College students who participate in real-life philanthropy realize greater academic success

Kajsa Larson and Mark A. Neikirk
Northern Kentucky University
A crisis shelter for battered women. A nonprofit that provides wigs and makeup for breast cancer patients. An organization that helps parents of children addicted to heroin.
All three of these groups have benefited from $2,000 grants made by college students who participate in an unusual hands-on philanthropy program. The program – which...
Student Philanthropy Project at NKU in 14th year; classes award $22,000 to 18 agencies
The classes in philanthropy are not only about student community engagement, but are tied to learning outcomes enabling the students to learn about the particular issue as well as work on a project basis to solve problems. (Photo from NKU)
Awesome. Fulfilling. Exciting. Fun. Amazing.
Those are just some of the adjectives Northern Kentucky University students used to describe their experience...