Eagle Endowment Council

The Eagle Endowment Council 

The Eagle Endowment for Public and Community Service is a unique, student-led effort providing grants to students. The very first initiative of its kind, the endowment awards grants up to $1,000 to American University students and student groups demonstrating a need for the initial resources to propel an original idea that focuses on providing high quality community service in the DC area into action. The Eagle Endowment Council works with grant recipients to turn their action into service by providing education and alumni/professional networks to help maintain success in their venture. The Eagle Endowment Council serves a key role in supporting the Eagle Endowment and its grant recipients from project conception to final review during its monthly meetings. Council members assist with promoting each grant cycle, reviewing and interviewing applicants, raising grant funds, and assisting with event planning activities.

The Eagle Endowment Council welcomes all AU students who want to help social justice projects by using their skills in marketing, fundraising, and mentoring. Having a diverse group in the Council makes the Eagle Endowment's mission stronger, as it gives grants and teaches the University community through meaningful service. 

Meet the Current Council Members!

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Develops annual goals and strategic plans for the program, ensuring its successful implementation.
  • Oversees and effectively manages the board of advisors, leveraging their expertise and support throughout the year.
  • Collaborates with the board to evaluate grant applications and effectively communicate outcomes to applicants.
  • Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with potential and existing grant applicants, providing guidance, feedback, and constructive suggestions to strengthen their proposals.
  • Monitors the progress of funded projects, tracking key milestones and outcomes, and prepares comprehensive reports for the board and other stakeholders.
  • Explores and cultivates potential funding opportunities from diverse sources, working collaboratively with the development team to secure financial support for the program's initiatives.
  • Collaborates with cross-functional teams within the organization to ensure seamless integration of the program's activities with other ongoing projects and initiatives.

Bio: Grace is a first-year graduate student at American University’s KOGOD School of Business, currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Finance. She has an impressive academic background, having graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a dual specialization in analytical Finance and Marketing, as well as a minor in Communications. Aside from her academic achievements, Grace is also a former D1 collegiate athlete, which has equipped her with invaluable leadership skills such as team building, time management, and accountability. Furthermore, she is dedicated to volunteerism, having received the President's Volunteer Service Award four times, which requires a minimum of 250 hours of service within a year. In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time with her loved ones, participating in sporting activities, volunteering, reading, and traveling. After completing her graduate studies at AU, she intends to pursue a career in finance, bringing her impressive skills and experiences to her future endeavors.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Refines grant applications and facilitates grant writing workshops in preparation for the endowment application period.
  • Supports the executive director throughout the application process and maintains open lines of communication with grant awardees to provide ongoing mentorship and guidance.
  • Evaluates and analyzes grant proposals, offering tailored guidance and mentorship to successful recipients to foster their growth and amplify the impact of their initiatives.

Bio: Diana holds an AA in Humanities from Passaic County Community College, where she graduated as Valedictorian, and a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from Rutgers University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She immigrated from Peru to the US in 2017. Diana interned at Rutgers Law School’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and the International Rescue Committee. Her long-term career goal is to pioneer new systems and policies that will improve access to social services in developing countries, reducing the need to immigrate for survival. She is most interested in international development as a means of working with organizations and leaders to implement meaningful developmental policy while holding governments accountable for their actions toward their citizens. Diana is now enrolled in the MA program of International Development at American University, where she also works as a Teaching Assistant. She hopes to contribute to meaningful developmental policy whether at the UN, World Bank, IOM, the government, or a non-profit.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Devises and executes a comprehensive marketing plan to enhance campus awareness of the Eagle Endowment.
  • Strategically disseminates grant application dates through diverse social media channels and University Comms outlets to ensure broad coverage and reach.
  • Evaluates and analyzes grant proposals, offering tailored guidance and mentorship to successful recipients to foster their growth and amplify the impact of their initiatives.

Bio: Tabitha Irvin is an undergraduate freshman at American University and a double major in journalism and finance. Her passion for social justice, advocacy, and volunteer-based marketing stems from her career as a student journalist while in high school. She remains deeply involved in the world of journalism by writing for the Eagle, AU’s official student newspaper publication. She currently works as a News Staff Writer. Tabitha also interns at the Washington English Center, where she creates and teaches English lessons to non-native-speaking adult refugees. Outside of her academic and volunteer pursuits, Tabitha plays clarinet for AU Symphony Orchestra and competes on the school’s club tennis team. Her free time is spent exploring DC and connecting with nature, which she does on her daily runs. Tabitha was born and raised in Chicago, but don’t ask her about the professional sports scene. (None of her teams are doing well).

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Responsible for creating a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the organization's goals and objectives.
  • Oversee the planning and execution of a minimum of two fundraising events a year, one event per semester.
  • Evaluates and analyzes grant proposals, offering tailored guidance and mentorship to successful recipients to foster their growth and amplify the impact of their initiatives.

Bio: Tobias Javage, a senior at American University, is passionate about community involvement and social justice. He's pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in Public Health. On campus, Tobias actively contributes to AU Hillel and is a dedicated member of SAFI (Students Against Food Insecurity). Beyond campus, he has gained valuable experience by interning for local representatives in his hometown of Ambler, PA. Recently, he broadened his horizons through a study abroad program in London, where he interned at a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting homeless individuals in rebuilding their lives.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Collaborates with the program coordinator in establishing and nurturing the alumni network, ensuring its ongoing growth and sustainability.
  • Develops a comprehensive alumni database for effective solicitation efforts and explore the possibility of organizing an annual alumni/donor reception.
  • Evaluates and analyzes grant proposals, offering tailored guidance and mentorship to successful recipients to foster their growth and amplify the impact of their initiatives.

Bio: Noah is a junior majoring in Political Science with a dual minor in Spanish and Literature. From Philadelphia to DC, he is passionate about serving and connecting the community, supporting and uplifting various voices, and continuing to educate himself across an array of topics, cultures, and regions. He loves reading, going to cafes, and meeting new people and is very excited to work with the Eagle Endowment Council to provide necessary funds to great causes and initiatives.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Conducts thorough research on colleges/universities, endowments, and grant-providing foundations to identify best practices that can be implemented by the Eagle Endowment.
  • Identifies areas within the organization that require improvement and provides insightful recommendations for solutions to the executive director.
  • Analyze and input incoming data, such as GIS Mapping and GivePulse hours.
  • Evaluates and analyzes grant proposals, offering tailored guidance and mentorship to successful recipients to foster their growth and amplify the impact of their initiatives.

Bio: Julianna is a second-year CLEG major with a strong commitment to academic and extracurricular pursuits. Alongside her involvement with the Eagle Endowment, she actively participates in the SPA Leadership program. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Julianna's life extends beyond her studies. She juggles her academic responsibilities with her role as a barista at Starbucks. At home, she shares her space with her beloved fat cat and a playful kitten.

Eagle Endowment Council Questions?

The Eagle Endowment Council is a body made up of undergraduate and graduate students who help review grant applications and determine funding. Members receive experience in a variety of areas including marketing, fundraising, event planning, and project Management. If you have questions about eligibility, email the Coordinator, contact the office at (202) 885-7378, or visit us in MGC 273.

Access Application Materials Here