Colorado College’s Public Interest Fellowship Program (PIFP) was awarded a $250,000 Special Opportunities grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The grant will go toward the challenge match, issued by the Randleigh Charitable Trust in January 2008, to establish a $1 million endowment for the program. The Randleigh Challenge deadline is Dec. 31, 2010, and this gift moves the college much closer to its goal of raising $500,000 for the endowment.
The Public Interest Fellowship Program places Colorado College students and recent graduates in paid positions with Front Range public interest nonprofits in summer or yearlong fellowships. CC’s strong culture of service and civic engagement contribute to immense student interest in the program.
Among the nonprofit host organizations are the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, the National Council of State Legislatures, and Care and Share Food Bank. Jeff Livesay, CC sociology professor and PIFP founder, said, “PIFP is thriving. Even in these financially challenging times, an unprecedented number of nonprofit organizations have applied this fall for an unprecedented number of fellows for 2011-12, and access to PIFP fellowships has grown increasingly competitive on campus through the years.”
