By: Jared Stuart, BBA 2018
It is hard to believe that we are now in the final week of the semester. Decisions about which organizations to fund have been made and grant amounts have been decided upon. The concluding awards ceremony during which our class will present these organizations with checks is less than a week away. This is certainly an exciting time as we approach the finish line of what has been an engaging, meaningful, and educational experience.
After conducting site visits with three wonderful organizations a few weeks ago, our team was thoroughly impressed by the impact each is having in the Waco community. Definitively deciding how to allot our team’s grant money was very challenging as all three organizations are equally deserving. We ultimately decided to award the greatest amount to an organization that not only aligned closely with our team’s philanthropic goals but also outlined a specific project towards which the funds would go. Throughout this process we have sought to find the best possible use for our funds while also meeting one of the specific needs we identified early on in the semester. While the “best” use of funds is difficult to determine given how many needs exist, the combination of this organization’s mission with the way they outlined a very tangible and urgent need in specific detail ultimately led to our decision. The value and effectiveness of this organization’s work is clear, and we are honored and excited to help make this meaningful project possible.
In addition to the funds each individual team will be distributing, our class has an additional sum to give that is meant to be decided upon collectively by the whole class. One of our recent meetings was dedicated to determining how this remaining grant money will be used, and each team had the opportunity to advocate on behalf of an organization they worked with this semester but are unable to fund with their team’s own limited resources. It was inspiring to see the passion with which each team advocated for the organization they hoped to see funded, and the opportunity to learn about the work other organizations are doing was very enjoyable. This day was an exercise in both collaboration and problem-solving as we sought to arrive at the best and most equitable solution for the class as a whole. The final outcome of this process was exciting as our class has the opportunity to fund several additional organizations beyond those selected by the individual teams.
Reflecting over the past few days on what we have learned and accomplished this semester has shown me how truly valuable this class has been. Working through the philanthropic process over the course of the semester has been both challenging and rewarding. It has taught me a great deal about how to make wise and informed decisions when giving, and I look forward to using the knowledge and experience gained in this class in my future philanthropic endeavors. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Philanthropy & the Public Good course during my time at Baylor.