Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
generationOn
Purpose:
Duration:
Two Fifty-Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will
- research a local or national nonprofit organization.
Service Experience:
Learn more about the stages of service-learning.
Materials:
- Teacher created list of nonprofits with local affiliation for the student research project
created from Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations (Attachment One) r from www.guidestar.org and/or www.idealist.org.
Teacher Note: Since Lessons Three asks students to plan and carry out interviews
with representatives from some of the organizations researched, care should be taken
in producing the student research project choice list to include nonprofits for which it
might be possible to conduct those interviews, either in person, by phone or by e-mail
communication. - Information Recording Sheet (Attachment Two)
- Research materials (This may require access to a library.)
- Access to Internet sites (www.guidestar.org or www.idealist.org or specific nonprofit
sites) for the research project or print materials about local nonprofits - 18 x 12 paper and markers or crayons for the poster
- Team Reporting Notes (Attachment Three)
- Optional: Teacher supplied informational brochures on local nonprofits
Instructional Procedure(s):
Ask students to recall Lesson One by writing down the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the word “nonprofit.” Share the definition of “nonprofit”—a term describing the Internal Revenue Service’s designation of an organization whose income is not used for the benefit or private gain of stockholders, directors, or any other persons with an interest in the company; separate tax treatment exists based on whether it is charitable or not. Have students compare what they wrote with the actual definition.
Day One
- Pair each student with another student for their work on this and subsequent activities. Assign or allow each team to choose a local or national nonprofit organization from the teacher created list (see Materials). Inform students that their research during the next two class periods is very important, as some representatives from the nonprofits they study will be interviewed regarding their work in the community and their role in the nonprofit organization. In this manner, students will be accountable for gaining their own knowledge.
Teacher Note: As soon as the students select the nonprofits for research, the teacher should contact the organizations to make arrangements for as many of the interviews as possible through a visit to the classroom by a representative, by phone or by e-mail. · Give each team Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations (Attachment One) and Information Recording Sheet (Attachment Two) where they will record all the information they gather. Research can be done using www.guidestar.org and/or www.idealist.org , by accessing a nonprofit’s own Web site (Attachment One), or through print material such as encyclopedias and periodicals. It is expected that this process will take one fifty-minute class period.
- In addition to completing the recording sheet, have students create an informative poster about their nonprofit for use in a class presentation including the organization’s name, mission statement and a few facts
Day Two
- Teams should present their information to the rest of the class. Each student will be responsible for taking brief notes on the organizations presented. These notes will be recorded on Team Reporting Notes (Attachment Three).
Assessment:
Students will be assessed based on the completion of both recording sheets and the poster. The poster should contain the name of the nonprofit and its primary mission. Teachers should realize that all information might not be available on the first recording sheet.
Note to teachers: You may decide whether you would like students to research the national nonprofit or if you would like their research to focus on the local branch, if separate information is available.
Bibliographical References:
Philanthropic Research, Inc. GuideStar: The Donor's Guide to the Charitable Universe http://www.guidestar.org (10 April 2001).
Lesson Developed By:
Jamie NajimKansas City Kansas School
Emerson Elementary School
Kansas City, KS 66106
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations
National Coalition for the Homeless http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
Heart of America United Way www.unitedway.org
Assoc. of Community Organizations for Reform Now www.acorn.org/
Volunteers of America www.voa.org/ Catholic Charities www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
American Association of Retired Persons www.aarp.org
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
American Humane Association http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer
American Red Cross www.redcross.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America www.bbbsa.org/
Boys and Girls Club www.bgca.org
Camp Fire Boys and Girls www.campfire.org
Futures for Children www.futurechild.org
Junior Achievement www.ja.org
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation www.gkccf.org
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation www.emkf.org
W.K. Kellogg Foundation www.wkkf.org
Literacy Volunteers of America www.literacyvolunteers.org
Make a Wish Foundation www.wish.org
Points of Light Foundation www.pointsoflight.org
Rockefeller Foundation www.rockfound.org
Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org
YMCA www.YMCA.NET
Youth Volunteer Corps of America www.yvca.org
To find a very thorough listing of most national nonprofits, you can try The Independent Sector @ www.independentsector.org.
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Information Recording Sheet
Name:__________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________________
1. Name of nonprofit __________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Date founded and by whom __________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why founded? _____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the population they are trying to reach (i.e., homeless, drug addiction, hungry, etc.)? _________________________
5. Write their mission statement._________________________________________________________________________________
6. What services are provided by your nonprofit organization?
A. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How many people are served by your organization? ______________________________________________________________
8. How does your nonprofit organization receive funding (i.e., federal government, grants, etc.)? ____________________________
9. What are some obstacles your nonprofit organization faces? ______________________________________________________
10. List any other important information regarding your nonprofit organization here.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Team Reporting Notes
Name:__________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________________
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
- Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Unit Contents:
Overview:Nonprofits in Our World and Community (6-8) Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Nonprofits? (6-8)
- 2.
- What Does a Nonprofit Do, and for Whom? (6-8)
- 3.
- Nonprofits in our Community and World (6-8)
- 4.
- Day in the Life of a Nonprofit (A) (6-8)
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