A New Approach to Philanthropy
Drawing together normally disparate sectors — business, schools and charitable organizations — in a collaborative effort to effect change throughout their communities, Community 101 takes a long view of charitable giving. In addition to awarding monies — each class of students grant up to $5,000 — the program requires students to get involved. This hands-on approach emphasizes life skills that ultimately transfer to successful jobs and careers. Active in more than 50 schools throughout Oregon in 2008-09, Community 101 is used to teach civic engagement, global literacy, critical thinking, public speaking, technology use and community contribution. encouraging students to become change agents within their communities.

Since 1997, Community 101 has involved more than 6,000 students in philanthropy. The PGE Foundation partners with a variety of organizations to fund the student grantmaking program. This is the third year of a three-year collaboration with one of our partners, the Oregon Department of Education, through a National Learn & Serve grant from the Corporation of National and Community Service.

In 2008, the PGE Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation joined in a historic collaboration to expand the program to 100 schools by 2010-11 school year. For more information, visit Oregon Community Foundation.

The PGE Foundation was recently honored by the Portland Business Journal with an Innovations in Philanthropy award for its collaboration with the Oregon Community Foundation to create the thriving Community 101 program. Read more in our In the News section.

The Mission
To usher students through service and leadership learning opportunities using philanthropy and volunteering as teaching tools.

Who We Reach
We unveiled our program in 1997, and in those ensuing 11 years, we have given 6,500 students the reigns to distribute more than $1.2 million among nonprofit agencies that met the foundation’s giving parameters. By engaging students in the real-world implications of funding various organizations, they take on a new mantel of responsibility and a sense of ownership of the projects and programs they helped to choose and support.

2007-08 Program
Number of Schools: 35
Number of Youth: 1,500
Number of Nonprofit Recipients: 96
Number of Grants: 135
Grant Dollars: $187,440 distributed
Number of Funding Sponsors: 9
Second of 3-year collaboration with Oregon Department of Education through a National Learn & Serve grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service

2008-09 Program
Number of Schools: 50
Number of Youth: TBD
Number of Nonprofit Recipients: TBD
Number of Grants: TBD
Grant Dollars: TBD
Number of Funding Sponsors: TBD

How C101 Works
Each class of students is provided up to $5,000 for grantmaking in the areas of education, healthy families, and arts and culture. During a 7-9 month period, the class operates a mini-foundation. They:

  • survey student body
  • write a mission statement
  • research nonprofit organizations
  • distribute Requests for Proposals to nonprofits
  • review grant applications
  • interview and visit nonprofits
  • award grants
  • volunteer
The program can be used in many types of classes: business, English, Spanish, government, leadership, civics/history, etc. Some students use the program for their Senior Project.

Community 101 brochure
2008 Community 101 brochure

Learn more about
Community 101



Community 101 Video
Windows Media Player Quicktime Format
Windows Media Player Quicktime

Narrated by Leigh Halverson (Community 101, Westview High School), this video features a synopsis of the Community 101 program, how students, their teachers, the community and nonprofit agencies benefit, as well as resources for getting involved. Total running time: six minutes.