Baylor Philanthropy Lab Celebrates 10 Years of Philanthropy Education
WACO, Texas (December 12, 2024) – This fall marked a significant milestone for Baylor University as it celebrated the 10th anniversary of its innovative course, PPS 4310, Philanthropy & the Public Good. Since its inception, this course has empowered students to serve as a board of directors for a foundation, stewarding and awarding tens of thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations. Over the past decade, more nearly 300 students have participated in awarding over $1.2 million in grants, both locally and globally.
This semester, the students awarded a total of $75,000 to seven deserving nonprofits:
- Community Cancer Association – $6,000
- Waco Family Abuse Center – $15,000
- Waco Habitat for Humanity – $15,000
- Midwest Food Bank – $11,000
- Talitha Koum Institute – $15,000
- The Cove – $6,000
- Veteran's One Stop – $6,000
Led by Dr. Andrew Hogue, the founder of the program at Baylor, and Prof. Mark Richards, an alumnus of the course who co-taught the course for the first time, 17 students served on the board of directors this fall. Throughout the semester, students explored the nature of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, researched social challenges, evaluated nonprofit organizations, performed due diligence, and deliberated on grant allocations. They also had the opportunity to hear from community leaders, past students of the course, and philanthropy professionals, all of whom contributed to their understanding and decision-making process. This hands-on experience allowed students to reflect on their own philanthropic approaches and consider how they can become more engaged citizens and generous individuals.
The semester culminated in a Grant Awards Reception on December 11, where participants celebrated each grant recipient for their contributions to the community and their partnership with Baylor University.
Dr. Andrew Hogue expressed his gratitude, stating, "Over the past decade, this unique, experiential course has made a remarkable impact on our students, our community, and beyond. It inspires us to see so many students grow into thoughtful and generous leaders."
Prof. Mark Richards added, "As an alumnus of this course, teaching it alongside Dr. Hogue has been deeply meaningful, and it has been a joy to see our students' curiosity, thoughtfulness, and collaborative spirit shine through in their work together. We are proud of what they accomplished this semester and eager to follow their philanthropic journeys ahead."
The course was made possible through the generous funding of Baylor alumni Joe and Kelly Armes. Additionally, the course benefited from a partnership with The Philanthropy Lab, a Fort Worth-based initiative which promotes philanthropy education across the United States. Baylor University is grateful for its decade-long relationship with The Philanthropy Lab, which provided part of the funding for the semester.
For more information about the Philanthropy & the Public Good course, please contact Andrew Hogue or Mark Richards.