GRANVILLE, Ohio— Denison University’s student Venture Philanthropy Club (VPC) announces its annual Request for Proposals (RFP) to local organizations, including nonprofits that work to address community empowerment and civic engagement in Licking County, Ohio. The VPC will select the proposal of one community organization to receive a grant of $10,000, to be implemented during spring 2012. Members of the VPC also will provide volunteer labor throughout the spring of 2012 to assist in the implementation of the proposed project. The proposals must be postmarked or received by Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The Venture Philanthropy Club at Denison was established in 2008 through a donation of David Kuhns, a member of the Denison class of 1968. Each year the VPC selects the proposal that will most increase the capacity of a community organization related to a given theme. Members of the VPC are then responsible for stewarding the gift and helping with the completion of the project.

In 2011, the VPC awarded Pathways of Central Ohio a package grant of $5,000 and 200 hours of direct student service to be used January-May of that year. The grant was harnessed to address prescription drug abuse in Licking County and to build Pathways’ internal capacity to address this issue in a sustainable manner. One result, a permanent prescription drug take-back program, RxCollect, is expected to launch in late October of this year.

To request a copy of the RFP or for more information, please contact Fadhel Kaboub, assistant professor of economics, at 740-587-6315, Peter Hurford at hurfor_p1@denison.edu, or visit www.denison.edu/campuslife/servicelearning/venture_philanthropy_club.html. RFPs must be postmarked or received electronically by Tuesday, Nov. 1. Please note that the proposed project must take place in Licking County, Ohio