New Maxwell Course Has Students as Grantmakers

By Jessica Youngman

November 9, 2026

Jiahuan Lu

Public Administration & International Affairs Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

East Asia Program

New York State

Non-governmental Organizations

Student Experience

Funded by The Philanthropy Lab, the course will let undergraduates from across the University review real proposals and decide how to award up to $85,000 to Central New York nonprofits.

Jiahuan Lu

Central New York nonprofits will soon have a new set of funders to impress: Syracuse University undergraduates.

Jiahuan Lu, associate professor of public administration and international affairs at the Maxwell School, has received support from The Philanthropy Lab to launch PAI 300 Nonprofits, Policy and Governance, a new course in which students review proposals from Central New York nonprofits and make real decisions about how to distribute up to $85,000 in funding.

The course is open to undergraduate students across the University. It will convene on Tuesdays in the Spring 2027 semester from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in person, with enrollment limited to about 25 students.

The course will introduce students to how nonprofits address public problems, influence policy and work with government and communities. It examines philanthropy, advocacy, service delivery, collaboration, accountability and nonprofit finance.

At its center is a hands-on philanthropy experience. Working together, students will review proposals from local organizations, conduct due diligence, interviews and selected site visits, and deliberate with classmates before making grant recommendations. The semester will culminate in a grant award ceremony in late April or early May.

What makes this course special is that students will move beyond learning about nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in the classroom to making real decisions that can benefit our community.”

Jiahuan Lu

associate professor of public administration and international affairs

The funding will go to Central New York nonprofits chosen by the students, which means the decisions made in the classroom will shape the work of organizations in the community. The course will invite proposals from nonprofit organizations serving Central New York across a broad range of areas. Interested organizations will be able to apply through an open call for proposals; additional information about eligibility, application requirements and the submission process is expected to be available in December 2026.

“What makes this course special is that students will move beyond learning about nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in the classroom to making real decisions that can benefit our community,” says Lu. “By reviewing grant proposals, meeting with nonprofit leaders, and deciding how to allocate funding, students will develop critical thinking, teamwork and decision-making skills. More importantly, they will gain a deeper understanding of community needs, the challenges nonprofits face and the responsibilities that come with deciding how to use limited resources to make a difference.”

Lu applied for support from The Philanthropy Lab, and was awarded funding for three academic years, 2026-29, with up to $85,000 available annually in the first two years and up to $110,000 in the third. A program of the Once Upon A Time Foundation, the organization’s goal is to ignite students’ interest and participation in philanthropy. Since 2011, it has supported courses that have involved more than 6,400 students and awarded more than $20 million in grants.

“This partnership is a tremendous recognition of Professor Lu’s work and of the Maxwell School’s commitment to experiential learning. Students will move beyond the textbook to evaluate real proposals, ask hard questions and make decisions that matter. At the same time, Central New York nonprofits will receive funding that helps them expand their work and serve our community. It’s a win for our students and for the organizations that will benefit,” said Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for faculty and research.

Lu is a senior research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and an associate editor of the Journal of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Management & Leadership and Public Performance & Management Review.

Spring registration begins Nov. 10. Students interested in the course can contact Lu at jlu183@syr.edu.