Each spring, the Corporate Social Responsibility class within West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics offers monetary grants to support community initiatives, and non-profit agencies serving the greater Morgantown area are encouraged to apply for the 2020 grant.

“Part of the objective of the class is to learn to function as a Board of Directors who have operations over this foundation of money,” said Suzanne Gosden Kitchen, assistant chair of the Department of Management. “They have to figure out how to get agencies to apply for the money, and then they have to make deliberations on how to award out the money." 

A total of $10,000 will be awarded, either as one large award or as multiple smaller awards. Award amounts are determined by: (1) assessment of need, (2) thoroughness of request submitted, and (3) other applicable factors. The 2020 CSR Board of Directors will select the organization(s) whose endeavors best benefit citizens of the greater Morgantown area.

Now in its 18th year, the annual project provides unique, experiential learning for students in the CSR course. Previously, CSR students completed volunteer service work with many local agencies in conjunction with the project.

Last year was the first of a new partnership with the United Way, giving students the opportunity to experience the Board of Directors process with the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. This year, students are working with the United Way of Marion and Taylor Counties.

“Their budgets are different, the organizations that they serve are different, and the people are different so it’s a great experience,” Gosden Kitchen said. “It really opens me up to new connections and brings more interest from outside agencies who are going to know about the CSR initiatives here, so I’m glad about that.”

The deadline for grant applications is at 5 p.m. on Friday, February 28. Recipients will be announced during an event on Tuesday, March 31.

Applications can be submitted via email to Becsrclass@mail.wvu.edu with the Subject line: ATTN: (Your organization’s name) Grant Application.

Grant applications should include the following information: 

• Organization’s name, contact person, email address and phone number
• Organization’s mission statement and organization’s impact to the community 
• Organization’s overall need for funding, amount requested from this grant opportunity, and the specific purpose of the request
• Organization’s balance sheet and income statement from most recent fiscal year
• Outside letters of support (minimum of one, maximum of two)

For additional information on this grant opportunity, contact Suzanne Gosden Kitchen at 304.293.7797 or by email at Suzanne.Gosden@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

bm/01/31/20

CONTACT: Brittany Murray
Senior Writer, Office of Strategic Communications
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
(304) 293-5927; brittany.murray@mail.wvu.edu

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