Embracing Enduring Values

Ball State initiates pilot program to cultivate a culture of philanthropy

The idea is simple, but carries with it significant value for many students, faculty, and alumni.

How can Ball State University use a donor-funded campaign as a teaching tool, thereby further extending the art of philanthropy into the classroom?

That’s the mission of a pilot student philanthropy program established within Ball State’s Honors College in the Fall of 2023. The program—inspired by a similar offering at Northern Kentucky University, where Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns formerly served as president—is being led by Dr. Tim Berg, teaching professor of honors humanities, and is just beginning to take shape.

To make this project possible, the Ball State University Foundation turned to three alumni for financial assistance: Kelli Lawrence, ’01, Donna Oklak, ’77, and Michelle (Asby) Ryan, ’81—all of whom have served on its Board of Directors.

For Ms. Lawrence, “the idea of being a philanthropist or being involved in philanthropy was not something I knew much about until later in life.” Therefore, she believes the new philanthropy program serves as a valuable tool for students who otherwise might not have been exposed.

“The idea of talking to students about what philanthropy means, how you can start having an impact very early in your life, and what that looks like, is really exciting to me,” Ms. Lawrence said.

“I think philanthropy is a learned behavior,” Ms. Oklak added. “I don’t think it comes naturally. To make good philanthropic decisions is not the easiest thing to do. So, anywhere that we can facilitate that in a classroom and get to know non-profit leaders, I think it creates better philanthropic decision-makers, and ultimately, graduates of Ball State will think of themselves as philanthropists.”

In the first semester of the pilot, 50 students had the experience of utilizing a $2,500 fund in a Contemporary American Civilization class.

“We were looking at ‘socially engaged art,’ and we were trying to figure out what that is, how it works in the community, and how we can express some of those values or share some of those values and ideas with the local community in some way,” Dr. Berg said.

The result of the first-semester project? A festival in which students donated to groups that they felt were aligned with Ball State’s enduring values.

Now, through a cohort of nine faculty members serving as ambassadors, the student philanthropy concept has spread throughout the University in various ways.

The pilot has also been designed to cater to all Ball State students, irrespective of their financial standing.

“A lot of Ball State students are first-generation college students who may not have been exposed to the idea of philanthropy,” Ms. Lawrence said. “To help people think of themselves as philanthropists and have an impact at an early age is really powerful.”

Dr. Gabriel Tait, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, integrated the program into one of his classes, using the Fall semester to partner with Grissom Elementary School, which features one of the more racially and economically diverse student populations within the Muncie Community Schools district.

“They handed out books to the students about female African American hairstyles,” said Dr. Jim Buss, dean of the Honors College. “The students worked with the school district, brought in the author of the books, and did workshops with elementary school students.

“When I spoke to our students, I tried to remind them that part of what the program is meant to do is not necessarily to teach students how to give money away, but how to take their time, their talent, and their treasure to work with local community partners and nonprofits to advance a cause of some sort.”

These early returns serve as an emblem of what this kind of high-impact practice can offer to Ball State students. After being successfully launched, thanks to the generosity of three Ball State graduates, Dr. Berg said the University is working to secure further funding to extend the project’s reach through Ball State’s campaign, Our Call to Beneficence.

“Our goal is to make student philanthropy a regular activity at Ball State University, so that all students can expect to participate in such projects during their time here,” he said.

The program is currently collecting research data from its first semester, and it is expected to have a significant impact that will last for many years.

“It can take 10 or 20 years to see the full impact of this,” Ms. Oklak said. “But we’re going forward, and that’s the important thing.”