The next generation of nonprofit leaders is learning how to lead. From managing the day-to-day operations of an organization to fundraising, governance, and financial stewardship, these are essential skills for anyone pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector. But there's another side of the equation: philanthropy. Who is teaching students what thoughtful grantmaking looks like or how to make community-informed funding decisions?
A partnership between Central Florida Foundation and the University of Central Florida is doing just that, one class at a time.
Since 2012, the community foundation and university have teamed up to teach students in UCF’s nonprofit management program how to think like a funder. Students are given the opportunity to steward funds from the Foundation’s community investment portfolio through a guided grantmaking experience. Students learn about the areas of interest the dollars must support, research the issue areas in the community, learn about who is working on these programs, and present grant proposals to CFF’s Board of Directors for approval.
Students Gain Perspective and Experience
The participating students are in UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE) which is geared toward undergraduates who want to “change the world.”
While students who go through this program will go off on their own unique paths, including everything from public administration to teaching and nonprofit management, what they learn through this experience can be applied to any field where critical thinking and community-informed decision making is required.
Each year, Central Florida Foundation looks to see what areas of interest are supported in its community investment portfolio. This year, students researched areas of impact that included seniors, veterans, Alzheimer’s, and animals.
After research, site visits, and discussion, here are the grant recommendations the student cohort recommended to the CFF board of directors this spring.
Learning Through Doing
This educational experience allows for a new perspective. Oftentimes, future nonprofit leaders are learning through the lens of fundraising and managing a nonprofit. This experience offers a funder’s point of view, which gives fresh perspective on what makes a nonprofit sustainable and “investable.”
“We spend a lot of time in the undergraduate program learning how nonprofit organizations raise money, but this is one of the first opportunities our students have to experience the funding process from the perspective of a funder,” shared Stephanie Krick, PhD, Director of Undergraduate Public Administration Programs at UCF. “This unique experience gives students insight into how nonprofits work and what makes them successful. I hope students learn what makes a nonprofit organization investable and what organizations need to help them not only accomplish their goals but to be sustainable.”
Krick also shared that, based on student reflections, the experience also helps to build appreciation for the diversity within the nonprofit sector in terms of organizational structure and governance.
“I hope that students continue to appreciate the value of all types of nonprofit organizations from the small local nonprofits with a handful of staff and board members to the large national nonprofits with 30+ members on their local board of directors,” she added. “All types of organizations are needed and can make huge impacts in the communities they serve.“
A Full-Circle Moment
One standout moment for Krick happened recently during the spring 2026 cycle.
“Our students did their research and decided to visit a local organization,” remembered Krick. “I accompanied the students on this visit, and to my surprise, one of my former students was not only employed by this organization, he was a part of the team presenting on behalf of the organization.”
This student had learned about this organization through this same project few years ago, connected with their staff, and eventually was hired upon graduation.
The Role of Central Florida Foundation
From Central Florida Foundation's perspective, this partnership reflects one of the most important roles a community foundation can play: helping cultivate the next generation of philanthropic and nonprofit leaders. As a regional grantmaker, we offer a perspective that is rarely experienced in the classroom. Students gain a firsthand understanding of how charitable dollars are stewarded, how funding decisions are made, and how philanthropy can strengthen an entire community.
Whether they ultimately pursue careers in philanthropy or elsewhere in the nonprofit sector, this experience broadens their understanding of Central Florida's nonprofit landscape, fosters meaningful professional relationships, and deepens their appreciation for the interconnected systems that support thriving communities.
“Strong philanthropy doesn't happen by chance,” says CFF’s President/CEO, Mark Brewer. “It requires thoughtful stewardship, informed decision-making, and a deep understanding of community needs. By giving students the opportunity to experience grantmaking firsthand, we're helping prepare the next generation of leaders to make strong philanthropic investments that will strengthen Central Florida for years to come.”
Each year, CFF’s board of directors welcomes in students in this program to a meeting, where the students share presentations about their grant recommendations. This experience not only first-hand shows students the approval process; it also gives them an experience in a boardroom with a diverse group of community leaders.
Board members are encouraged to ask questions and share their perspective on the student grant recommendations, which students are prepared for in advance by their professor, Stephanie Krick, CFF team members Sandi Vidal and Alissa Mahadeo, and community mentors.
Thinking Forward
We value partnerships where the return on investment is in the strengthening of our community. This partnership between CFF and UCF fills a gap within our ecosystem, offering real-world experiences, making grant recommendations that impact real people (and sometimes animals too!) and aims to prepare students for the next step in their journey.
Whether these students become nonprofit executives, public servants, foundation professionals, board members, or lifelong philanthropists, they'll carry forward a perspective gained from this partnership that will strengthen Central Florida for years to come.
