This spring, the Service Learning Center at ICU and JICUF launched a new program called the Common Good Grant (CGG). CGG will provide a committee of 15 ICU undergraduate students the opportunity to lead the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating a grant-making initiative. JICUF will provide ¥1,000,000 in funding, which the committee will then work to award to nonprofit, community and social business organizations within the community surrounding ICU in the form of grants. Students were selected based on a personal motivation to deepen their understanding of philanthropy and sense of service to the common good.

In March, the CGG student committee met together for the first time during an online kick-off session. Over the coming weeks, the students will attend weekly training sessions to learn about various dimensions of philanthropy such as social investment and effective practices for project management. Then, next term, students will be tasked with beginning the grant application process by contacting local organizations, soliciting grant applications, and reviewing them to make their final funding decisions over the course of a year.

CGG is the first initiative of its kind on campus. Students will gain first hand experience fostering reciprocal community relationships, learn about grant making processes, and develop practical skills in communication and leadership. We are excited to see what the student committee will accomplish!