PAD 623 Grant Research, Writing and Management

Part A: My class was involved in both the indirect giving model with the Duke Energy Foundation and the direct giving model with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF). For the indirect model, the students learned hands-on about corporate philanthropy through various activities such as reading and signing a confidentiality agreement with Duke Energy, reviewing 15 grant applications submitted by local nonprofits for nature-related programs, assessing the applications using a standard rubric, discussing strengths and weaknesses of the applications with classmates/colleagues, etc. For the direct model, the class focused on three grant applications submitted to Duke by nonprofits based in Northern Kentucky, and the students went through a second review process and selected one of these applications for the $1,000 grant award. 

Part B: GCF's main goal or restriction was that the $1,000 grant award go to a nonprofit organization based in Northern Kentucky. The class selected the City of Silver Grove, KY, for its Four Mile Creek Trail Restoration project. This project involves transitioning 10 acres of land along the floodway as a passive park and conservation area. It is a nature-based solution to address flooding issues in the city while providing residents and others with access to fishing and trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Quotes from various PAD 623 students

"I believe that hearing the real life people working in this field is much better than reading the textbook. It allows us as students to ask questions and think about things, we may not have been considering in the field, just reading out of a textbook!" 

"She taught me the culture of grant management and how to manage and process it."

Remarks from Professor Olberding regarding the nonprofit:

The City of Silver Grove will use $1,000 grant award -- along with funds from the Duke Energy Foundation -- to address and repair damage to the natural surface trails, identify and remove invasive species, take water quality readings, and improve native habitats including the installation of bat houses on the property.

https://cityofsilvergroveky.com/

Professor Olberding:

"As mentioned above, PAD 623 was in an online format in Fall 2021. Our class met synchronously on Thursday evenings, including sessions with our guest speakers and our nonprofit community partners for service-learning projects (which involved grant research and writing). In addition, there were many asynchronous assignments and activities, such as utilizing the Foundation Directory Online (FDO) to research and identify potential grantmakers. Because of this class format, there was little to no adjustments needed for the ongoing COVID pandemic."