University of Notre Dame students awarded $58,000 to five local nonprofits through the university's Philanthropy and the Common Good class.
Philanthropy and the Common Good is an experiential learning course. It is offered through a collaboration of the Department of Political Science, the Hesburgh Program in Public Service and the Potenziani Minor in Constitutional Studies. The primary sponsor, The Philanthropy Lab, helps fund similar courses around the country.
Jonathan Hannah taught the course this term. Hannah is a political science professor and the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture assistant director of operations.
“Teaching this course and having this experience with our students is truly an honor and a privilege,” Hannah said in a press release. “They exemplify everything it means to be Notre Dame students, and I know they will go on to impact their communities and the world by working with and for nonprofit organizations.”
Students in the class engage with local nonprofit organizations in the South Bend region. They conduct site visits and request funding proposals. Students spend time analyzing the proposals and work as a board of directors to award real grants.
At the award ceremony, students presented checks to the nonprofit recipients.
“This event is a culmination of everything that we have been working toward this semester,” Maya Tuviera, Notre Dame sophomore, said.
“At Notre Dame, we shouldn’t just be striving toward giving people the opportunity to survive,” Tuviera said. “Here, it’s about human flourishing and how we can best achieve that and work as a community to do that.”
The students awarded grants to the following nonprofits:
- Center for the Homeless — $5,000
- Christ Child Society — $6,375
- Dustin’s Place — $13,625
- Our Lady of the Road — $15,000
- Dismas House — $18,000
“It’s such a great gift to participate in this project,” Jonathan Schommer, Our Lady of the Road executive director, said.
Schommer worked with students throughout the class. The funds will support his organization’s work to ensure people experiencing homelessness have survival supplies and resources during the winter.
“This class is a really great example of the connection between Notre Dame and the community,” Schommer said. “It’s a tangible way for our nonprofits to partner with the university to work toward the common good in our community.”
Since its inception in 2019, the Philanthropy and the Common Good course has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to local nonprofits.
