Nineteen Tompkins County nonprofits received a combined $60,000 in grants this month, thanks to graduate students in a philanthropic leadership class that teaches the value of giving.

After a semester of research, site visits and discussion, students distributed the funds to recipients including the Ithaca Public Education Initiative, Women’s Opportunity Center and Ithaca Health Alliance. The Philanthropy Lab, Triad Foundation and individual contributors provided the funding.

Credit: Ryan Young/Cornell University

“Eventually, these students are going to be asked to serve on boards, so I want them to have had the opportunity to reflect on that before reflexively saying yes,” said Carla Ingrando, instructor of the class, which has grown from 6 to 39 students in three years. “I want them to think about their values, their passion and their talents. How can they give themselves? Is it through volunteering? Is it through financial contributions? Do they have a specific skill that they could bring?”

Ingrando – also a major gift officer for the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business – emceed a ceremony Dec. 4, attended by nonprofit leaders, students and President Michael I. Kotlikoff, to honor the work of local organizations. Students gave brief speeches about why they selected each group, emphasizing the importance of their mission and ability to fulfill it.

“I take 22 credits per semester, so I hadn’t really gotten to explore Ithaca or know Ithaca. I didn’t feel that connected to Ithaca, but now I really do, and I really care about what’s happening here,” said Sarah Carr, a law and MBA student in the class who led a team researching local food insecurity. “I’ve made it not just a town where I go to school, but a town where I can make a contribution.”

Carr organized a site visit to Loaves & Fishes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, warm meals to people in need with no questions asked. “We saw how effective they are. They serve over 5,000 meals a month and they really know what they’re doing,” she said. 

Loaves & Fishes also facilitates wraparound services, bringing in complementary organizations that help address the structural issues that may lead to food insecurity. “They’ll have the Health Alliance come in and provide check-ups during the meal service. We liked how Loaves & Fishes is not just providing a meal but creating a community space,” Carr said.

Kelly Suave, executive director of Loaves & Fishes, was similarly impressed with the philanthropy students’ preparation and level of engagement.

“They had clearly done their research before they got there and knew what they wanted to ask. We were really excited to hear how passionate they were about learning about our organization,” she said.

Suave said the grant awarded to Loaves & Fishes will be especially important in the coming months. 

“As folks recertify their SNAP, we are going to see an increase in need in our space, so this money will definitely help,” she said. “We are in constant need of operating funds, specifically unrestricted funds that we can use for food, to refresh our dining hall and to provide advocacy services for our guests.”

As a final assignment, students have been asked to write a letter to their future self, including a commitment to self-designed giving goals. The Philanthropy Lab will send them a copy of this letter every five years with the hope that participants will maintain a lifelong commitment to philanthropy.

“Maybe now, I can’t give much money, but I can find other ways to give,” said Carr, who plans to perform pro bono work for nonprofit organizations in the future. “I’ll be able to give services as an attorney.”

Nina Collavo is a writer for the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.