Site Visits.

And just like that, we were left with 16 finalists!

Camp Kesem

Lincoln Police Charities

Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County

Junior Achievement

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

Men with Dreams

Lighthouse

Community Crops

Friendship Home

Teammates

Mourning Hope

Still Waters Equestrian Academy

Heartland Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Child Advocacy Center

Cornhusker Council Boy Scouts

Lincoln Children Museum

Our groups had the pleasure of visiting two of the above nonprofit organizations during our site visits. During these visits, we had the opportunities to see the applicants come to life through tour facilities, conversing with the employees/volunteers, and hearing testimonies from those who have benefitted from the organization. It also gave us the opportunity to ask any questions that remained after comprehensively reading their application. 

Questions such as:

• Why did you join this organization, and why are you passionate about youth?
• Have you completed similar projects [to your proposed project] in the past? If so, what have you learned from these past experiences that will enhance this project?
• How does your physical facility support your mission?

At the end of the day, we evaluated each site visit on a scale from 1-5 (5 being "strongly agree") on the following criteria:

• After visiting the NPO, do you believe that the organization's mission statement aligns with our own?
• Is the physical facility effective in helping the organization achieve their mission statement? 
• Were the people you interviewed passionate and knowledgeable about the organization and its cause?
• Do you believe the amount requested is appropriate for the reach of the NPO's project?
• Overall, how willing would you be to give this organization a grant of any sum?
• How much grant money would you be willing to give this organization?

It was truly a remarkable experience that we will soon not forget. Check out some of the pictures from our visits below!