Students at USF St. Petersburg will award grants to local nonprofit groups

At a time when charities are struggling, a student-led effort at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg will hand out nine grants of up to $5,000 each to support community causes.

Nonprofit groups in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have until March 22 to apply for the grants from the university's newly created student philanthropy boards.

Money for the grants will come from a $395,000 federal Learn and Serve America grant that USF St. Petersburg received last year. The grant is one of 36 awarded nationwide to help students learn about leadership and philanthropy.

In December, the university's first student philanthropy board awarded a $5,000 grant to a Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast program that helps young people through long-term mentoring, tutoring and goal-setting.

After researching community needs, nine philanthropy boards decided to offer funding this semester to 501(c)(3) groups that help, among others, the homeless, abused women and at-risk children. Students evaluating each proposal could invite applicants to discuss their requests in person.

In addition to awarding grants, the university also plans to use the three-year federal grant to award freshman scholarships and one-time stipends to faculty members who incorporate civic engagement and service-learning into their courses.