Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

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Title: Philanthropy 101 (Grades 9-12): The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA

Type: Summer and After School Program

Duration: 34 Lessons

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Subject Correlation: Language Arts, Social Studies

Summary: This 34 lesson course is an intensive four week summer program at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. It can easily be adapted for use as a semester long course or individual lessons can be incorporated into an existing course.

Created By:

Sally Finch and Stan Moor

Contact:

Luana Nissan
The Westminster Schools

School:

The Westminster Schools

Atlanta, GA

Lesson 1: Icebreaker: Getting to Know Each Other


Purpose: To bring the class together to bond and develop a sense of camaraderie.  This helps focus on personality types to determine how students relate to each other for decision making.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Objectives:
The students will:
  • share personal experiences with other students.
  • interact with classmates for a common goal.
  • discuss philanthropic and ethical choices.
  • cooperate within groups to come to an ethical decision about organ transplants.

Materials: 
  • Bingo sheets for specific number of students in class
  • Organ donor/ kidney transplant handout

Instructional Procedure:
For bingo activity, students ask 3 personal and interesting questions of everyone in the class in order to get to know each other better and at the end of class get together to share information.  For the kidney transplant activity students are divided into groups of 4-5 and must choose the recipient of the organ donation based on information given.

Assessment:
Teachers observe group dynamics and individual personalities ascertaining that all students are included in discussions and have a voice.

References:
NCEE Organ Donor

Lesson 2: Class Overview


Purpose: To introduce students to the concept of philanthropy and have them begin to decide where to donate their money.

Presentation: A representative of the philanthropic community will share ideas and practices about giving back.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords: Philanthropist; Sharing; Motivation for Giving

Objectives:
The students will:
  • demonstrate their understanding of  concepts that we are all recipients of philanthropy and have befitted from others’ generosity by citing examples of philanthropy from their own family or community experiences.
  • learn and reflect on the speaker’s belief that students can and should be taught about philanthropy by discussing some of their beliefs after the presentation.
  • learn and discuss the myriad of opportunities for philanthropic giving and serving.    

Materials:
Course Overview

Instructional Procedure:
Walk through the overview of the course and talk about its aspects for the next few weeks.  Discuss all aspects of philanthropic giving; history of philanthropy, motives for giving, areas of giving; 6 areas of giving: Religion, Education, Environmental, Social Services, the Arts, and Medical.  At this point, students are then asked to tell where they think they may be donating their $500 and why they may choose that particular organization.

Assessment:
Class discussion followed by a short essay demonstrating the concepts learned from this lesson.

Lesson 3: For Profits versus Not For Profits


Purpose:  Students are introduced to corporate philanthropy and key vocabulary terms used in the business world.
 
Duration: 1 hour

Objectives:
The students will:
  • Compare and contrast the for profit and not for profit (civil society) sectors
  • Learn the vocabulary of 990 forms, 501 (c) (3) status

Materials:
Handout 

Instructional Procedure:
PowerPoint presentation

Assessment:
Class discussion reflecting students’ understanding of the material as well as class presentations on selected nonprofit agencies.

References:
IRS forms 990 and 501 (c) (3) documents 

Lesson 4: 501(c)(3) Organizations


Purpose: To explain to students the legal aspects of a 501(c)(3) organization and how it differs from other organizations.

Guest Speaker: Representative from a local 501(c)(3) Organization.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords: Non Profit Organizations; For Profit Organizations; Foundations

Objectives:
The students will:
  • learn the vocabulary associated with 501 (c)(3) organizations.
  • understand tax ramifications of organizations that pay taxes and those that do not.
  • distinguish between private and public foundations.

Materials:
Foundation Desk Reference by Benjamin White

Instructional Procedure:
The guest speaker presents a summary of responsibilities that a 501(c)(3) organization must follow and those a 501(c)(3) must never do.

Assessment:
Class discussion; research reports on nonprofits

References:
Foundation Desk Reference by Benjamin White, Southeastern Council of Foundations, Atlanta, GA

Lesson 5: Current Events


Purpose: To create student awareness about philanthropy in daily life throughout the world using a variety of topics and sources.

Duration: As time allows, briefly at the start of class each day, or periodically during the course

Keywords: Philanthropy; Current Events; Non-Fiction Literature

Objectives:
The students will:
  • read current newsworthy stories or articles about philanthropy and seek out television news and web based stories to present to the class.
  • learn about the many ways philanthropy occurs on a daily basis by using specific publications such as the Chronicle of Philanthropy and regional foundation publications as sources of articles in addition to the use of mass media.
 
Materials:
Newspapers, magazines, television, internet, local foundation reports

Instructional Procedure:
The teacher leads discussion of recent articles and encourages class discussion and class contribution.  Students have the opportunity in subsequent classes to present articles of interest from professional philanthropic publications.

Assessment:
Class discussion; review and comment on lessons learned from the publications.

Lesson 6: Creating a Passion for Philanthropy


Purpose:  Identify and find where the students’ passion meets community needs and the effectiveness of the organizations selected.

Guest Speaker:  A representative of a local community agency that relies upon philanthropy will describe the means of matching a student’s interest in giving to a particular nonprofit and the effectiveness of that nonprofit.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords:  Philanthropy; Community Service Agency; Need

Objectives:
The students will:
  • reflect and think about their passions for causes and issues of   a civil society.
  • learn how to give based on their special passion.
  • learn how to give to what your community needs.
  • learn how to give to an effective organization.

Materials:
Handouts of brochures or descriptions of the services the speaker’s agency provides the community.

Instructional Procedure:
Lecture by a representative of a local community agency.

Assessment:
Students decide where to donate money.

Lesson 7: Gospel of Wealth, Andrew Carnegie


Purpose: Introduce students to Andrew Carnegie as one of the outstanding early philanthropists of the United States

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords: Carnegie; philanthropist; Family Foundation

Objectives:
The student will:
  • learn about Andrew Carnegie and his philosophy of giving.
  • compare current philanthropic needs with those of Carnegie’s time.
  • learn about philanthropists throughout history and share ideas about the times and reasons for that philanthropist’s passion
  • learn about the influence of the Carnegie Foundation throughout history.

Materials:
Handouts of Gospel of Wealth, class set, Worksheet, NCEE

Instructional Procedure:
Homework reading assignment, lecture, class discussion, worksheet,

Assessment:
Students compare their list of seven needed areas of philanthropic giving with Carnegie’s.

Lesson 8: Guest Speaker Discusses Motives for Giving


Purpose: To introduce students to a significant community donor and to learn about various motives for giving, a vision for philanthropy, and why and how philanthropy can and should be taught to young people.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords: Motivation for Giving; Giving; Altruism

Objectives:
The students will:
  • recognize that there are various motives for giving.
  • learn that motives such as gratitude, guilt, peer pressure, self satisfaction, pure altruism or honoring the dead vary with each individual situation.
  • understand that the best motive is that it is the right thing to do and that it makes sense.

Materials:
PowerPoint Presentation on “Motives for Giving.”

Instructional Procedure:
PowerPoint Presentation and discussion.   

Assessment:
Students offer examples from their own perspective and from their family’s motives for philanthropy.

Lesson 9: A&E Biography Video, Andrew Carnegie, Prince of Steel


Purpose: To continue the study of Andrew Carnegie’s influence as a philanthropist on American culture.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords:  Carnegie; Philanthropist

Objectives:
The students will:
  • learn about the life story of Andrew Carnegie.
  • understand the impact of his philanthropic giving for the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • understand  the concept of “Robber Barons” and philanthropic giving prior to tax laws.
  • understand and appreciate the efforts of the Carnegie Foundation today.
  • understand why some views of Carnegie’s legacy are questioned.

Materials:
A&E Biography Video, Andrew Carnegie, Prince of Steel.

Instructional Procedure:
Watch video followed by discussion.

Assessment:
Students discuss whether they think Carnegie was an effective philanthropist for his time or whether or not he could have made more substantial contributions and changes in working conditions in his factories.

Lesson 10: Site Visit: Local Community Foundation


Purpose: To introduce students to grant-making and the work of community foundations.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords: Community Foundation; Grantmaking; Family Foundation; Need

Objectives:
The students will:
  • meet “movers and shakers” of the local community and be introduced to possible careers in philanthropy.
  • understand the difference between smaller community foundation grants and larger capital grants .
  • differentiate among different types of giving through family and donor directed funds.
  • participate in a grant workshop using actual grant applications.

Materials: 
Handouts of actual grant proposals

Instructional Procedure:
Leaders of the Community Foundation direct students in group activities: introductory activity on personal and family values; focus on student and family passions and preferences; matching community needs and family values.

Assessment:
Students decide whether or not to fund specific grant proposals.

Lesson 11: Site Visit: Another Local Foundation


Purpose: To understand the workings of a large foundation that distributes major capital gifts and scholarships for higher education.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords:   Foundations; Grantmaking; Career Opportunities

Objectives:
The students will:
  • understand the difference between large and small foundations and their specific recipients.
  • meet with major civic leaders who influence decisions on solving community and state wide problems.
  • continue discussion on careers with large foundations.
  • learn about major grant proposals and how decisions are made regarding approvals  or denials.

Materials: 
Brochures and sample applications from each foundation are distributed.

Instructional Procedure:
Speaker explains the different goals of each foundation and how major grant proposals are distributed.

Assessment:
In class discussion, students are asked to explain the difference between small community operational grants and major capital grants. 

Lesson 12: Site Visits

Purpose: To introduce students to an example of giving to all the six major areas of philanthropic giving: religion, education, medical, social services, the environment and the arts.  Each site is representative of the category and the visit is to give students an example of the opportunities for giving.

Duration: Each site is a full day visit of approximately 5- 6 hours.

Keywords: Giving; Culture; Nonprofit Organizations

Objectives:
The student will:
  • develop a better understanding of reasons to give based on a particular passion.
  • learn about the purpose of each organization and how and why they rely on charitable giving.
  • continue class discussions about where and how to give most effectively.

Materials:
Brochures distributed in the presentation; handouts and presentations by each organization including budgets, capital campaigns and operational needs.

Instructional Procedure:
Tour of facility; presentation by development personnel and others; discussion of campaign, annual budget, and sources of funding

Assessment:
Students will ask pertinent questions and indicate a better understanding of each organization. 

Examples of visits include:
(Please note that these organizations are examples for the school and community where this class takes place.)

Religion
  • Monastery of the Holy Spirit
  • The Temple
  • Cathedral of St. Philip
  • United Methodist Children’s Home
  • Atlanta Masjid of Al- Islam

Medical
  • Good Samaritan Health Clinic   
  • Egleston Children’s Hospital Campus
  • Grady Memorial Hospital
  • Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital Campus
  • Shepherd Spinal Center
  • Wesley Woods Geriatric Center

Education
  • Morehouse University
  • Goizueta Business School, Emory University
  • Drew Charter School
  • Whitford Academy
  • The Westminster Schools
  • Teach for America

Social Services
  • Atlanta Community Food Bank
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society
  • Senior Citizens Services of Atlanta
  • American Red Cross
  • Project Open Hand

Environment
  • Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers
  • Atlanta Botanical Gardens
  • Piedmont Park Conservancy
  • Historic Oakland Cemetery Foundation
  • Georgia Environmental Organization
  • Chattahoochee National Park Recreation Service
  • Chattahoochee Nature Center

Arts
  • Woodruff Arts Center
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • High Museum
  • Fox Theater
  • Carlos Museum

Lesson 13: Weekly Reflections on Philanthropy 101


Purpose: To give students time to reflect on the course of study each week and to encourage them to begin thinking of how to best make a monetary donation to an effective organization.

Duration: 30 minutes

Keywords:  Philanthropist; Foundation; Community

Objectives:
The students will:
  • thoughtfully reflect on each week’s lesson.
  • consider influences of local philanthropists and foundations on their community.

Materials:
Handout of six questions  

Instructional Procedure:
Students are given 30 minutes on their own to write reflectively about their personal experiences.

Assessment:
Review of reflections and discussion afterwards. 

Lesson 14: Discussion of The Gift of the Magi by O'Henry

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Purpose: Discuss the wisdom of giving and receiving gifts.  What makes a gift or giver wise or foolish?  How should you decide what you should give?

Duration: 30 minutes

Keywords:  Historical Fiction; Giving; Group Discussions

Objectives:
The students will:
  • challenge each other about what are the best gifts to give or receive
  • prompt each other about the appropriateness of specific gifts
  • assess the worth of gifts
  • decide whether an ordinarily good gift is a good gift from THIS giver or for THIS recipient
   
Materials:
Copy of The Gift of the Magi by O’Henry; The Perfect Gift, ed. Amy A. Kass

Instructional Procedure:
Class discussion

Assessment:
Student reflections of story

Lesson 15: Assessing Charitable Giving


Purpose: To explain to students that not all organizations spend their philanthropic dollars wisely and to teach them effective ways to assess the different approaches.

Duration: 2 hours

Keywords: Charity; Organizations; Needs Assessment

Objectives:
The student will:
  • learn about Guidestar and Charity Navigator, organizations that assess charities.
  • learn which specific questions to ask when assessing organizations.
  • learn about budgets for individual nonprofits including program expenses and salaries.

Materials:
Handouts about Guidestar and Charity Navigator.

Instructional Procedure:
Guest speaker describing the various means of determining the effectiveness of a community organization followed by lab time.

Assessment:
Students will answer assessment questions about several nonprofits and attempt to select an effective recipient for their checks.

Lesson 16: Establishing a New Nonprofit: RoadSafe America


Please note: (This is a specific lesson dealing with a tragedy associated with the school that developed this lesson. It is included in the set of lessons as it can “unfortunately” be replicated in almost any community)

Purpose: To present to students how a successful local nonprofit was formed and how laws dealing with the trucking industry have been changed.

Duration: 1 hour

Keywords:  Nonprofit Organization; Motivation for Giving; Family

Objectives:
The students will:
  • understand that through tragedy sometimes nonprofits are established to address the causes of the tragedy
  • talk with grieving parents who established a nonprofit after the death of their son in a traffic accident
  • understand the scope of dealing with changing laws and governmental policies with respect to highway safety

Materials:
Video, Brochures, Highway Safety Test

Instructional Procedure: 
The parents of a student who was fatally injured in a serious accident will speak about their reasons for establishing a local non profit to educate and prevent similar accidents.

Lesson 17: The Ethics of Sweatshops, Child Labor, and Improving Standards of Living for the Poor


Purpose: To help students understand the choices that must be made to improve the lives of the poor and to analyze ethical dilemmas.   Students will examine the impact of poverty programs on desirable goals such as job creation, improved living standards, efficiency, and fairness.  Students are challenged to relate these ideas to profits and philanthropic giving, and to examine their own moral compass for giving.

Duration: 3 hours

Keywords:  Human Rights; Economic Sectors; Pro-Social Behavior

Objectives:
The students will:
  • understand the workings of sweatshops
  • study the economics of third world countries
  • understand the  options available to the poor and how to make the moral and ethical choices to improve their standard of living

Materials:
Teaching the Ethical Foundations of Economics, handouts, worksheets, John Stossell, Cheap in America DVD/video

Instructional Procedure:
Lecture, handouts, worksheets

Assessment:
Answer questions available on website.

Lesson 18: Fourteen Terms Every Private Foundation Should Understand


Purpose: To help students understand the language of private foundations, their unique terms, and specific definitions. Furthermore, to help students learn the specific rules and regulations governing private foundations that help them stay in compliance with IRS regulations. Finally, to help students communicate better within the philanthropic community.

Duration:  l hour

Keywords:  Foundations; Charitable Deduction

Objectives:
The students will:
  • increase their knowledge about private foundations.
  • learn specific vocabulary relating to the world of private foundations.

Materials: 
Materials from Foundation Source, Fourteen Terms of Private Foundations

Instructional Procedure:
Lecture and presentation of terms.  Students will discuss terms in relation to private foundations.  It is emphasized that these terms are not intended as a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice.

References:
www.foundationsource.com

Assessment:
Short essay or quiz over terms learned in this lesson.

Lesson 19: Volunteering in the Community


Purpose: To introduce students to the volunteer program at their school or a local non profit in order for them to understand the importance of giving their time to make a difference in the greater community.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords:  Volunteer; Community; Pro-Social Behavior

Objectives:
The students will:
  • understand why the community service program is central to the mission of their school.
  • understand that volunteer hours are central to defining philanthropy.
  • match their passion to organizations in the community working to solve specific problems.

Materials:
Brochures about volunteerism from their school, local agencies or other non profits.

Instructional Procedure:
Lecture by the school’s Community Service Director or Director of a local agency together with a community volunteer sharing experiences about why and how to volunteer.

Assessment:
Students will complete a volunteer experience to share with the class.  The entire class will participate in at least two volunteer experiences during the four weeks of the class. Follow up discussion and short essay describing the experiences and value thereof will be submitted.

Lesson 20: A&E Biography Video: John D. Rockefeller


Purpose: To continue the study of Rockefeller’s influence as a philanthropist on American culture.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords:  Personal Wealth; Philanthropic Act

Objectives:
The student will:
  • learn about the life story of John D. Rockefeller.
  • learn about the impact of his philanthropic giving for the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • understand the economic impact of monopolies.
  • understand the workings of the Rockefeller Foundation today and develop an appreciation for the work of that organization.

Materials:
A&E Biography video: John D. Rockefeller.

Instructional Procedure:
Watch video followed by discussion.

Assessment:
Students discuss whether they think Rockefeller was an effective philanthropist for his time. Divide class into two groups and assign each group a different point of view to present regarding Rockefeller’s philanthropy.

Lesson 21: Individual Research Projects: 501 (c) (3)


Purpose:  To help students assess the effectiveness of charitable organizations and decide on their own financial contributions

Duration:  Approximately 3 hours over two days; 10 minutes of presentation per student followed by class discussion.

Keywords:  Charity; Contributions

Objectives:
The students will:
  • earn how to evaluate effective charities.
  • learn about the variety of charities that contribute to the well-being of the community.
  • describe how difficult it is to run an effective nonprofit.
  • become poised in front of a group using public speaking skills technology.

Materials:
Charity Navigator and Guidestar

Instructional Procedure:
Each student presents a ten minute presentation including PowerPoint and brochures from the charity; many students use Charity Navigator and Guidestar examples.

Assessment:
Students decide whether or not an organization should be supported based on the presentation. 

Lesson 22: Speaker from CARE International: Focus on International Giving.


Purpose: To introduce students to organizations that deal with international and global problems as opposed to local or national concerns.

Duration:  1.5 hours

Keywords:  Charity; Contributions

Objectives:
The students will:
  • hear from a representative from CARE International, located in Atlanta, GA.
  • understand the unique problems that face third world countries.
  • reflect and discuss whether it is better to give locally and think globally or think globally and give locally.

Materials:
Handouts from CARE including the annual report and other related materials; video/DVD on the work of CARE.

Instructional Procedure:
Guest speaker with interactive class discussion.

Assessment:
Class discussion and reviewing Guidestar’s evaluation of CARE.

Lesson 23: Nonprofit Speakers


Purpose: To introduce students to a variety of specific nonprofits and their representatives who address topics such as the mission of the organization, where their financial support comes from, and the work they are doing in the community. 

Duration:  1 hour each

Keywords:  Nonprofit Organizations; Volunteer

Objectives:
The students will:
  • be able to name a variety of nonprofits in the six different categories.
  • read and comprehend 990 forms.
  • recognize and be able to discuss the variety of non profit organizations. 
  • learn about volunteer opportunities and how to become involved in their community.

Materials:
Assorted brochures and handouts from the non profit organizations.

Instructional Procedure:
Lecture and interactive group discussions.

Assessment:
Review and discussion with other students and instructor about nonprofit organizations in their community and the use of appropriate forms to be followed by the administration of that organization.

References:
Examples of organizations that have participated:
  • Teach for America
  • United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
  • Make A Wish Foundation
  • Atlanta Ballet
  • Theater in the Square
  • Metropolitan Arts Council
  • Religion panel including speakers from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths
  • Boys and Girls Club

Lesson 24: Harbus Foundation Case Study


Purpose: To introduce students to an actual grant making process from Harvard Business School using all of the concepts learned.

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords:  Foundations; Fund Allocation

Objectives:
The students will:
  • read and understand the case study from HBS.
  • answer questions about the decision making process.
  • discuss how they would make the decision to spend the money.

Materials:
Harvard Business School case study.

Instructional Procedure:
Teacher’s guide indicates how to structure the case study.  Students work in groups to master the content and make their presentations.

Assessment:
Student presentations and worksheets

Lesson 25: Computer Lab Time


Purpose: Lab time is scheduled periodically for students to research nonprofits, specific topics, and charity assessments through links such as Charity Navigator and Guidestar.  Students also do research on philanthropists, various text readings, and an alternative gift fair.

Duration:  1 hour per session

Keywords: Nonprofit Organizations, Philanthropy

Objectives:
The students will:
  • use technology to expand their knowledge of philanthropy.
  • become familiar with nonprofit assessment tools on the internet.
  • prepare for oral reports.

Materials:
Internet accessibility and computer lab availability

Instructional Procedure:
Schedule lab time and guide student research

Assessment:
To be completed at the time of student presentations based on their research.

Lesson 26: Decision Day Luncheon


Purpose: Enable students to methodically assess their choice of philanthropic giving and decide where to make a $500 donation.

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords:  Contributions; Donate

Objectives:
The students will:
  • tell the class which organization they have selected to receive a check.
  • illustrate the similarities and differences of their choices and describe why they decided as they did.

Instructional Procedure:
Students defend their decisions with research and personal preferences.  After lunch, students contact their respective organizations and invite a representative to a luncheon the following week to receive a check.

Assessment:
Each student will present a $500 check to the charity of their choice. The recipient can comment on the student’s selection and describe how accurate the student was about the organization’s mission and need. 

Lesson 27: Accounting


Purpose: To acquaint students with the vocabulary and basic tools of accounting principles necessary for all nonprofits.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords:  Nonprofit Organizations, Rules

Objectives:
The students will:
  • learn basic accounting terms.
  • learn basic accounting principles.
  • understand the importance of accounting principles for both donors and nonprofits.

Materials:
Presentation by a local CPA.    

Instructional Procedure:
PowerPoint presentation and discussion

Assessment:
Discussion followed by short oral quiz.

Lesson 28: Burden of Bad Ideas


Purpose: To describe as many differing views of well-intended philanthropy as possible to students.  Review some of the dangers of philanthropy such as inappropriate intervention, inappropriate verbiage, and naiveté.

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords:  Altruism, Feelings, Benefits

Objectives:
The student will:
  • read and discuss selections from the text, The Burden of Bad Ideas, covering topics such as public health, homelessness and welfare.

Materials:
Class set of text, Heather MacDonald’s Burden of Bad Ideas

Instructional Procedure:
Homework assignment of chapters followed by class discussion.

Lesson 29: Presentation Regarding Institutional Advancement


Purpose: To emphasize the importance of fundraising for capital campaigns, annual appeals and to discuss the importance of personally supporting organizations which are important to individuals and their family.  Convey the message that the students are all recipients of someone else’s philanthropic giving to the school they attend.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords: Fundraising, Annual Gift, Personal Giving Plan

Objectives:
The students will:
  • understand the financial operations, budget and fundraising of the school they attend.
  • understand  the importance of their own financial support to their school in the future.
  • learn about careers in fundraising and in the nonprofit world.

Materials:
Annual report, PowerPoint presentation, brochures from the college, school or organization.

Instructional Procedure:
Panel discussion by representatives of offices of institutional advancement

Assessment:
A reflective essay on their willingness to eventually give to their own school.

Lesson 30: Film Viewing of "Millions"


Purpose: to show that in main stream America and through the media the topic of philanthropic giving is relevant to everyday life.  This film deals with how people determine what to do with their resources, how to effectively distribute them and how a community can be changed through philanthropy. 

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords: Community, Philanthropic Act

Objectives:
The student will:
  • watch a film about two children who unexpectedly find a large sum of money and their dilemma of what to do with it.
  • gain a deeper understanding of what a person should or could do with his resources.

Materials:
DVD of "Millions"

Instructional Procedure:
View film followed by class discussion

Assessment:
Class discussion reflecting on the pros and cons of giving away all or part of a new found fortune. 

Lesson 31: Oral Reports by Students on Select Chapters of Harvard Business Review on Nonprofits


Purpose: Introduce students to graduate level studies and research in several areas of effective nonprofit organizations.

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords:  Nonprofit Organizations

Objectives:
The students will research and report on:
  • boards and effective oversight.
  • corporate partnerships with nonprofits.
  • enterprising nonprofits.

Materials:
Class set of Harvard Business Review on Nonprofits

Instructional Procedure:
Class is divided into 4 groups to read, study, and research selected chapters for oral presentations.

Assessment:
Class discussion

Lesson 32: Philanthropist of the Year


Purpose: An annual speaker introduces students to those in the greater community who are recognized for their philanthropic contributions to society.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords:  Contributions, Philanthropy

Objectives:
The students will:
  • hear from a person committed to a specific area of philanthropy and be introduced to an influential community leader.
  • be introduced to possible career choices in philanthropy.
  • learn how a person has successfully directed a
  • passion and commitment to a specific cause.

Materials:
Speaker may wish to bring relevant materials

Instructional Procedure: 
Invited Speakers can be representatives of the greater community in which the school resides.   A local foundation can be the source of nominees for speakers as well as nominating others who are known for their philanthropy in that community. 

Assessment:
Class discussion and review of philanthropic community leadership and passion for a certain cause. 

Lesson 33: John Stossel, "Twenty-Twenty" DVD: Are Americans Cheap Or Charitable?


Purpose: 
  • To present students with a comparison of class structure in America: who gives what and why.
  • To have students develop an overview of giving in America.

Duration:  1 hour

Keywords:  Caring/Sharing, Donate

Objectives:
The students will:
  • develop a better understanding of how people spend their money.
  • learn about the percentage of monies Americans give in comparison to their salaries and wages.

Materials:
John Stossel "Twenty Twenty" DVD, Cheap in America.

Instructional Procedure:
DVD followed by class discussion.

Assessment:
Class discussion followed by short essay on their understanding of giving in America.

Lesson 34: Luncheon for Recipients of Student Donations


Purpose: To have students present checks and explain their assessment criteria for making a $500 donation to the organization of their choice.

Duration:  2 hours

Keywords: Donate, Contributions, Needs Assessment

Objectives:
The students will:
  • make a presentation of a $500 check.
  • explain assessment criteria that they used.
  • describe their passion for this organization’s mission and work.
  • exhibit networking skills while meeting and talking with community leaders and representatives of nonprofits.

Materials:
Personal $500 check.

Instructional Procedure:
  • Students meet, greet and talk with invited guests.
  • Lunch and discussion at table.
  • Before students present the checks, two essays written by students as a summary of their class experience on the understanding of philanthropy are shared with the audience.
  • Checks are presented to representatives of the nonprofits in attendance.

Assessment:
Community response to the event.

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Last Modified: 10/22/2008 8:56 AM EST
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