Aleshire Venture Grant Process: Utilizing Community Partnerships and Grant-Making to Enhance Student Leadership Development

Over the last twelve years, an innovative community engagement practice has immersed undergraduate students enrolled in a 300-level leadership course in adaptive leadership by giving them power to make progress on complex challenges at the local level. This unique partnership between a university, donors, and a local United Way, makes students equal partners in awarding and distributing up to $10,000 per year to local organizations seeking to meet a complex community need. Within a framework detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding established among the three partners, students create a request for proposals (RFP), distribute RFPs, review proposals, visit sites, and determine which priorities to fund that are in alignment with both the donors' and United Way's vision. The experience culminates in a formal recommendation to the United Way Board of Directors and the donors for approval and allocation of funds. Throughout the process, the President/ CEO of the United Way, the instructors of the course, and the donors mentor the students directly. A preliminary study exploring the student learning outcomes for past program participants found positive outcomes related to community involvement, teamwork, civic engagement, and critical thinking.