In her PPS 4310 class last fall, Gold and her classmates were responsible for allocating $75,000 of grant funding to nonprofits in the community. They gave funds to Family Abuse Center, Community Cancer Association, Midwest Food Bank, Waco Habitat for Humanity, Veteran One Stop, Talitha Koum Institute, and The Cove.
When I signed up for Philanthropy and the Public Good, my decision wasn’t well thought out. A friend of mine was planning on taking it, and since I was still undecided about my capstone, I signed up too. At the time, if someone had asked me what philanthropy was, I likely would have said it was something wealthy people do when they have extra money to spend. I had no idea this class would reshape my perspective on philanthropy, and, in doing so, change the trajectory of my life.
In the simplest terms, this course [PPS 4310] is centered on stewarding $75,000 in grant funding to nonprofits. As a class, we evaluated organizations across multiple dimensions including financial sustainability, leadership, organizational structure, and alignment with a class-set grant statement guidelines. We also conducted site visits, met with staff, and saw firsthand the impact these organizations were having in the community. This was not a theoretical exercise, and our decisions carried real-world weight. The nonprofits we selected would receive resources, while others would walk away empty-handed. This meant that we had to weigh with head and heart, valuing both objective analysis and emotional connection in our decision-making.
We also engaged with a wide range of readings. My favorite was Richard Gunderman’s We Make a Life by What We Give, which challenged our conventional ways of thinking and broadened my perspective not just on philanthropy, but on life itself. Roundtable discussions led by Dr. Andy Hogue and Professor Richards facilitated an environment for everyone to share their thoughts and expose each other to new perspectives. While we were rarely unanimous in agreement, the diversity of opinions made our discussions richer and far more engaging.
Gold (top row, third from left) at the Philanthropy Lab conference this summer
“[PPS 4310] has been a fantastic
conversation starter, a standout
addition to my résumé, and an
experience everyone should have
at least once in their life.”
– Hayden Gold ‘25
One of the most transformative experiences I had was our site visit to Waco Habitat for Humanity (WHFH), where I met executive director John Alexander. That meeting marked the beginning of a professional relationship that has continued to grow. Following that semester, I enrolled in a class he taught at Baylor and volunteered with WHFH. This past summer, I participated in the Philanthropy Lab’s Grant Writing Ambassadors Conference, an all expenses-paid trip to Fort Worth, where I vied for an additional $200,000 in funding for WHFH over the course of a weekend. Today, I continue to serve on the Philanthropy Lab Grant-Writing Board, representing WHFH and actively seeking new funding opportunities.
Looking back, I signed up for this class on a whim. What I gained was far more than I could have anticipated. The course opened the door to countless opportunities – from job interviews and leadership roles to ongoing community involvement. It has been a fantastic conversation starter, a standout addition to my résumé, and truly an experience I believe everyone should have at least once in their life. If you are considering this class, take it. I hope it changes your life the way it changed mine.
Hayden Gold BBF ‘25 (MIS, Marketing, Environmental Science) took Philanthropy and the Public Good (PPS 4310) last fall, and Housing Insecurity and Nonprofit (PPS 1100) in the spring. Since graduating in May, she has remained involved in philanthropy and grant writing.
