YSU business students award $2,000 grant to support single mothers through Pay It Forward initiative

Students in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University awarded a $2,000 grant to Clothed in Strength as part of the Fall 2025 Pay It Forward: Student Philanthropy Initiative.

The grant is administered by members of the Student Nonprofit Leadership Organization, who spent the semester assessing community needs, reviewing proposals and conducting site visits before selecting this year’s recipient.

Housed in the WCBA’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership, the Pay It Forward initiative provides students with an applied learning experience in philanthropy and nonprofit management. Students serve as grantmakers, gaining firsthand insight into community challenges and the funding decisions nonprofits navigate.

“Pay It Forward exemplifies the power of applied learning,” said Laura J. Dewberry, director of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. “Students are not only learning about philanthropy and nonprofit management — they are actively shaping the future of our community through thoughtful, strategic investment.”

Clothed in Strength supports low-to moderate-income single mothers and their children by providing essential items, emergency financial assistance and workforce development resources. The organization aims to help families achieve greater stability and long-term self-sufficiency.

The Pay It Forward initiative, launched in 2010, strengthens nonprofit capacity across the region while preparing students to become future leaders in the sector. Throughout the semester, students complete a community needs assessment, establish funding priorities, solicit proposals and award grants to organizations demonstrating measurable impact.

“This experience gives students a deeper understanding of the nonprofit sector and the challenges many organizations face,” Dewberry added. “At the same time, it fosters critical thinking, collaboration and a strong sense of civic responsibility.”

The grant presentation marks the culmination of months of student-led research, evaluation and decision-making, reflecting WCBA’s commitment to experiential learning and community engagement.

For more information about Clothed in Strength, visit the Clothed in Strength website.