Partnership Program

INSPIRING STUDENTS TO DO MORE

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Founded in the fall of 2019, the Partnership Program offers financial support to participating Upper School clubs, lessening the financial burden of club membership. This structured support empowers students to seek new experiences, develop valuable skills, and strive to make a difference while making meaningful connections with teachers, administrators, and donors.

HOW THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WORKS:

In addition to the financial support they receive for their clubs and other service initiatives, students benefit from the real-world experience of participating in a donor-supported program. They learn the importance of planning, goal setting, and relationship building when garnering philanthropic support. The process goes like this:

Student club leaders determine funding needs based on their goals and initiatives for the year and submit a grant application.
The Student Development Committee, comprised of student representatives and advised by faculty and administrators, reviews each application and allocates funds based on qualifying criteria.
To access the allocated funding, student groups are required to send thank you letters to past Admiral Fund donors with updates on club and school activities.
After the funds are distributed, club members keep records on how funding is utilized and report on their progress at the end of the year.

SERVICE INITIATIVES AND CLUBS THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDING AND HOW:

List of 7 items.

Admiral TV

Grant covered the basic start-up needs of Admiral TV, including online services and camera equipment.
Community Service Club

Funding covered supplies needed to host two Children's Fairs - one at Centro de Ayuda (an educational community center for Hispanic immigrants) and at Sarah's House (a housing program for homeless families).
Intro to Medical Studies Club

Purchased synthetic skin suture kits for all members to practice with and a CPR dummy.
Latin Club

The grant covered dues for national and state organization membership for all Latin students, and attendance at a national conference.
Model United Nations

Attended 3 virtual national conferences, the most in the club's history.
Severn River Fishing Club

Funding supported this new club's start-up costs, covering basic equipment and supplies.
Umbrella Club

Supplied materials to promote awareness and education around health within the Severn community.

Steve Soden, Upper School Head

"The challenge with a lot of service initiatives in high school is that they lack true engagement. It’s not a lack of care; indeed, the students typically care deeply about the causes they are tied to. Rather, it is a function of not knowing what to do. And the simple answer – fundraising -- is often the go-to for students.

The Partnership Program is wonderful because it eliminates the simple answer from the list of options. By providing the funding they would otherwise focus their efforts on acquiring, this program propels students into the next phase, which is actual service. The result is a student body that is focused more on doing and is truly engaged in service learning.

Partnership Program Puts Philanthropy Front and Center for Severn Students

Sometime things line up so perfectly, it’s as if they were meant to be.

At least that’s what it felt like in 2019, when two Severn School seniors – Brendan Murphy ‘20 and Colin Ervin ‘20 – walked into the Development Office with a pitch for a student-led broadcasting club that would cover the Upper School’s athletics program’s home competitions. They called it Admiral TV, and while they had a great idea and a detailed plan to make it happen, what they needed was funding.
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