Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Note: Prior to doing this activity, participants should have completed a personal mission statement. See activity: My True North.

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

• Giving, serving and private citizen action intended for the common good.

Purpose:

• Participants will recognize that each individual has or can develop a personal mission that when applied can enhance and guide his/her participation in voluntary activities to make it a richer and more meaningful experience.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• examine the mission of their faith based organization
• look closely at the mission of several other non-profit organizations.
• determine which organization’s missions most closely match their personal/faith based mission.
  

Religious Activity Theme:

Talmud Shabbat 133b
Just as he (G-d) is gracious, so shall you be gracious. Just as He is merciful, so shall you be merciful.

Matthew 28:19-20 (The Message)
Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Activity Steps:

• Facilitator explains, “Now that we have begun to discover what our own personal missions are or the areas we care about, in terms of volunteering and service, let’s look at the mission of our faith organization as well as other organizations in which we might want to volunteer.”
• Post around the room the mission of your faith based organization and mission statements from a variety of local, national and international non-profit organizations present in the community. Sample statements are available at the end of this activity or access non-profit mission statements at www.guidestar.org.
• First, examine the mission of your faith-based organization. This can be done as an informal sharing, or by inviting a representative(s) to present on the mission. Discuss the mission.
• Ask participants to walk around the room, reading and reflecting on the organizations’ Mission Statements.
• After the organization’s Mission Statements are read, participants are asked to reread their Personal/Faith based Mission Statements, looking for one or two non-profit statements that closely match that of their own/ faith based statement.
• Participants decide, based on a mission match, if they might want to volunteer in that organization. If so, they sign name, address, and phone number on the bottom of the organizations posted mission.
• When all participants have found at least one organization match, ask them to share why they chose this organization and how it fits with their personal mission. What other groups or organizations might exist in the community that might match the personal mission?

Processing Questions:

1. What did you learn from this activity?
2. Do you agree with our faith communities mission statement? Why or why not?
3. How does our faith communities mission statement align with your personal mission?
4. Do you feel that we as a faith community are fulfilling our mission?
5. What are some ways to get involved in our faith community to help accomplish our mission?
   

Variation:

Have all the participants who signed on the same posted mission statement meet to discuss their mutual interest and create a plan for volunteering or supporting, through a fund drive, that chosen organization.

Supplemental Activity:

The facilitator might invite several non-profit directors to make a presentation to the group about their organizations: their history, mission, and need for volunteers.

Activity Source:

Community Partnerships with Youth Inc
Youth as Philanthropist

Additional Resources:

Foundations Solving Social Issues
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) “The Biggest Common Problem of All? What is It?”
Unit “The New Philanthropy? A Hands-on Way of Giving”
Lesson Five:

Local Organizations
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 3-5) “Nonprofits in Our Community”
Unit “Nonprofits are Necessary”

Utilizing Guidestar.org
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “What Does a Philanthropic Organization Do?”
Unit “Philanthropy, You, and Your World”

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

 

Sample Mission Statements

American Youth Hostels’ mission is to help all, but especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people. AYH promotes global understanding by offering year-round accommodations and a full range of educational and recreational programs for travelers of all ages, income groups and nationalities.

Boys and Girls Clubs is a youth serving organization dedicated to enhancing and assisting young people in realizing and developing the essential skills for living through the promotion of health, social educational, vocational, leadership and character development experiences.

Young Mothers Educational Development Program’s mission is to provide an environment in which pregnant teenage girls will develop positive attitudes and will be provided continuing education through accredited course work.

The mission of the Youth Services Bureau is to be an advocate for vulnerable and at-risk youth by providing needed services.

Opportunity Enterprises’ mission is to develop and effectively utilize agency and community resources to meet the needs and enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Church Federation’s mission is to act as a link between churches and public social agencies, enhance local churches’ effectiveness in responding to community social welfare needs, and to heighten congregational members’ awareness of social needs and concerns.

The Urban League’s mission is aimed at the elimination of racial discrimination, increasing the economic and political empowerment of Blacks and other minorities and, in short, helping them to enter the mainstream of American life.

The Information and Referral Network, Inc. connects people who need human services and those who provide them.

The Public Action in Correctional Effort, Inc. mission is to aid in the rehabilitation to society of offenders who are involved in the criminal justice system by providing programs of service: educating citizens of their responsibilities for criminal justice: and implementing change in the system which will provide safety for the public, is economical for the taxpayer and is administered humanely.

Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia, PA
The Mission of the school of Congregation Mishkan Shalom is to inspire in students commitment to avodah (prayer and spiritual growth), to Torah (study), and to tikkun olam and gemilut hasadim (repair of the world and of caring) through the learning and experience of Jewish texts, rituals, values, and history/civilization. The philosophy of the school , reflected in all aspects of its operation, is based on the founding

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Our mission is to inspire and professionally train men to enter the rabbinate, so as to lead the Jewish community and to shape its spiritual and intellectual character in consonance with modern and open Orthodox values and commitments.

Youth Works, Inc. mission is to improve the employment and career development opportunities of youth.

4-H mission is to assist youth and adults in their development by conducting hands-on educational programs, using the knowledge base of Purdue University, other land grant universities, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Girls, Inc. mission is to help girls and young women overcome the effects of discrimination and to develop their capacity to be self-sufficient, responsible citizens: and to serve as a vigorous advocate for girls, focusing attention on their special needs.

 

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy MS 1. Define philanthropy as individuals and organizations providing their time, talent, and/or treasures intended for the common good throughout history and around the world. Give examples.