On Monday, June 24th, 2013, Allowance for Good launched its second annual Global Philanthropy Summit, which brings together a catalytic group of youth for intensive gatherings to advance personal understanding in and encourage collective action toward global education equity.
Anisa reflects on the entire GPS experience.
My experience with AfG this week was absolutely amazing. I learned so much about different organizations, what a philanthropist is, and overall I learned how to make a difference in the world. It was really fun to go meet different organizations and hear their stories about what they are trying to accomplish. The best part was giving back to the HOPE School Children in Zambia, raising money and collecting dental hygiene supplies etc. This program does really make you look differently at what you have and what others don't have, and how you have the power to change that. After being at this program, it really makes me want to get more involved and I would totally recommend everyone to do the same because it's life changing, not just for those you're helping, but for yourself as well.
Allowance for Good develops the rising generations of philanthropic leaders who cultivate global citizenship and empower others around the world to achieve their full potential. We seek to educate and engage US youth ages 13-18 in philanthropy in order to extend their perspectives beyond our borders encouraging them to acknowledge the extreme poverty and lack of access to resources faced by youth around the world. Learn more at www.allowanceforgood.org.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Every Action Counts: GPS 2013
On Monday, June 24th, 2013, Allowance for Good launched its second annual Global Philanthropy Summit, which brings together a catalytic group of youth for intensive gatherings to advance personal understanding in and encourage collective action toward global education equity.
Denzel reflects on Day 4 of GPS, during which we conducted our Global Service Project, Giving Circle, and Closing Ceremony.
Saying "goodbye" can be super hard and many of us had to say our best wishes and farewells to the strong, fun relationships we've built as the Global Philanthropy Summit comes to an end. Fortunately, we can all rest assured that whenever we meet again, we'll be even much more beautiful people and great philanthropists.
Today, we raised awareness about Allowance for Good's Global Affiliates. Promoting these organizations was a very humbling experience since people would often choose to just pass us by on the streets. However, a lot of people gave time to listen and donate. We genuinely felt great about ourselves in standing up to make a change in someone's life. Every action counts. In total, we'd raised enough funds to help support our Global Affiliates, Adonai and SparkVentures. At our Giving Circle, we decided that the $160 we raised should go towards SparkVentures to help with the prevention of cavities, along with dental supplies we had collected. Additionally, we decided to distribute $1,000 towards helping fund a Water Tower project with Adonai, since water is very essential to life.
Later, our closing ceremony was quite inspirational and motivational. We all had a voice to speak about how we felt and how it feels to be global citizens.
To conclude, I thank Elizabeth and all the staff, who helped in the creation of the Summit. I would highly recommend kids to participate in programs that help raise awareness for change and being a philanthropist. I'd never forget that we, as global citizens, can always give of our Time, Talent, and Treasure.
Denzel reflects on Day 4 of GPS, during which we conducted our Global Service Project, Giving Circle, and Closing Ceremony.
Saying "goodbye" can be super hard and many of us had to say our best wishes and farewells to the strong, fun relationships we've built as the Global Philanthropy Summit comes to an end. Fortunately, we can all rest assured that whenever we meet again, we'll be even much more beautiful people and great philanthropists.
Today, we raised awareness about Allowance for Good's Global Affiliates. Promoting these organizations was a very humbling experience since people would often choose to just pass us by on the streets. However, a lot of people gave time to listen and donate. We genuinely felt great about ourselves in standing up to make a change in someone's life. Every action counts. In total, we'd raised enough funds to help support our Global Affiliates, Adonai and SparkVentures. At our Giving Circle, we decided that the $160 we raised should go towards SparkVentures to help with the prevention of cavities, along with dental supplies we had collected. Additionally, we decided to distribute $1,000 towards helping fund a Water Tower project with Adonai, since water is very essential to life.
Later, our closing ceremony was quite inspirational and motivational. We all had a voice to speak about how we felt and how it feels to be global citizens.
To conclude, I thank Elizabeth and all the staff, who helped in the creation of the Summit. I would highly recommend kids to participate in programs that help raise awareness for change and being a philanthropist. I'd never forget that we, as global citizens, can always give of our Time, Talent, and Treasure.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Ripple Effects: GPS 2013
On Monday, June 24th, 2013, Allowance for Good launched its second annual Global Philanthropy Summit, which brings together a catalytic group of youth for intensive gatherings to advance personal understanding in and encourage collective action toward global education equity.
Nina reflects on Day 3 of GPS, during which we heard from Chicago Community Trust, Spark Ventures, and izzy+.
How can we spread our ripple effect? This is a question that was introduced to our Global Philanthropy Summit group today. As a part of our third day for Allowance for Good’s Global Philanthropy Summit, we went to downtown Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, where we met with representatives from izzy+, SparkVentures (one of Allowance for Good’s Global Affiliates with partners in Zambia), and the Chicago Community Trust. During this time, we were given the opportunity to discuss our individual and group service projects as well.
There are several things that I took away from today. One thing that especially stood out to me was a question that was posed by Mr. Jim Lewis of the Chicago Community Trust: How do you choose which organizations to give out grants to? He eventually led our group into a very insightful discussion about morality, using several thought-provoking situations that helped us understand their reasoning for choosing certain organizations over others. Another speaker, Jill Horning of izzy+, talked to us about her experiences as a part of a trip to Nicaragua, and how she and other designers made supplies boxes for the teachers of one school and helped design an entryway for another. This was a great example of how, even if we are not associated with a specific nonprofit organization, we can still make a difference. Ms. Horning elaborated on the fact that izzy+ focused on its people instead of making the company purely about furniture, and I found this fact to be very inspiring. It is very interesting to see how all of these different companies can find ways to give back to their communities and make an impact.
After our speakers, we had the chance to start brainstorming ideas as to how we were going to spread our own ripple effects through a project that would raise awareness and money for Allowance for Good. We also had time to talk about our group service project, which will be executed on our last day of GPS. All in all, I found today’s experiences to be very rewarding, and I am glad that we have the opportunity to learn how to make a difference and be a global citizen as a part of Allowance for Good.
Nina reflects on Day 3 of GPS, during which we heard from Chicago Community Trust, Spark Ventures, and izzy+.
How can we spread our ripple effect? This is a question that was introduced to our Global Philanthropy Summit group today. As a part of our third day for Allowance for Good’s Global Philanthropy Summit, we went to downtown Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, where we met with representatives from izzy+, SparkVentures (one of Allowance for Good’s Global Affiliates with partners in Zambia), and the Chicago Community Trust. During this time, we were given the opportunity to discuss our individual and group service projects as well.
There are several things that I took away from today. One thing that especially stood out to me was a question that was posed by Mr. Jim Lewis of the Chicago Community Trust: How do you choose which organizations to give out grants to? He eventually led our group into a very insightful discussion about morality, using several thought-provoking situations that helped us understand their reasoning for choosing certain organizations over others. Another speaker, Jill Horning of izzy+, talked to us about her experiences as a part of a trip to Nicaragua, and how she and other designers made supplies boxes for the teachers of one school and helped design an entryway for another. This was a great example of how, even if we are not associated with a specific nonprofit organization, we can still make a difference. Ms. Horning elaborated on the fact that izzy+ focused on its people instead of making the company purely about furniture, and I found this fact to be very inspiring. It is very interesting to see how all of these different companies can find ways to give back to their communities and make an impact.
After our speakers, we had the chance to start brainstorming ideas as to how we were going to spread our own ripple effects through a project that would raise awareness and money for Allowance for Good. We also had time to talk about our group service project, which will be executed on our last day of GPS. All in all, I found today’s experiences to be very rewarding, and I am glad that we have the opportunity to learn how to make a difference and be a global citizen as a part of Allowance for Good.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Something to Talk About: GPS 2013
On Monday, June 24th, 2013, Allowance for Good launched its second annual Global Philanthropy Summit, which brings together a catalytic group of youth for intensive gatherings to advance personal understanding in and encourage collective action toward global education equity.
Zoe reflects on Day 2 of GPS, during which we heard from Crossroads Advisors, Crown Family Philanthropies, and Google.
Sometimes life decides to hit you over the head with a big foam bat. Today traveling down Wacker drive, I had a small epiphany on a big idea. We’ve been talking a lot about asking “what’s wrong?” and making sure that our services are actually helping and are actually needed. That communication is one of the necessary things for any program to work, whether in Uganda or Louisiana. The idea that there are things people don't need aid with, or that people can actually suffer from the misappropriation of aid is not something I’ve really thought of. I have to admit, and I know its sad, but its not something that's occurred to me before. I don’t like to think that good intentions can go wrong.
Zoe reflects on Day 2 of GPS, during which we heard from Crossroads Advisors, Crown Family Philanthropies, and Google.
Sometimes life decides to hit you over the head with a big foam bat. Today traveling down Wacker drive, I had a small epiphany on a big idea. We’ve been talking a lot about asking “what’s wrong?” and making sure that our services are actually helping and are actually needed. That communication is one of the necessary things for any program to work, whether in Uganda or Louisiana. The idea that there are things people don't need aid with, or that people can actually suffer from the misappropriation of aid is not something I’ve really thought of. I have to admit, and I know its sad, but its not something that's occurred to me before. I don’t like to think that good intentions can go wrong.
When
I was in the 6th grade, I organized a coat drive. I knew that the shelter, Connections for the Homeless, needed to increase their amount of winter
clothes they could distribute if they wished to provide for the homeless in
Evanston. I gathered coats from November till January and gave them to the
shelter. This worked because I had close personal connections with the shelter.
It doesn’t work nearly as well when the place the donations are going to is a
NGO is a developing, third world country. We don’t know what they are doing and
can't infer what they need from halfway across the world like we can in our own
communities. The biggest idea I’ve gathered, as to working in and with
philanthropy, is Communication. Talk about ideas, talk to people, and talk with
people. Create a conversation.
Communications is an important part of
the world, since more people have a cellphone than access to a toilet.
Companies like Google are helping to create ways to open lines of communication
and connecting the world. By using their technology and going above and beyond,
Google is giving in several key areas both locally and globally. As an internet
company Google understands how important communication is in the modern age.
Personally, I really like what Google
is doing. They are applying their skills and the skills of their “Googlers” to
help the world. They have such an expansive network, and do so much to aid in
the creation of communication that I feel they were the real focus today. We
have so many opportunities to connect with the world these days, we need to use
them. We need to apply our ability to be able to chat with people on another
continent to our ideas, and combine it in a way to benefit humanity.
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Power of Partnerships
Allowance for Good Program Development Fellow, Liz Coda, has been a part of our team for just over a year now. As she's wrapping up her service to AfG and preparing to graduate college and move to Philadelphia, she reflects on the partnership she built with GlobeMed and what she's learned about working in the nonprofit sector.
I began working as a fellow with Allowance for Good about a year ago, and I’m still learning something new every day in my work here. Building a nonprofit organization from the ground up, creating program content, and interacting with the youth we aim to educate and empower has been a rewarding, enlightening, and often challenging experience. While I’ve taken on several roles and tackled several projects, both small- and large-scale, foundational to the growth of this organization has been creating meaningful partnerships.
Allowance for Good is a young, thriving network of U.S. youth. Although we have successfully engaged hundreds of youth within the Chicagoland area, we’re just beginning to engage youth in other areas of the country. To expand our reach, we paired up with GlobeMed, an Evanston, Illinois-based nonprofit that partners U.S. college students with grassroots health organizations abroad. Our goal was to have the college students help us identify nearby high school students to get involved with the work of both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good. This work with GlobeMed illuminated the following stages of collaboration necessary to grow a successful partnership:
1. Inspiration
Allowance for Good believes in investing in the educational potential of youth globally. Initially, we identified GlobeMed chapters whose partner organizations were education-focused. This was crucial to our success; rather than just reaching out to as many chapters as we could in hopes of merely growing our network, we wanted to stay true to our mission and align ourselves only with those already supporting global education in some capacity. In this case, staying true to our mission trumped maximum exposure.
Then we had to reach out to the GlobeMed chapter members we wanted to work with. Overwhelmingly they were enthusiastic and on board with our idea, but some were not as receptive. Ultimately, we realized that we could only work with those who genuinely wanted to build this partnership with us. If a partnership is not voluntary, it will not succeed. Partners must believe in an organization's mission and want to see that organization thrive.
2. Formalization
Once we had ironed out all the details with the staff of the GlobeMed National Office and the students at the chapters we wanted to work with, we formalized the partnership by drafting a Memorandum of Understanding with GlobeMed. While not legally binding, this document spelled out the expectations of each organization. The goal of this document was to clarify the goals of both organizations.
This partnership proved tricky from the beginning, since both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good support different international partner organizations. Each collegiate GlobeMed chapter has one global partner, and Allowance for Good has two. If the youth involved wind up fundraising, which organization should they support? This has been a challenging question for us, one that we’re realizing does not have a concrete answer.
3. Operation
I entered into this partnership with an idea of how I thought our work with GlobeMed would look. I devised a model that I thought we could replicate with each GlobeMed chapter that we worked with. Throughout the operation of our partnership, however, I’ve learned the importance of being open to change and being able to adapt. In every case, the partnership has looked slightly different.
With the GlobeMed chapter at the University of Rochester, for example, college students set up a global health club at a nearby high school and are incorporating both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good curriculum in the work they do with those students. Another student at the University of Texas at Austin, who connected with Allowance for Good through the GlobeMed network, is working to establish an Allowance for Good chapter at a high school near her university. Successful operation of a partnership means being aware of the needs of each partner and collaborating in order to best serve both organizations’ missions.
4. Termination or Institutionalization
A huge challenge to partnered organizations is turnover. I’ve been growing this partnership between Allowance for Good and GlobeMed for about a year now, but I’m leaving Chicago in just a couple short weeks. Sometimes when key leaders leave an organization, a partnership may be terminated. While we’re fairly confident that the GlobeMed and Allowance for Good partnership can exist without me here (as sad as I am to go!), we recognize that if and when our partnership ends in the future, it will not mean failure. On the contrary, terminating partnerships often means that initial goals have been accomplished.
The most important thing to remember when building a sustainable, long-term partnership is to nourish relationships. All partnerships are not meant to last forever, but if members of each organization are truly invested, they will care enough to pass the partnership along to the next generation of leaders. By investing in the actual people you’re working with, the missions of both organizations will thrive, and the partnership is sure to flourish.
I began working as a fellow with Allowance for Good about a year ago, and I’m still learning something new every day in my work here. Building a nonprofit organization from the ground up, creating program content, and interacting with the youth we aim to educate and empower has been a rewarding, enlightening, and often challenging experience. While I’ve taken on several roles and tackled several projects, both small- and large-scale, foundational to the growth of this organization has been creating meaningful partnerships.
Allowance for Good is a young, thriving network of U.S. youth. Although we have successfully engaged hundreds of youth within the Chicagoland area, we’re just beginning to engage youth in other areas of the country. To expand our reach, we paired up with GlobeMed, an Evanston, Illinois-based nonprofit that partners U.S. college students with grassroots health organizations abroad. Our goal was to have the college students help us identify nearby high school students to get involved with the work of both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good. This work with GlobeMed illuminated the following stages of collaboration necessary to grow a successful partnership:
1. Inspiration
Allowance for Good believes in investing in the educational potential of youth globally. Initially, we identified GlobeMed chapters whose partner organizations were education-focused. This was crucial to our success; rather than just reaching out to as many chapters as we could in hopes of merely growing our network, we wanted to stay true to our mission and align ourselves only with those already supporting global education in some capacity. In this case, staying true to our mission trumped maximum exposure.
Then we had to reach out to the GlobeMed chapter members we wanted to work with. Overwhelmingly they were enthusiastic and on board with our idea, but some were not as receptive. Ultimately, we realized that we could only work with those who genuinely wanted to build this partnership with us. If a partnership is not voluntary, it will not succeed. Partners must believe in an organization's mission and want to see that organization thrive.
2. Formalization
Once we had ironed out all the details with the staff of the GlobeMed National Office and the students at the chapters we wanted to work with, we formalized the partnership by drafting a Memorandum of Understanding with GlobeMed. While not legally binding, this document spelled out the expectations of each organization. The goal of this document was to clarify the goals of both organizations.
This partnership proved tricky from the beginning, since both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good support different international partner organizations. Each collegiate GlobeMed chapter has one global partner, and Allowance for Good has two. If the youth involved wind up fundraising, which organization should they support? This has been a challenging question for us, one that we’re realizing does not have a concrete answer.
3. Operation
I entered into this partnership with an idea of how I thought our work with GlobeMed would look. I devised a model that I thought we could replicate with each GlobeMed chapter that we worked with. Throughout the operation of our partnership, however, I’ve learned the importance of being open to change and being able to adapt. In every case, the partnership has looked slightly different.
With the GlobeMed chapter at the University of Rochester, for example, college students set up a global health club at a nearby high school and are incorporating both GlobeMed and Allowance for Good curriculum in the work they do with those students. Another student at the University of Texas at Austin, who connected with Allowance for Good through the GlobeMed network, is working to establish an Allowance for Good chapter at a high school near her university. Successful operation of a partnership means being aware of the needs of each partner and collaborating in order to best serve both organizations’ missions.
4. Termination or Institutionalization
A huge challenge to partnered organizations is turnover. I’ve been growing this partnership between Allowance for Good and GlobeMed for about a year now, but I’m leaving Chicago in just a couple short weeks. Sometimes when key leaders leave an organization, a partnership may be terminated. While we’re fairly confident that the GlobeMed and Allowance for Good partnership can exist without me here (as sad as I am to go!), we recognize that if and when our partnership ends in the future, it will not mean failure. On the contrary, terminating partnerships often means that initial goals have been accomplished.
The most important thing to remember when building a sustainable, long-term partnership is to nourish relationships. All partnerships are not meant to last forever, but if members of each organization are truly invested, they will care enough to pass the partnership along to the next generation of leaders. By investing in the actual people you’re working with, the missions of both organizations will thrive, and the partnership is sure to flourish.
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