What if there were a program created for the sole purpose of providing over $20,000 in funding for area nonprofit organizations every year? And what if that program gave college students the opportunity to learn how nonprofits operate and seek funding? And what if that very same program gave interested citizens a way to make a dual investment with one check: one for advancing the common good and one for the education of future leaders? 

There is: the student-run Common Good Grant (CGG) Program at Bowdoin College. 

“Since 2001,” according to the web site, “an anonymous alumni donor has contributed $10,000 annually for Bowdoin students to allocate to local agencies looking for funding to start new initiatives and maintain existing programs.” 

Every year, students on the CGG Committee raise additional funds from alumni and other generous donors to increase the amount available for distribution to deserving nonprofits. In 2018, for example, the students raised an additional $11,500, bringing the total to $21,500.  

That same year, eight organizations received funding for worthy projects. Three examples convey the diversity of the awardees: Healthy Androscoggin (Lewiston) – to develop culturally competent materials to assist local immigrant and refugee populations understand transportation to access medical appointments; Independence Association (Brunswick) – to provide laptop support in-Home support staff, aiding people with disabilities through improved documentation; and Trust for Our Future (Topsham) – to support 20 one-hour risk assessment/health counseling sessions with the Nurse Practitioner at Mr. Ararat High School. 

Every year, organizations interested in receiving a grant submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), briefly highlighting what they are seeking funds for and why. Some of them are then asked to submit a formal grant application. Students conduct on-site visits of the finalists, thereby further enhancing their real-life experience. 

In making decisions on the awards, the students must ask tough questions, just as the members of any foundation must do, such as: “How important is the grant to achieving the mission of the organization?” and, “Does the organization have other good options for securing the necessary funds?” Moreover, they strive to ensure that the awards ultimately serve a variety of different populations in midcoast Maine.  

Marina Stam, a Psychology/Economics major from Cumberland Foreside, who serves as Co-Director of CGG, got involved in the program as a first-year student because, she says, “I wanted to learn more about the issues facing the people of Maine.” 

Troy Peters, a Mathematics/Economics major from Windham, New Hampshire, the other Co-Director, says, “I wanted to wrap my head around the challenge of raising funds for nonprofit organizations while exploring possible career options.”  

Since its founding 17 years ago, CGG has awarded over $280,000 in funding to 147 different organizations. Along the way, the organizations, the students and the donors to CGG have all been the beneficiaries. Call it a win-win-win proposition. (NOTE: for more information, contact Tom Ancona, director of the Common Good Grant Program. [email protected].) 

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns. [email protected].