HBS student organization awards $60,000 to nonprofits

After reviewing 100 applications, foundation gives grants to five Boston area organizations On April 22, the Harbus Foundation presented grants totaling $60,000 to five Boston-area nonprofit organizations. The Harbus Foundation is a student-run Harvard Business School organization whose mission is to support education, literacy, and journalism projects in Boston. This year, approximately 50 Harvard Business School students reviewed almost 100 grant applications submitted by Boston-area nonprofit organizations. Through a rigorous evaluation process that seeks to measure an organization’s potential to positively impact the community, students selected five grant recipients.

This year’s grant recipients are:

Boston Learning Center, a motivational and tutoring program for youth at risk of academic failure

Gardner Extended Services School, which extends the school day at Gardner Elementary by providing before-school, after-school, and evening programs for students, family members, and neighborhood residents

MYTOWN (Multicultural Youth Tour of What’s Now), a youth leadership development program aimed at increasing public appreciation for urban neighborhoods

Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, a public school serving grades 6-8 whose mission is to prepare every student to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college

WAITT House (We’re All In This Together), a community-based educational organization that provides services from beginning literacy classes to transition to college

Participating HBS students view the Harbus Foundation as a unique opportunity to impact area nonprofits. For many, working with the foundation continues a longstanding commitment to furthering the success of community-oriented organizations; for others, it is an opportunity to learn about foundations and grant making while applying business skills to entrepreneurial organizations. These skills are an important component of the Business School’s commitment to educating leaders who make a difference in the world. A survey of HBS alumni found that over 80 percent volunteered for nonprofit organizations, and nearly 60 percent were board members.