
Dr. Kajsa Larson, who is the faculty coordinator for NKU’s program, said the benefits of
adding philanthropy component to classes is twofold: It enhances learning outcomes
while also teaching stewardship.
“Our Mayerson students leave class with a greater understanding of community needs
and how to address them, and with a greater personal commitment to contribute,” Dr.
Larson said.
