Philanthropy Incubator

About

The Philanthropy Incubator program provides Binghamton University students with the opportunity to learn about and experience giving (both time and money) as a way of illustrating the essential role giving plays in public service and civic engagement.  

Through the program, students practice philanthropy both by raising money and giving it away to local nonprofit organizations. Students do this through an undergraduate course, Philanthropy and Civil Society, part of the University Scholars Program and a graduate course, Issues in Nonprofit Administration, part of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. 

In addition, students in the MPA program organize the annual "Party with a Purpose" event to raise the money students in the graduate course use for their grantmaking.    

The Philanthropy Incubator began in 2009 with start-up support from Campus Compact, the national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to student civic engagement.

In 2010, the program received funding from the Learning by Giving Foundation; that funding continues today. The Philanthropy Incubator project also receives support from the Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundationand from generous Binghamton University alumni. 

Since 2009, students enrolled in Philanthropy Incubator affiliated courses have contributed over $200,000 to a wide range of Southern Tier nonprofit organizations. 

Apply for a grant

The Philanthropy Incubator application process for 2024 is now open. This year students will be making several grants totalling approximately $13,000 (possibly more), and will be awarding an additional $500 to ten organizations that are finalists for the funding. The deadline for applying is midnight, January 26, 2024.

The money will be available through two classes, one for undergraduates, (with $10,000) and the other for graduate students (with approximately $3,000). To be eligible for funding, organizations must have a 501(c)3 designation (or have a fiscal sponsor) and operate in the Broome County area (broadly defined). In each class, students will use the information from responses to the form to select five finalist organizations (ten finalists total, though some organizations may be selected as a finalist by both classes).

ALL FINALIST ORGANIZATIONS WILL RECEIVE A $500 AWARD in recognition of the time and effort it takes to work with each class, and to acknowledge the contribution each finalist organization is making to students' learning. This $500 is separate from the grant money the class is giving away. We will determine finalists for the two courses no later than March 1, at which time we will contact all other organizations that have completed this form to update them on our process.

Please direct any questions about the information form or the Philanthropy Incubator to David Campbell at dcamp@binghamton.edu, instructor for the undergraduate course, or Lauren Dula at ldula@binghamton.edu, instructor for the graduate course.

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Contact

Give to the Incubator

Your gift helps to sustain the Philanthropy Incubator and provides students with the opportunity to learn about giving.

Donating online is easy:

  • Log on to the Binghamton University Foundation secure online giving site and complete the information requested.
  • To designate your gift to the Philanthropy Incubator project, choose Other. In the "If Other - Please Specify" box below, type in Philanthropy Incubator Project — Acct # 10353.

Once your transaction is approved, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of your gift, followed by an official tax receipt in the mail a few days later.

Philanthropy Incubator Award Recipients

2023 award recipients

  • American Civic Association
  • Gigi's Playhouse
  • Volunteers of America

2022 award recipients

  • Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW)
  • Literacy Volunteers of Broome/Tioga
  • RISE
2021 award recipients
  • Broome County Council of Churches, Greater Good Grocery Store
  • Gigi's Playhouse
  • The Stack Project
2020 award recipients
  • VINES
  • RISE
  • Rural Health Network
  • Family Planning of South Central New York

2019 award recipients

  • Truth Pharm
  • Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments (VINES)
  • American Civic Association
  • Meals on Wheels of Western Broome

2018 award recipients

  • Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier
  • RISE
  • YWCA of Binghamton

2017 award recipients

  • Coalition for the Homeless of the Southern Tier of NY
  • Crime Victims Assistance Center
  • The Water Project
  • Little Footprints, Big Steps

2016 award recipients

  • Broome County Urban League
  • Community Care Network of Nichols
  • Peruvian Hearts
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Detention Alternatives After School Program, Summer Career Experience Program 

2015 award recipients

  • Mom's House
  • Kopernik Observatory
  • Southern Tier Alternative Therapies 

2014 award recipients

  • CHOW
  • Center for Employment Opportunities
  • Mom's House
  • Family Planning of South Central New York
  • RISE

2013 award recipients

  • SOS Shelter
  • Kopernik Observatory
  • Family Enrichment Network
  • Hope Dispensary
  • VINES

2012 award recipients

  • Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton
  • UHS Foundation, School Based Health Clinic
  • Oasis After School Program

2011 award recipients

  • Broome County Urban League
  • Family Enrichment Network
  • Mom’s House
  • Children's Home of the Wyoming Conference
  • Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center
  • Southern Tier Alternatives Therapies

2010 award recipients

  • Handicapped Children's Association
  • Family Enrichment Network
  • Binghamton Boys and Girls Club
  • Broome County YMCA
  • Broome County Council of Churches
  • Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier
  • Center for Discovery