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  • IES 103 class group picture with Alisa
  • IES 103 group picture with Alisa
  • IES 103 group picture with Alisa
Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project

»Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project (PEPP)

The Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project (PEPP) is a unique program at Chapman University that empowers students to make a real impact within our immediate community.

Through classroom-based grants of up to $2,000, students become grantmakers, funding local nonprofit organizations that address community needs connected to their course topics.

What is Experiential Philanthropy?

Experiential philanthropy is a hands-on learning model that is still emerging in higher education. Chapman is proud to be one of only a few universities in Southern California offering this innovative approach.

Early research shows that students who participate in experiential philanthropy gain:

  • A stronger sense of civic responsibility
  • Greater awareness of local social issues
  • Increased motivation to engage in philanthropy and volunteer work

Why It Matters

PEPP gives students a chance to take meaningful action on real-world challenges affecting Orange County. By learning how to give back in impactful ways, students develop leadership skills and community awareness that extend far beyond the classroom.

At Chapman, we believe that teaching students how to give creates a ripple effect of positive change—because when students learn to serve, our communities grow, too. 

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Program Goals

PEPP has six program goals, or student participant learning outcomes. These are holistic in nature and serve to address the individuality of the student, prepare them for the workplace, and promote active civic and community engagement.

  1. Promote a “Learn by Giving” Approach: By giving, or engaging in philanthropy, through course programming students are developing tools that cannot, and should not, be learned in the classroom alone.
  2. Foster Meaningful Community Engagement: By actively participating in PEPP, students will learn what community organizations are working to solve social problems and will be encouraged to take action in surrounding causes that are important to them beyond the PEPP experience.
  3. Encourage Transferable Skill Development: PEPP courses allow students to develop and utilize skills that are important in many of today’s jobs and volunteer opportunities, such as critical thinking skills and persuasive communication strategies.
  4. Build a Pipeline of Next-Gen Donors: Through PEPP, we aim to inspire students to give financially, at any level, as soon as they are able and throughout their lifetimes.
  5. Increase Awareness of Social Issues: By researching local nonprofit organizations and talking with their knowledgeable staff, students develop a deeper awareness of the sorts of issues people are addressing every day in our neighborhoods.
  6. Grow Professional Networks: Leveraging connections with community members and nonprofit organization staff who they may not have encountered otherwise could lead to future employment or volunteer options—including working in the nonprofit and community-based sectors.

Funded Nonprofits

  • A Quarter Blue
  • ABC Hopes
  • Action Alliance Foundation
  • Beta Foster Care
  • C.C.R.P.A.
  • CASA
  • CASA of Orange County
  • Casa Teresa X 2
  • Caterina's Club
  • Cell Dogs, Inc.
  • CHOC Family Center
  • Crime Survivors Resource Center
  • Dayle McIntosh Center
  • Food Finders
  • Forever Footprints
  • Friendly Center
  • Fristers
  • Frost Fund
  • Foster Love
  • G.R.E.E.N. Foundation
  • Grandma's House of Hope X 2
  • Higher Ground Youth & Family Services X 2
  • Intersectional Environmentalist
  • Jessie Rees Foundation
  • Jonathan's Giving Tree
  • Kherut
  • Laura's House X 2
  • Latino Health Access
  • LGBTQ Center OC
  • Mariposa
  • Mary's Kitchen X 2
  • Miracles For Kids
  • New Directions for Women
  • OC Family Justice Center Foundation
  • OC Justice Project
  • OC United Way
  • Olive Crest
  • Operation Warm Wishes
  • Orange County Justice Fund
  • Orangewood Children's Center
  • Orangewood Foundation
  • Padre Foundation
  • Project Hope Alliance
  • Project Kinship
  • Public Law Center
  • Ronald McDonald House Orange County
  • Someone Who Cares Soup Kitchen
  • Stand Up for Kids
  • The Bicycle Tree
  • Together We Rise
  • Viet Rise
  • Viet-CARE
  • Waste Not OC
  • Working Wardrobes
  • Youth Centers of Orange

Testimonials

Students

"Chapman's Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project is by far the most impactful and creative initiatives I have taken part in as a student so far. In my group, I was able to really connect with my non-profit organization and meet the faces behind the incredible work that they do. Additionally, my group had the privilege of presenting the non-profit with the PEPP award which will be used to help them expand their service. I believe that PEPP provides such a rare and exquisite opportunity to experience the magnitude of giving back -- even from the classroom. Knowing that as students we were active agents of real change fills my heart. I am excited to see this project continue to grow and flourish at Chapman. A big thank you to Professor Jody Brown for pursuing this in IES 103; it truly was so special." - Juliette Jorgenson '24

"Participating in the PEPP Program at Chapman University was one of the most meaningful ways I’ve been able to engage with and support my community as a student. It was the highlight of my Emerging Social Issues class to learn about the great work that’s being done by various organizations and then come together as a class to award funds in support of their missions. Seeing the non-profit my group chose to work with be presented with a check and knowing it would have a positive impact on their work was an incredibly proud moment for me and my classmates. I’m excited to see PEPP grow at Chapman, and think every university should have an initiative like this!" - Nicole Schmidt, M.A. '21

Chapman Faculty

"PEPP provided our Master's students with opportunities to engage in meaningful advocacy and research by partnering with community organizations. Through their participation in PEPP, each student was able to use their work and voice to raise awareness of the important work and influence of the amazing organizations with which they partnered. The assignments that students completed through their participation in PEPP, including interviews with leaders, grant writing, and research papers and presentations, emboldened them to operationalize the socially just mores of the Master of Arts in Leadership Development program." - Dr. Angel Miles Nash

"What a positive impact this project had on the students in IES 103! Throughout the semester, Dr. Whitney McIntyre Miller and Alisa Driscoll supported the students in exploring local non-profit organizations. This project wasn’t just about students gaining new knowledge; the main benefits seemed to come from students engaging with a local community organization, finding a specific need within the organization, and then presenting that information in a passionate way to their classmates. There was a sense that this project mattered. I'd like to think that the students’ knowledge and compassion were deepened and enriched by the work they completed on this project. The Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project was challenging, engaging, and meaningful." - Jody Brown

Community Partners

"Ronald McDonald House Orange County is so honored to have participated in Chapman University’s Panther Experiential Philanthropy Project (PEPP). One of the major challenges our organization faces is lack of brand understanding. Many people might be familiar with our name but few know what we do. This program not only allowed us to tell our story to the select students assigned to our organization, but we were delighted to hear them so accurately share our story with other students. What a great learning opportunity you provide these young adults! I wish I participated in something similar. The award at the end of the course was a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated. Many people don’t know that our charity is funded primarily by community support. Thanks for supporting our mission of providing care, comfort, and support to families with seriously-ill children." - Noel Burcelis, MSW, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Orange County

"Forever Footprints was incredibly honored to receive Chapman’s PEPP award. I was touched by the compassion the students showed to our cause. Although the students didn’t know I was a Chapman alumni when they chose our nonprofit organization, I felt an instant bond to these hardworking students. For the students to really feel the impact of an award like this is so valuable and something I know they will take with them as they go into the world and do amazing things. I couldn’t be more proud for Forever Footprints to have been given this award, and I couldn’t be more proud to be an alumni of Chapman University."          - Kristyn von Rotz, Executive Director, Forever Footprints

"The Chapman students that we worked with could not have been more engaging and invested in bettering their own community and in supporting our efforts. We feel blessed for being a Chapman PEPP award winner but mostly we were blessed by working with a student team that sincerely and passionately wanted to understand how they could contribute their talents meaningfully and be a part of a solution towards ending hunger and reducing landfill waste. Thank you Chapman University for this program and for the opportunity to work with your students!" - Tim Surridge, Outreach Coordinator, Waste Not OC

"Orangewood Foundation is so grateful for Chapman's PEPP award. Our mentoring program is 100% privately funded. So this award makes us running our mentor program a reality. Furthermore to see Chapman encourage philanthropy and teach about the impact it can have is phenomenal. Then to give the students a real chance to practice philanthropy is even more amazing. I wish I had a program like this when I was in school. I have no doubt these students will continue to practice and walk out these valuable lessons they are learning at Chapman!" - Shane Panther, Coordinator of Mentoring Services, Orangewood Foundation

"Thank you so much for awarding us the PEPP grant! And more importantly, thank you for looking to the future and running such an important program at Chapman - teaching your bright students how to make a meaningful difference will not only further their education, it will hopefully change our community for the better! We are all living days that none of us could have imagined not so long ago. While times are uncertain, Cell Dogs is experiencing challenges in moving our programs forward and getting our graduates adopted so this grant could not have come at a better time. We look forward to seeing great things from your students!" - Janette Thomas, Executive Director, Cell Dogs Inc.



 

Press

Courses and Faculty

Participating PEPP Courses:

  • FFC 100 - The Case for Kindness
  • CES 103 - Philosophy of Helping
  • CES 315 - Non-Governmental Organizations: Policy and Practice
  • EDUC 730 - Peace Leadership
  • LEAD 497 - Leadership Integrative Capstone 
  • MLD 668 - Leadership for Emerging Social Issues
  • MLD 679 - Nonprofit Organizations and Leadership
  • ENV 350 - Corporate Sustainability Management
  • HCOM 582 - Health Communication Campaigns

Current PEPP Faculty:

Contact

Alisa Driscoll, M.A.'19
PEPP Administrative Director
Office of Community Relations
(714) 289-2098
pepp@chapman.edu 

Whitney McIntyre Miller, Ph.D.
PEPP Faculty Director 
Attallah College of Educational Studies
(714) 744-2134
pepp@chapman.edu