Students in WashU’s Philanthropy Lab course awarded $143,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations across the St. Louis region this year, including $10,000 to Great Rivers Environmental Law Center that ultimately grew to $35,000 for the organization.
Offered in partnership with the Gephardt Institute, Philanthropy Lab is a sociology course designed to give students a theoretical and practical understanding of philanthropy. By delving into the sociological and historical roots of philanthropy in the United States and philanthropy’s role in addressing social issues, it seeks to spark and expand students’ interest and participation in philanthropy. The course is guided and funded by The Philanthropy Lab national organization, which also supports similar courses at universities across the country.
Beyond the classroom, Professor Barbara Levin explained that students in Philanthropy Lab “conducted site visits, grappled with missions, impact, need, and then had to decide how to distribute the money.”
“While we discuss theoretical issues, learn basics about nonprofits, and the history and role of philanthropy, the students also learned the critical importance of supporting the missions of organizations which impact lives every day.”
The course typically culminates with students granting approximately $50,000 in funding to non-profit organizations in the St. Louis community. Over the summer, WashU Philanthropy Lab also successfully championed for A Red Circle to receive an additional $50,000 from the national The Philanthropy Lab organization. The additional grants combined with the standard course grants total $143,000 in 2024.
But another organization that received additional funding from the Philanthropy Lab course this year is Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit environmental law firm which has been providing free and low-cost legal services to individuals, organizations, and citizen groups working to protect the environment and public health since 2002.
“We were absolutely thrilled to receive the news about the grant from Philanthropy Lab,” said Natalie Johnson, Executive Director of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center.
“This support energizes our team and affirms the importance of the work we’re doing. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to expand our efforts, particularly in promoting environmental justice, as we continue to implement our work for people and the environment.”
Great Rivers—Missouri’s only public interest law firm focused on the environment and public health, according to Johnson—works through the courts and administrative agencies to safeguard the environment by enforcing environmental laws, especially air and water pollution laws and laws intended to protect wetlands, floodplains, open space, and endangered species.
Without Great Rivers, many people would not have access to the legal system; I was struck by how noble and effective the work they do to ‘level the playing field’ is and this fueled my desire to advocate for them.”
Kate Kirchdorfer ‘26
Kate Kirchdorfer ‘26, a student who took the Philanthropy Lab course last spring, was drawn to this mission.
“I knew that I wanted to advocate for a nonprofit involved with environmental issues,” said Kirchdorfer. “I chose Great Rivers, specifically, because of the unique need they serve as the only environmental legal nonprofit serving solely Missouri and Southern Illinois.”
“Without Great Rivers, many people would not have access to the legal system; I was struck by how noble and effective the work they do to ‘level the playing field’ is and this fueled my desire to advocate for them.”
Levin attributed the class’s decision to fund Great Rivers Environmental Law Center to the organization’s “unique mission, the way in which it operates, the contribution to our community.”
“It was not an easy decision for them since the team — the group in the class who made the initial decision— cared deeply about environmental justice and had other great organizations from which to choose,” said Levin.
After this initial distribution of funding, Kirchdorfer appeared before the Philanthropy Lab’s Advisory Council to advocate for Great Rivers to receive additional funding from the national Philanthropy Lab organization.
The Council—which is comprised of alumni — allocates a total of $100,000 in funds from the Philanthropy Lab Foundation over a year in four quarterly meetings.
“It was such a privilege to advocate for Great Rivers; they are an amazing group of people doing super important work here in St. Louis,” said Kirchdorfer.
“In my pitch to the board, I talked about how there are often gaps between the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and how the effects of these gaps often disproportionately burden marginalized communities due to their lack of political power and resources. I emphasized that their work is nonpartisan and rooted in science, not in politics; environmental issues should transcend political boundaries.”
Kirchdorfer’s advocacy resulted in Great Rivers receiving an additional $25,000 grant.
“We’re excited to put these funds to work, making a difference where it’s needed most,” said Johnson.
“We plan to use the grant to strengthen our programmatic initiatives, especially in vulnerable communities that have long suffered from exposure to harmful pollutants. These funds will make us more agile, enabling us to swiftly and effectively respond to the evolving needs of these communities. By amplifying our legal efforts—driven directly by the priorities of the communities we serve—we aim to make the greatest impact where we are needed most.”
“A key takeaway from this class has been my realization that any philanthropic act of generosity, no matter its scale, holds immeasurable value—effects that resonate far beyond our own lifetimes,” said Kirchdorfer. “Generosity is a cornerstone of philanthropy, and it resonates deeply with my personal values. This understanding has profoundly influenced my perspective on philanthropy as a powerful means of driving positive change in the world and has provided invaluable insights into planning and evaluating my own career trajectory.”
Philanthropy Lab is supported by the Philanthropy Lab Foundation and other generous donations to the Gephardt Institute. All gifts to Philanthropy Lab are granted to St. Louis non-profit organizations by students in the course. If you would like to make a gift to Philanthropy Lab, please click here or contact Stephanie Kurtzman, Executive Director of the Gephardt Institute, at stephanie.kurtzman@wustl.edu.