Why wait? Benchmarking student philanthropy programmes: A closer look at effective programmes and why we should act now

Abstract

Student philanthropy efforts are meant to engage students while they are undergraduates and help them understand the importance of giving once they become alumni. We know that when students give as undergraduates it translates to positive giving patterns as alumni, but there is a need for in-depth study of existing student philanthropy programmes (SPPs) so that practitioners understand what makes them successful. This study explores effective student engagement programmes on college campuses by identifying 11 colleges with effective SPPs and gleaning insight into how these programmes are structured, implemented, managed and maintained. The findings suggest (a) that student philanthropy efforts be led primarily by students, with oversight from at least one full-time dedicated staff person, (b) that philanthropy education is integral to the success of these programmes and can be intertwined with asks as early as the undergraduate’s first year, and (c) that programming should be relevant with students interests.