Written Interview 4: Rob Brown: How Does it Feel to Have Real Money to Give Away?

“I definitely like this aspect of the course a lot. It allows me to get a sense of experiential learning within a familiar course environment. It’s nice to be able to use both the theory to develop the RFP and then see the results in a practical application. It’s a way for me to develop my skills even farther and experience what it would be like as a foundation or a grant-giving body, and it has a real world impact where we can help a charity in the local community. It’s nice too that the decision is made outside of a vacuum, in the sense that somebody responds in a real way; it’s not a case or a simulation and it’s a great opportunity. There’s definitely some anxiety about making the right decision in such an unfamiliar field, and there’s not really a right answer. It also promotes a lot of discussion as a class, because as a large group we need to decide what we want to do and where the money is going to go, and I really enjoy listening and participating in that discussion.”