This article explores how student philanthropy course activities influence student understanding of philanthropy and the likelihood of engaging in civic activities. Data came from 1,628 students participating in the Pay It Forward student philanthropy initiative. Multivariate regression analyses reveal that having direct contact with nonprofits, doing research into an issue area, assisting in writing grant proposals on behalf of organizations, serving as group leader or co-leader, and investing a large percentage of class time in the philanthropy project are activities that most strongly predict student confidence in philanthropic skills, abilities, and knowledge. We also find that a high level of engagement (i.e., making important decisions, developing ideas, having responsibilities) is more significant than any single course activity in predicting student confidence and shifting philanthropic, volunteer, and work plans. Finally, we find that student philanthropy course activities have less of an effect on students who have previously participated in philanthropic activities.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AhmedS.OlberdingJ. C. (2007–2008). Can student philanthropy help to address the current nonprofit identity crisis? A case study of a multiyear, multidisciplinary project at Northern Kentucky University. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 13 (3–4), 593–615.
2.
AshcraftR. F. (2002). Philanthropic studies curricula in higher education.New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising, 36, 101–118.
3.
AstinA. W.SaxL. J. (1998). How undergraduates are affected by service participation.Journal of College Student Development, 39(3), 251–263.
4.
BilligS. H. (2007). Unpacking what works in service-learning: Promising research-based practices to improve student outcomes. In Growing to Greatness 2007 (pp. 18–28). St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
5.
BilligS. H. (2009). Does quality really matter? Testing the new K–12 service-learning standards for quality practice. In MoelyB. E.BilligS. H.HollandB. A., Creating our identities in service-learning and community engagement (pp. 131–157). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
6.
BilligS. H.RootS.JesseD. (2005a). The impact of participation in service-learning on high school students’ civic engagement (CIRCLE Working Paper 33). College Park, MD: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.
7.
BilligS. H.RootS.JesseD. (2005b). The relationship between the quality indicators of service-learning and student outcomes: Testing professional wisdom. In RootS.CallahanJ.BilligS. H., Improving service-learning practice: Research on models to enhance impacts (pp. 97–115). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.
8.
BjorhovdeP. O. (2002). Teaching philanthropy to children: Why, how, and what.New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising, 36, 7–20.
9.
BrophyJ. (2004). Motivating students to learn (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
10.
CampbellD. A. (2014). Practicing philanthropy in higher education: Cultivating engaged citizens and nonprofit sector professionals.Journal of Public Affairs Education, 20(2), 217–231.
11.
CelioC. I.DurlakJ.DymnickiA. (2011). A meta-analysis of the impact of service learning on students.Journal of Experiential Education, 34(2), 164–181.
12.
Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). (2013). The youth vote in 2012. Retrieved from http://www.civicyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CIRCLE_2013FS_outhVoting2012FINAL.pdf.
13.
CohenJ.KinseyD. F. (1994). Doing good and scholarship: A service-learning study.Journalism Educator, 48(4), 4–14.
14.
ColbyA.BeaumontE.EhrlichT.CorngoldJ. (2007). Educating for democracy: Preparing undergraduates for responsible political engagement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
15.
ConradD.HedinD. (1991). School-based community service: What we know from research and theory.Phi Delta Kappan, 72(10), 743–749.
16.
CorneliusM.CovingtonP.RuesgaA. (2008). Ready to lead? Next generation leaders speak out. Washington, DC: CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Meyer Foundation, and Idealist.org.
17.
DalozL. (1998). Can generosity be taught? (Essays on Philanthropy, no. 29). Indianapolis: Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.
18.
DickieL.DowdenS.TorresJ. (2004). Successful service learning: A matter of ideology.Journal of Public Affairs Education, 10(3), 199–208.
19.
EisenbergN.FabesR. A.SpinradT. L. (2006). Prosocial behavior. In EisenbergN.DamonW.LernerR. M., Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 3, Social, emotional, and personality development (6th ed., pp. 646–718). New York, NY: Wiley.
20.
FalkK. (2002). Teaching the next generation about philanthropy: A case study of the AFP New Jersey chapter’s Youth in Philanthropy Program.New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising, 36, 55–72.
21.
Foster-BeyJ. (2008). Do race, ethnicity, citizenship and socio-economic status determine civic engagement? (CIRCLE Working Paper 62). Medford, MA: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP62_Foster.Bey.pdf.
22.
FurcoA. (1996). Service-learning: A balanced approach to experiential education. In Expanding Boundaries: Serving and Learning (pp. 2–6). Washington, DC: Corporation for National Service.
23.
HatcherJ. A.StuderM. L. (2014). Service-learning and philanthropy: Implications for course design.Theory into Practice, 54(1), 11–19.
24.
HymanJ. B.LevineP. (2008). Civic engagement and the disadvantaged: Challenges, opportunities, and recommendations (CIRCLE Working Paper 63). Medford, MA: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP63_Hyman_Levine.pdf
25.
IrvinR. A. (2005). The student philanthropists: Fostering civic engagement through grant making.Journal of Public Affairs Education, 11(4), 325–336.
26.
McDonaldD.OlberdingJ. C. (2011). Learning by giving: A quasi-experimental study of student philanthropy in criminal justice education.Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 23(3), 307–335.
27.
MillisorJ.OlberdingJ. C. (2009). Student philanthropy in colleges and universities.Academic Exchange Quarterly, 13(4), 11–16.
28.
MobleyC. (2007). Breaking ground: Engaging undergraduates in social change through service learning.Teaching Sociology, 35, 125–137.
29.
MorganW.StrebM. (2001). Building citizenship: How student voice in service-learning develops civic values.Social Science Quarterly, 82, 154–169.
30.
National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement. (2012). A Crucible Moment: College Learning and Democracy’s Future. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
31.
OlberdingJ. C. (2009). “Indirect giving” to nonprofit organizations: An emerging model of student philanthropy.Journal of Public Affairs Education, 15(4), 463–492.
32.
OlberdingJ. C. (2012). Does student philanthropy work? A study of long-term effects of the “learning by giving” approach.Innovative Higher Education, 37, 71–87.
33.
OlberdingJ. C.NeikirkM.NgD. (2010). Student philanthropy: Plant it, Nurture It, Harvest It; A handbook for college and university faculty. Highland Heights, KY: Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement at Northern Kentucky University.
34.
PaytonR. L.MoodyM. P. (2008). Understanding philanthropy: Its meaning and missionBloomington: Indiana University Press.
35.
PerryJ. L. (2005). Recovering the civic in public affairs education.Journal of Public Affairs Education, 11(4), 265–268.
36.
PutnamR. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York, NY: Touchstone.
37.
ReinkeS. (2003). Making a difference: Does service-learning promote civic engagement in MPA students?Journal of Public Affairs Education, 9(2), 129–138.
38.
RooneyP. M.SteinbergK.SchervishP. G. (2004). Methodology is destiny: The effect of survey prompts on reported levels of giving and volunteering.Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 33(4), 628–654.
39.
RootS.BilligS. H. (2008). Service-learning as a promising approach to high school civic engagement. In BixbyJ.PaceJ., Educating democratic citizens in troubled times: Qualitative studies of current efforts. Albany: State University of New York Press.
40.
SaratovskyK. D.FeldmannD. (2013). Cause for change: The how and why of nonprofit millennial engagement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
41.
SpringK.DietzN.GrimmR. (2006). Youth helping America: Service-learning, school-based service and youth civic engagement. Washington, DC: Corporation for National & Community Service.
42.
TiceK. (2002). Engaging youth in philanthropy.New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising, 38, 408.
43.
TomkovickC.LesterS. W.FlunkerL.WellsT. (2008). Linking collegiate service learning to future volunteerism: Implications for nonprofit organizations.Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 19(1), 3–24.
44.
Van PeltK.WickR.AbramsM. (2011, May 23). Cultivating the next generation of philanthropic leadership. Views from the Field (Grantmakers in Health).
45.
WishN. B.MirabellaR. M. (1998). Curricular variations in nonprofit management graduate programs.Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 9(1), 99–110.
