About Magnified Giving’s Student Philanthropy Program

Charitable Giving…Being Magnified!

The Student Philanthropy Program The Student Philanthropy Program is the cornerstone program of Magnified Giving. The concept is simple – give a group of high school students the opportunity to invest a sizable amount of money into the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky nonprofit community. These students are empowered to become junior philanthropists and entrusted to wisely invest valuable financial resources into the community while serving people in need. They are introduced to philanthropists, foundation and charity representatives and community leaders  allowed to made decisions while developing leadership skills. High expectations are set for them and they are accountable for their decisions in the process.

What do students in our student philanthropy program do?

• learn about philanthropy and philanthropic organizations
• experience Roger Grein’s story of inspiration, hope, perseverance and love
• discuss the social concerns and needs of their communities
• identify non-profits that meet those concerns and needs
• establish student boards/sub-groups to further explore those needs
• contact agencies in the area of focus they choose
• customize the basic grant application we have developed
• invite agencies to complete a grant application
• evaluate the completed grant applications
• visit/volunteer at agencies to see first-hand what they do (encouraged)
• fundraise to increase their grant-making potential (optional)
• discuss the different agencies they are considering
• decide which agency (agencies) to support
• notify the agencies of their decisions
• present a check to the winning agency at our Awards Ceremony in May
• celebrate their successful completion
• stay connected to the agency to monitor their investment

How is this accomplished? 
The Student Philanthropy Program is implemented in one of four ways at our partner schools:

• as a stand-alone extra curricular program
• as part of an extra curricular existing club or organization
• as part of a community service/social justice class
• as part of a traditional academic class (English or Social Studies, for example) 

We also have some another model that works – a standalone youth council led by a moderator.  The Northern Kentucky Youth Advisory Board and the Parma Youth Council are two examples.  They bring students from different high schools together on a monthly basis, and these students implement our program during their meetings.

Since 2008, the student philanthropy model has been tested in each of these different ways, and IT WORKS.  It works well at all grade levels (8 – 12), as a one time experience or as a program that students can join year after year, and it touches the lives of young men as well as young women. This year nearly 95 schools will participate in our program.  Over 4,000 students are being directly touched by the power of philanthropy, and another 10,000 are being exposed to our program at their schools.

Learn More…
If you are interested in learning more about the Student Philanthropy Program or would like to have the program introduced at your favorite high school or middle school, please contact Director of Programs Alison Kaufman (alison@magnifiedgiving.org), Executive Director Kelly Collison (kelly@magnifiedgiving.org), or President/Founder Roger Grein  at rogergrein@zoomtown.com.  If you are a high school teacher and would like to apply to be a part of our program, visit our School Application page.