INDIANAPOLIS - College students from across the nation and abroad are in Indianapolis getting involved in the city's nonprofit sector as part of the fifth annual summer Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
The 34 undergraduate students are serving the central Indiana community through internships and community service projects while also taking classes on the history and ethics of philanthropic activity at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The Institute runs through July 18.
The summer Institute, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation for college undergraduates, is co-sponsored by the Center on Philanthropy and the Fund for American Studies' David R. Jones Center for Leadership in Philanthropy, which was founded in 1998 to prepare young people for leadership roles in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
"These exceptional students have come to Indianapolis to get hands-on experience in the world of philanthropy and we are grateful for the support provided by Indianapolis area nonprofits in this endeavor," said Eugene R. Tempel, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy. "We hope these students will take back to their colleges and universities and their hometowns the practical experiences that could provide solid foundations for careers in the nonprofit sector."
Students in this year's Institute have formed the Philanthropic Student Organization (PSO). They have created a mission statement for the PSO and are looking for community service opportunities in Indianapolis to meet the group's mission. They also are conducting fundraising and have formed a grant committee that will use the funds to award a small contribution to a community organization.
"The summer Institute gives students a wonderful opportunity to deepen their knowledge and practice of philanthropy at the same time," said Dr. Kevin Robbins, director of the summer Institute and associate professor of history and philanthropic studies at IUPUI. "Their engagement in local community service and their intensive study of the history and ethics of philanthropy within the context of western civilization will help them become more informed and effective managers and volunteers within philanthropic organizations of all kinds."
The students, who are living on the IUPUI campus, the Center's home, are taking two academic classes, " Traditions of Philanthropy in the Atlantic World: The Role of Philanthropy in American Life," and "The Ethics and Values of Philanthropy," exploring historical, economic, philosophical, and public policy influences in philanthropy.
They are gaining practical experience at leading Indianapolis nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, such as the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; Indianapolis Parks Foundation; Indianapolis Museum of Art; the Julian Center, a shelter for abused women; and the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance.
The students, who are earning six academic credit hours from Indiana University, also are participating in field trips to witness the effects of philanthropic activity in American communities, including a visit to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Michigan.
Extracurricular events for the Institute also include an evening speakers' series in which students benefit from roundtable discussions with local and national leaders in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. The role of free markets and private capital accumulation in stimulating American philanthropy is consistently emphasized.
Most participants are entering their junior or senior year. They were selected based on academic records and involvement in tutoring, mentoring, and other service programs with their campuses and communities. Colleges and universities of all sizes and geographic areas are represented, including Yale University, University of Oklahoma, Rutgers University, Denison University, California State University-Fullerton, and Wabash College.
The Center on Philanthropy is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy, fundraising and management of nonprofit organizations through teaching, research and public affairs.
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