Three NC State projects inspiring, engaging and educating the community have been awarded Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy Impact Fund grants during the group’s second annual cycle.

Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy (WWiP) was established in 2018 with the purpose of connecting Wolfpack women and driving philanthropic engagement at the university. In the 2024-25 academic year, the dedicated group of volunteers launched the impact fund, thanks to their generosity and a passionate grassroots fundraising effort.

The fund generates grants of up to $10,000 to three projects a year, with the goal of providing financial support for programs and initiatives that enhance the undergraduate and graduate experience at NC State.

Out of 24 extraordinary applications, the three grants were awarded to:

• Improving Workforce Financial Literacy in North Carolina
• Empowering Future Leaders: Expanding and Innovating the Elevate Mentorship Program
• Pack AI: Creative Computing at NC State

“The projects our Pack are embarking on are inspiring and continue to elevate the prestige of our university,” says Paige Harris, WWiP chair. “We look forward to awarding these grants each year, because we’re proud to be a part of their story.”

The three grant awardees will be recognized at the upcoming Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy Symposium on April 30. More details and registration for the event can be found here.

Improving Workforce Financial Literacy in North Carolina

The brainchild of economics and finance faculty in the Poole College of Management, the Financial Literacy Initiative aims to provide financial education for workers across North Carolina.

The initiative is already underway, instilling confidence and financial knowledge across a broad range of participants. The financial literacy team said that in a program survey, participants who reported being comfortable making large financial decisions increased from 44% to 89%.

The WWiP Impact Fund grant will support website, marketing and event costs, as well as assist the initiative in paying students who will manage the program. The team has big goals, including offering the program directly to employees of the City of Raleigh and WakeMed.

“Our goal is to expand access to financial education and reach as many individuals as possible,” said the Poole College financial literacy team. “We are very pleased to have received this award, and greatly appreciate any recommendations of our program to other organizations, colleagues, friends and family.”

The financial literacy program takes place over two virtual 90-minute sessions. You can register for one of the program sessions here.

Empowering Future Leaders: Expanding and Innovating the Elevate Mentorship Program

The ELEVATE Mentorship Program launched in January 2024 and the WWiP Impact Fund grant will help grow mentorship opportunities for all Poole College of Management undergraduates.

“Access to mentors, including senior level executives, helps students clarify career goals, demystifies workplace expectations and builds the confidence needed to take meaningful next steps,” said Julie Cline, assistant director of Undergraduate Career Services at the college. “Through these relationships, students gain early access to opportunities and graduate with a clear, actionable career path.”

Mentor programs lead to better personal and professional outcomes, and the proof is in the data. In the last year, 41% of student participants credited their mentor with connecting them to an internship or other job. And the benefits of mentor programs aren’t only for students — 93% of mentors reported the experience helped them to grow as leaders.

“The support from Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy allows us to expand this work,” Cline said. “This ensures more students gain the relationships, confidence and professional awareness needed to step into careers with purpose and momentum.”

Funds from the grant are being used to expand the program, as well as purchasing software to make participation more manageable and impactful.

PACK AI: Creative Computing at NC State

Through a series of professional development sessions and workshops, faculty of the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences within the College of Education seek to engage NC State students and faculty in “exploring the intersection of coding, art and artificial intelligence through creative computing.”

The project expands on a previously awarded NC State Catalyst Grant that explored creative computing with rural middle schoolers. Through the use of ArtAIgo, a coding environment developed at NC State, students of all ages can learn to code in a collaborative environment that focuses on human-centered creativity and design.

“Winning the Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy Impact Grant is a powerful affirmation of our work in interdisciplinary learning that bridges art and computing,” says Joey Huang, project lead and assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences.

The PACK (Partnerships in Art, Computing and Knowledge) AI project is expected to engage 60 undergraduate students and 12 graduate mentors. The WWiP Impact Fund grant will support event logistics and materials as well as guest speaker honoraria.