Binghamton University's Annual Philanthropy Incubator Competition: Deadline March 13

Dear Friends:

For the sixth straight year, students enrolled in the Binghamton University course “Philanthropy and Civil Society” have $10,000 to make grants to local nonprofit organizations.  The Learning by Giving Foundation has provided the financial support for this initiative.  We invite you to submit our simple application for funding (described below).  David Campbell, Associate Professor of Public Administration is teaching the course.  You may contact him with questions at dcamp@binghamton.edu.        

As part of the course, students receive an overview of philanthropy, nonprofit organizations and their role in civic life.  They also explore their personal values, identify the issues about which they care most and learn about community needs.  All of this knowledge informs their grantmaking decisions. As a result of this process, students make grants to local organizations generally averaging between $2,000-$5,000.  Students will make a maximum of three total grants.  They will make their decisions regarding which organizations to support in two phases.  The first phase of the process is to generate background information about local organizations.  Students will use that background information to identify between four and eight finalist organizations about which they would like to learn more.  The students then visit the finalist organizations and representatives of those organizations will come to class on March 31 or April 2 between 3:00-4:15. The students will select finalists in late March and make grant decisions by April 29th.  We will have an awards ceremony in mid-May.

This year, our form will also provide applicants the opportunity to apply to be a partner with Binghamton University’s School of Management PWC Scholars Program, which every year works on a community project in collaboration with a local organization.  That selection process is separate from the process used by the students in the Philanthropy course; however, students will share the information you submit on this form to inform their selection process. 

To be eligible for a grant award, organizations must be a 501(c) 3 organization operating in South Central New York (generally, but not exclusively, Broome County).  If you would like the students to consider your organization for a grant, please complete the online information form available here.

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The students have designed the form to be simple, so we hope it does not take too much of your time.  We encourage applicants to complete the information form early to facilitate our process; however we will treat all applicants who submit the form on time equally. 

Please complete the form electronically.  The deadline for completing the form is Friday, March 13th at midnight.  We will not review applications submitted after March 13.

Thank you for your participation.  If you have questions about the process, please contact David Campbell, at dcamp@binghamton.edu.  He will forward questions to students who will be responsible for the follow up.