SIFE-YPI Fact Sheet

SIFE is a student based organization aimed at promoting economic growth and business education throughout the community. Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) of the University of Charleston is a dynamic group with focus to impact the community through philanthropy community impact.

The Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Youth Philanthropy Initiative was created in 2006 in partnership with Triana Energy, University of Charleston SIFE and The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation to enable young people to participate in philanthropy. This pilot project will help students learn about their communities, deepen their commitment to community involvement and develop important leadership skills. The SIFE-YPI program will connect youth and adults in taking action that will positively impact their communities by providing a funding pool to make grant decisions regarding the chosen issue areas within Clay and Kanawha counties.

This proposal aims to address two issues on congruence with SIFE-YPI’s views “To stimulate economic growth within the Kanawha River Valley (Clay and Kanawha counties) through impacting community development and creating educational experiences”. These issues are:

            1) Community Development

Definition: Focused on areas of the community to improve the economic standing to better the quality of life for the target area. These areas include promoting leadership, and reducing poverty.

2) Educational Opportunity

Definition: Creating new and diverse learning experiences/opportunities within the community from the kindergarten through high school level. Experience includes projects which students may encounter economic functions. Opportunities include ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of basic business environment. The Initiative will be targeting schools that are eligible for Title One Funding in Clay and Kanawha counties.

How Do I Participate?

Community members are invited to attend the presentation/workshop on September 7, 2006 at the University of Charleston, in the Frankenberg Art Gallery on the second floor of the Geary Student Union from 3:30pm to 5:30 pm. This presentation/workshop will assist the community in understanding more about the Students in Free Enterprise Youth Philanthropy Initiative (SIFE-YPI). Furthermore, the grant application process and requirements for this Initiative and what type of projects are eligible for this grant. SIFE-YPI has a total of $45,000 to award.

What is the Grant Process?

All completed grant applications with the required material as outlined in the grant application, must be received at The University of Charleston Jones Division of Business Attn: to SIFE by 5:00 pm by October 13, 2006. Faxed or incomplete applications will not be considered. The applications will be reviewed for due diligence. The applications will be reviewed beginning October 15, 2006 ending November 16, 2006. Official notification of grant acceptance of denial will be sent on November 20, 2006. There will be both an interim evaluation of the grant on February 28, 2007. At this time there must be quality and quantifiable results shown. A final evaluation will be conducted May 11, 2007.

Need More Information?

If you need more information regarding the focus areas, a copy of the policies, guidelines, or grant applications for the Initiative, please contact the University of Charleston SIFE team which is serving as the facilitator of the Initiative. Please direct questions to Drew Orrison (andreworrison@cc.ucwv.edu), Diana Pana (dianapana@cc.ucwv.edu) or Joshua Myers (joshuamyers@cc.ucwv.edu). Or visit The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation website at www.tgkvf.org.