From the Nominator

"The Student Alumni Association (SAA), under guidance from the Office of Alumni Relations, hosted Student Philanthropy Month, a month-long initiative to help promote a culture of philanthropy at UC Merced. During the four-week period, students directly engaged in meaningful, themed experiences that provided them with accessible learning opportunities and firsthand insight into philanthropy and its impact.  

Week 1 (Theme: Leading): Students participated in a networking event that featured alumni working for nonprofit organizations. Highlights from the event included a welcome from the SAA president, a keynote address delivered by the Stanislaus Community Foundation CEO Marian Kaanon, an interactive panel discussion with alumni, and a robust networking session.  

Week 2 (Theme: Serving): Through a partnership with SAA and the UC Merced Community Engagement Center, Student Philanthropy Month hosted a community service project with the City of Merced.   

Week 3 (Theme: Giving): In partnership with the annual giving department, SAA offered a week-long crowdfunding initiative for student organizations interested in raising funds for student-focused projects. Six student organizations participated, raising more than $6,000 to support a variety of cultural and professional development projects.   

Week 4 (Theme: Engaging): In the final week of Student Philanthropy Month, students were invited to engage in a variety of stewardship projects at a Friendships & Acts of Kindness Fair that was held on campus. Activities included drafting thank you cards and letters, making friendship bracelets, and more. The event concluded with a game night that brought all participating students back together to celebrate the month."

From the Judges

UC Merced’s mission is to provide access and opportunity to California, and the judges found the university’s Student Philanthropy Month initiative to align with the university’s overarching mission. It is a well-thought-out and captivating way of engaging with a community that may not traditionally find the concept of philanthropic giving to be especially accessible. This was evident through the level of collaboration with students and stakeholders across the university and the very strategic use of their budget. This initiative illustrates the importance of building a solid foundation for UC Merced to promote a culture of giving to its student and alumni community. The panel looks forward to seeing how the continuation of Student Philanthropy Month increases UC Merced’s student population’s propensity for giving over time.