Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

 

Objectives:

• To give participants a more in-depth look into the philanthropic actions in their community
• To provide participants an opportunity to meet the people in the community who have taken philanthropic action
• To begin to understand the role of a philanthropist in serving the common good of the community

Activity:

“Charity is a virtue of the heart and not of the hand.”

~ American Proverb

The facilitator explains that some very important people to the organization and/or community will be meeting with the participants. These are the people who have put into action, the values and beliefs the participants have been discussing. They represent the private/ corporate sector, the nonprofit sector, the public sector of the community. They practice their philanthropic actions both individually and as a part of the work world.

Activity:

PRIOR TO THE TRAINING SESSION:
The facilitator needs to discuss composite of the major donors with the Executive Director of the agency/organization. Donors should represent the dollars contributed through corporations, grants, giving campaigns such as the United Way, individual donors, and volunteers. The facilitator should call representatives from each of these sectors and invite them to be part of a philanthropic action panel for program participants. The facilitator may need to visit each person and provide information about the organization and the training the young people are experiencing.

ON THE DAY OF THE TRAINING:
The facilitator explains to the participants that they have been learning about philanthropic actions. “Today, you’re going to meet some of these action takers and hear what they do; why they do it; and why it is important to give something back to the community. You will have an opportunity to ask each panelist questions. The important learning for today is that many groups or sectors in our community are providing philanthropic actions for the good of the community. Our definition of philanthropic action is action taken which involves the use of one’s time, talent, and treasure for the common good of the community.”

PANEL PRESENTATION:
Each panelist should respond to the following questions:

1. What have you given to the organization in philanthropic actions (time, talent, and treasure)?
2. Why do you (or your corporation, foundation, United Way) feel it is important to perform these philanthropic actions?
3. Why have you (or your corporation, foundation, United Way) selected our organization to receive some of your generosity?
4. What steps must an organization complete to receive support from you?

When the panelists have completed their presentations, the participants have an opportunity to ask questions about these philanthropic actions. Other types of questions to add are:

• Questions that get to the emotional side/personal impact of their job
• Random questions (funny questions)
• Show that these adults are “normal” just like the youth

 

Processing:

After the panelists have gone, the facilitator should ask the participants to reflect on the information they received.

1. What did you learn that was new to you”
2. Were you surprised to learn about all the different philanthropic actions that can happen in a community on behalf of an organization?
3. Do you have a better understanding of how philanthropic actions make our country unique from all the rest?
4. What is your role in school, organizations, and career to keep these philanthropic actions going? (Remind the young people it is not “the money” which makes a philanthropist but the gift of time, talent and whatever treasure is available at different times in your life.)

VARIATION
To make this session more interactive, consider dividing the group into teams with one team for each visiting philanthropist. Instead of a panel setup, have the teams work with their philanthropist to create presentations that answer the questions listed above. The visiting philanthropist and their team should use visual aids (flipchart and markers, etc.) to make their presentations. Ensure that every member of the team plays a role in the presentation. If choosing this option, make sure your “panelists” are prepared to roll up their sleeves and work with the youth. They may need some briefing on youth/adult partnerships or just a heads up that this will be a fun, energetic session.

VARIATION II
Have the students pretend to be interviewing these panelists for a job — the job of being a community philanthropist. Questions could be phrased so that the panelists emphasize the uniqueness of their organizations, their organizations’ accomplishments, and their motivations. The facilitator should make sure the environment doesn’t become competitive but highlights the roles and reasoning of the panelists.

Options:

If the participants enjoyed this presentation, the facilitator might consider:

• Taking them to the community foundation to hear about the full extent of the work it does for the community
• Meet with the Allocations Committee or Chair of the United Way and find out how they determine the funds given to each organization
• Ask the individual donor to return to the group for a roundtable discussion with the youth about his/her role as a philanthropist
• Ask the Executive Director of the organization to come to a meeting to talk about the donors to the organization and how these donations have made the organization better for the youth. Perhaps some of the donations might have paid for the training in which they are participating.