Students Take Philanthropy 101

Social Venture Partners re-launched a program that focuses on providing students with hands-on education in fundraising, volunteering, and grant-making.
As part of the program, which was re-branded as Next Gen Partners, middle school and high school students, raised $4,000 in December, which they then distributed as grants.
The students went through the process of vetting, interviewing and visiting grant applications, and gained firsthand experience choosing recipients.
“The Next Gen Partners program has been a great way for me to learn about philanthropy and spend time with my dad,” said participant Josh Smith.  “I’ve learned so much more beyond volunteering my time, which I already do as a Boy Scout – I now get the economics of it.”
The two organizations that were awarded grants were the Arizona Education Foundation, which received $1,500 and AZ Strut, which received $2,000.
In addition to granting these funds, participating students are volunteering 25 hours with each organization, giving them the opportunity to gain even more experience in philanthropy.
“We feel it’s imperative to empower these young minds to think philanthropically and give them the tools to deploy this wealth in an intentional and impactful way,” said Terri Wogan Calderón, SVPAZ executive director. “We look forward to growing the program in the coming years and nurturing these students.”
Info: info@svpaz.org