Start Your Legacy

Our mission is to engage and educate students and community at Penn State about our philanthropic culture. Also we provide Penn State students with professional development opportunities as well as a comprehensive understanding of Penn State’s Division Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR).

2024 CLASS GIFT

UPUA Basic Needs Endowment

Through the Office of Student Care and Advocacy, students with identified need will have the opportunity to receive support from the fund. This may include students facing an emergency (family, medical, housing, food, and more) and will be allocated based on specific needs-based requests made by students at any point during the academic year. Alongside current emergency funding, this endowment will demonstrate a sustained commitment to support students’ basic needs through baseline financial backing. 

JOIN US

Students across all of the Penn State campuses are invited to submit applications to join in the Student Philanthropy Network.

Apply to SPN here.

PARTICIPATE

The Student Philanthropy Network hosts numerous events throughout the academic year.  Be a part of our philanthropic mission.

View events here.

GIVE BACK

Be a part of Penn State by giving back.  Make a gift, and see the impacts of philanthropy in action. 

Make a gift today.  

The strength of our Penn State community rests on our eagerness to care and advocate for those around us. Giving back to Penn State ensures we can continue to grow towards being a greater Penn State, and continue to care for and advocate for all Penn Staters, for years to come.

Rachel Bruning ’21Student Philanthropy Network Alumna

Student Philanthropy Network

Who We Are.

We are a group of students from diverse backgrounds and experiences coming together to promote philanthropy at Penn State. We care about giving back and believe in this org. and its ability to do good. By working together, we can educate more of our peers on the importance of philanthropy building a lifelong relationship between them and our alma mater. Through working hard to create a positive PSU experience for our members and for our peers through events and philanthropic education, we are doing our part to ensure that our Penn State continues to thrive for many years to come. We Are!

Student Philanthropy Network

 

Areas of Focus

Executive Board

 

Jacob Reynolds – President
Kira Petro – Vice President
Micaela Zelinsky – Secretary
Ashley Murch – Events Coordinator

Class Gift Campaign

 

Beginning with the class of 1861, Penn State seniors have a long and rich tradition of giving back to Penn State. From the Lion Shrine to the Allen Street Gates, the HUB Aquarium to the Victory Bell, the legacy of Penn State seniors encompasses the spirit, enthusiasm, passion and tradition of the University.

SPN works to promote a philanthropic spirit among the graduating class by providing students an opportunity to leave their legacy at the University they call home. Through a collective effort, the senior class has the opportunity to give both their time and financial resources in order to leave their mark on Penn State and take their first step toward becoming proud alumni.

Commonwealth Campus Engagement

SPN hopes to enhance communication between Penn State Campuses around their student philanthropy efforts. In addition, we plan to look for any potential partnership opportunities that align with our organization’s mission and vision.

Communications

 

SPN has social media accounts in order to promote our message about philanthropy through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We also work with the Office of Annual Giving to coordinate mass email communications to the student body providing information around events and other opportunities.

Digital Fundraising

 

Fundraising in a digital space is becoming more and more popular in higher education and in all areas of non-profit work. Student Philanthropy Network acts as an ambassador for Let’s Grow State, Penn State’s own crowdfunding platform. Through education of our student peers around how their organizations can benefit from Let’s Grow State, we work to promote a new generation of fundraising.

Events

 

SPN holds many events during the year such as #GivingTuesday, Spring Carnival, Philanthropy Week, and Class Gift Celebration. 

Internal Development

 

Student Philanthropy Network seeks to create a sense of community between org. members and to provide engagement and team building opportunities. We host a variety of activities throughout the year including our retreats, involvement fair, committee wars, and game nights. Our members also have the opportunity to gain professional experience working with Division of Development and Alumni Relations professionals at Penn State.

Staff Advisor

 

Anna Wood
Assistant Director of Student Philanthropy
Office of Annual Giving
akw6066@psu.edu

2024 Class Gift

The Class of 2024 has selected the UPUA Basic Needs Endowment as this year’s class gift.

This fund will provide sustained support for students facing hardships in pursuit of their degree. 

Start Your Legacy at Penn State by supporting the Class Gift.