Special Events

Institute Philanthropy Project

IPVS students participate in Team Building activities

Students participate in the Institute Philanthropy Project which is designed to allow all IPVS students a mechanism through which they will be able to directly impact youth and education in the Washington, DC community through service and philanthropy.

This interactive project allows students to develop a mission statement, organize a variety of service projects, and develop a system for soliciting and evaluating grant proposals. Students serve on one of six committees where they plan volunteer activities, sponsor events to raise money, or review grant proposals.

Students will be responsible for serving on one of the committees below and attending weekly project meetings.

Service Committees

• Literacy Service Committee
• Cultural Enrichment Service Committee
• Education Service Committee

Fundraising Committees

• Community Yard Sale Committee
• Car Wash Committee
• TFAS Talent Show Committee
• Raffle Committee

Grantmaking Committee

Please click here to view full committee descriptions and student responsibilities.

Each year, the class plans and implements service projects and fundraisers related to the mission statement.


Past Volunteer Projects Include:

• Literacy Field Day for kids at Community Family Life Services hosted at Georgetown University
• International Fair with country presentations for children at YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs
• Trip to Native American History Museum with youth from Martha’s Table
• Safety Training for at-risk inner city children
• Ice Cream Social for families at the Ronald McDonald House
• Sports Day at a summer leadership camp for youth
• Carnival for youth campers at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
• Leadership and team building activities for YMCA Counselors in Training
• International Fair for inner-city kids at Beacon House

• TFAS Talent Show
• Car Wash
• Community Yard Sale
• Silent Auction
• Raffle

“My experience with IPVS equipped me with the skills I need to enter the nonprofit world after I graduate from college. Most importantly, I gained confidence in my abilities to be a leader and make a difference in the world.”
Megan Wood
Wellesley College
Intern, Suited for Change

"IPVS allowed me to expand my knowledge of the non-profit world while improving my communication abilities, exploring a city that I love and opening exciting opportunities for me after graduation. ”
Katie Hennig
Miami University
Intern, American Institute for Cancer Research

In addition to student organized service projects, IPVS students have the opportunity to become Team Leaders for service projects planned by The Fund for American Studies. These projects are for students in all four of the summer programs to come together for one day to perform various projects throughout Washington D.C.

IPVS Students host a community car wash to raise money for DC Youth

Past Projects Include:

• Facilitate games and activities for students at the Discovery Creek Children’s Museum’s Say Hello to Summer Event
• Stream clean-up and park revitalization at Marvin Gaye Park
• Meal preparation at DC Central Kitchen and Food & Friends
• Playground restoration at Community Family Life Services
• Working with the elderly at The Washington Home
• Sorting and Organizing food at Capital Area Food Bank
• Moving books and supplies at Booker T. Washington Charter School
• Cleaning and preparing lunch alongside the women at Rachael’s Women’s Center
• Organized the library of the after-school program at Interstages
• Cleaning and organizing the Asian American LEAD Community Center
• Delivering meals to homebound senior citizens in Northwest DC through IONA Senior Services’ Weekend Home Delivered Meal Program
• Sorting fresh produce at DC Central Kitchen’s Miller Farm
• Sprucing up a garden in Anacostia Park with Student Conservation Association