Waynesburg University has received an $850,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The grant will go toward a two-year support of the university’s community development efforts, such as service learning opportunities and the expansion of specific graduate programs.

According to Stacey Brodak, vice president of Institutional Advancement, Waynesburg has had a long-standing relationship with the RKM Foundation, which is an organization built to uplift community-based projects in southwestern Pennsylvania. An application was submitted on behalf of the university to the RKM Foundation grant in 2017 after they recognized an opportunity to gain funding for the students and the community.

“A strong relationship built upon credibility and trust is incredibly important for any funder and applicant,” Brodak said. “We had previously received funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and worked hard to establish that credibility with them in the past, so that moving forward, WU would be in good standing to be considered for additional funding.”

According to a statement released on behalf of the university, Waynesburg students, faculty and staff contribute more than 50,000 volunteer hours of service to the local community each year.

This provides an annual economic impact of approximately $1.2 million. Through a strategic plan, the $850,000 grant received from RKM could potentially increase that impact.

“This funding will result in projects within the university that will have a direct impact on the continued development of the local community,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee in a press release. “Investments in the university’s service learning and graduate programs will enable us to achieve the positive, community-focused outcomes proposed in the grant.”

On top of service learning and graduate programs, the grant will also go toward technology for online courses, as well as marketing to increase student enrollment.

For Brodak, this is an opportunity for a wider stretch of outreach.

“The funding is broad based, but helps us strengthen the university and continue to have an even stronger positive impact on our community, which allows us to focus on creating valuable experiences for our students,” Brodak said.

Brodak said the university as a whole is thankful for the opportunity they have been given on behalf of the RKM Foundation.

“This funding is instrumental to our mission and everyone should share in the immense pride of its award,” she said.

“We are very grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation and look forward to implementing programs that benefit both our students and the community for years to come.”