April 1st, Assistant Professor and Director of Community Engagement Dr. Aliya Durham’s Grant Writing class hosted a philanthropy panel to offer students an opportunity to discuss funder decision-making; ethical dilemmas; navigating power dynamics; program implementation; metrics; and career pathways
“I invited my nonprofit friends, who invested their time, wisdom, and 'love of mankind' into students taking Grant Proposal writing with me. It was a full circle moment,” explains Dr. Durham. “I was situated as a fulcrum between emerging social work leaders and those that I have studied with, worked with, supervised, and raised millions of dollars with. I would like to thank them all for sharing hard nonprofit truths, practical lessons, and anecdotes filled with joy and optimism for a better world for our children's children.”
MSW student Leanna Totten served as the panel MC. Panelists included Lisa Perry, Daren Ellerbee, Carolyn Grady, as well as two Pitt Social Work alumni-Kelleigh Boland and Will Hayden.
“I enjoyed talking to the students about storytelling,” says Hayden. “When I first started writing grants, I learned how important it was to feature stories of impact in the narrative sections. I encouraged Dr. Durham’s class to build rapport with folks across their organizations — with program managers, for instance — because that’s where the best stories live. Knowing about the work, and being connected to the work, makes you a better writer.”
Boland shares: “It was an honor to participate on a panel in Dr. Durham’s class as a MSW alum. Dr. Durham has created an impactful learning environment for her students, which was evident from introductions through the panel discussion. I was extremely impressed with the students’ preparation and organization. As a result of their thoughtful questions, not only was I able to share my experience in philanthropy, but I also learned from their lived experiences and from my other colleagues on the panel. I wish these future social workers all the best as they pave the way toward a more equitable society."