- Week 1: What’s Your Passion?
- Following an introduction to the world of philanthropy, students identify their own personal areas of social concern using Make A Difference (“MAD”) cards.
- Week 2: Who’s Got Team Spirit?
- Students are organized into teams based on areas of interest. They build team camaraderie and start creating a team fund-raiser.
- Week 3: What’s Your Mission?
- Teams develop their own Mission Statements, then start identifying and contacting community organizations they want to screen.
- Week 4: Does It All Add Up?
- Students learn real-world math and critical thinking skills by locating and evaluating charities’ Form 990 tax returns and other financial information.
- Week 5: What’s Beyond the Numbers?
- Besides good numbers, what makes an effective charity? Students ask probing questions about the purpose, culture, and leadership of potential recipients.
- Week 6: What do Insiders Say?
- Students question a panel of non-profit insiders, looking for smart places to donate money. Team fund-raisers are starting to come together.
- Week 7: What’s Your Favorite Charity?
- Teams learn important lessons about group dynamics and decision-making by reviewing the data they have collected and by proposing charities to receive gifts.
- Week 8: Is That Your Final Answer?
- After reporting on an interview with a local volunteer and donor, teams make their final determinations as to whom they will give their gifts.
- Week 9: Isn’t Giving Fun?
- Students and sponsoring donors visit the local charities the teams have chosen and present checks. Recipients express gratitude for the gifts.
- Week 10: What Did We Learn?
- Students debrief their experience, identify what they learn- ed, and recognize opportunities to make philanthropy and community service a permanent part of their lives.