Do you have an upcoming interview with CommuniCare grantmakers? Mary Grace and Emily, former CommuniCare participants from La Salle Prep and St. Mary’s Academy, have some great tips to share about how to shine during your meeting. Good luck!

Is your organization planning to apply for a CommuniCare grant this year? Be sure to check out these videos of Emily and Mary Grace, former CommuniCare participants from St. Mary’s Academy and La Salle Prep, sharing their top three tips to make your application stand out!

Everyone wants to make a difference. Service has always been a principal part of our lives, but it is often difficult to figure out how to take action. As juniors at St. Mary’s Academy (SMA), we became members of our school’s founding chapter of CommuniCare, a youth grantmaking program of The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. CommuniCare allowed us to utilize our voices, stand up for what we believe in, and make a difference.

CommuniCare has been one of the most impactful extracurriculars we have participated in during our high school careers. We joined in 2019-2020 out of our passion for social justice and excitement to change the world for the better. During our first year of CommuniCare, our group collectively decided to award grants to nonprofits supporting Portlanders experiencing houselessness. This decision stemmed from a deep feeling of responsibility to uplift the people in our city who are failed by Portland’s high rent and property costs and shortage of living-wage jobs. Our chapter met once per week and Ella became a liaison between the chapter and outside organizations, coordinated with the managers of local businesses to organize fundraiser events, and communicated with nonprofit representatives to schedule interviews. Emily scheduled, managed, and baked for our numerous bake sale fundraisers and also drafted our mission statement. 

In the recent 2020-2021 school year, SMA’s CommuniCare chapter expanded into two: the Pink Chapter, which we led as the Chapter President and the Communication and Events Manager, along with our Fundraising Manager, and the Green Chapter, led by a separate leadership team. Each chapter had unique students, leaders, mission statements, and methods of fundraising. As the Communications and Events Manager, Emily collaborated with school leaders and trained other students as CommuniCare representatives in the Portland community, while organizing and scheduling nonprofit interviews. As the Chapter President, Ella conducted weekly meetings, worked closely with our advisor, and oversaw committee work within the chapter. We are proud that, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully transferred our meetings into a fully digital format, including fundraising, and that the program thrived at a time when the community needed assistance more than ever.

This past year, the Pink Chapter focused on relief for Oregon Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities experiencing houselessness and the Green Chapter worked tirelessly to support nonprofits providing relief to Indigenous communities, immigrants, and refugees in Oregon. Both chapters exceeded their fundraising goals and were thrilled to interview and donate to many amazing nonprofits. Some methods of fundraising this year included an online silent auction, a virtual cooking class, a cookbook of student and teacher-contributed recipes, and an online game night. We were thrilled that both chapters were able to award over $15,000 each to Oregon nonprofits. 

Most of SMA’s CommuniCare participants were new to the program this year, and each participant was fantastic at jumping in to help our Oregon community members. Sydney-Kate, a member of the Pink Chapter,  reflected: “I joined CommuniCare because I wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way that inspires change. To know that I am directly helping the lives of those experiencing houselessness across our state fills me with gratitude and hope, and I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to give back to those around me while also growing my leadership skills.” 

Never would I have thought that in just three years, my understanding of not only the nonprofit world but of the entire world would expand so greatly. CommuniCare is more than just an opportunity for students to help nonprofits – it gives them the power to make change. I want to break my CommuniCare experience into three parts: Never Imaginable, Who Would Have Thought?, and I Never Want to Stop. 

Never Imaginable 

• At the beginning of my sophomore year, the word CommuniCare came up and instantly something inside of me sparked. From that moment, I knew this program was something I could have never imagined. It created a space for me to develop an understanding of how to be a grantmaker and to see myself as someone who is able to make a difference. I learned what being a part of something really means. CommuniCare taught me that being a part of something greater than just yourself can change everything around you.
  

Who Would Have Thought?

• Who would have thought that I would be able to speak with nonprofits across the State of Oregon who are doing good in our society? These representatives have taught me so much about the world and how I can help. The process of writing a mission statement to define our goal and speaking up for marginalized groups was so valuable. And knowing our effort goes out into the world to really impact nonprofits put my perspective on blast and expanded it beyond belief. Then seeing nonprofits apply directly to my group for funding and want to hear what I had to say fascinated me! Who would’ve thought that adults would want to listen to a high school student?!
  

I Never Want to Stop 

• The impact that has been left on me is honestly indescribable. It has sparked my passion and love for service even more and I am grateful for the connections I have formed with CommuniCare staff and individuals leading incredible nonprofits. From evaluating grant applications to having in-person or Zoom interviews, the grantmaking process taught me how nonprofits keep their amazing organizations running. These people have such passion and drive to make the world a better place – and being able to provide funding to their organizations makes a huge difference in their work. I never want to stop creating more connections, opportunities, and impact in the future.