The Giving Lab

Overview

The Giving Lab is an engaging, standards-aligned philanthropic education program designed for middle school students. Founded in 2020 and developed in collaboration with an educational consultant and experienced middle school educators, it transforms core learning objectives into an immersive, and research based exploration of community giving. The program is customizable for any school’s needs and outcomes by partnering with NPC’s own education consultant.

How It Works

Participants dive into the world of nonprofits—gaining a deeper understanding of the sector, the Berkshire region’s charitable landscape, and the meaning of philanthropy. Leveraging NPC’s signature Giving Back guide, students research local organizations and prepare persuasive presentations advocating for their chosen causes.

NPC incorporates local teaching artists, bringing their dynamic presentation and coaching skills into a partnership with the classroom teacher. This creates an elevated experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Each classroom receives a grant—thanks to generous local funders—to distribute among one or more nonprofits of the students’ choosing. After thoughtful discussion and consensus-building, students have the honor of formulating a presentation, where the funds are awarded directly to the organizations, and frequently build ongoing connections that extend learning beyond the classroom.

Impact to Date

To date, The Giving Lab has empowered students to allocate over $6,000 in contributions to nonprofit organizations in Berkshire County. The program has been successfully implemented at Reid and Herberg Middle Schools in Pittsfield, Mt. Everett in Sheffield, and Drury High School in North Adams. Expansion to additional schools in the region is currently underway, pending further funding support. The curriculum is available on Canvas, and could be implemented into other geographic regions.

Interested in Bringing The Giving Lab to Your School?

We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to info@npcberkshires.org to explore how The Giving Lab can enrich your students’ civic learning and foster meaningful community engagement.

Interested in Sponsoring The Giving Lab?

Looking to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in your local community? A small amount of your time or resources makes this program possible. Please inquire about sponsorship, naming or other opportunities to contribute- info@npcberkshires.org.