*Colorado FFA state officers meet with MFF to share insights of first year of My Cause My Corduroy*

The next generation is ready to lead.

For the past 25 years, the Morgridge Family Foundation has believed that young people are willing to rise to the task when given the opportunity. To that point, Every Gift Matters by Carrie Morgridge, which remains relevant today, encourages each person to become their best self by giving what they can. Whether it's volunteering, picking up trash, or performing an act of kindness, we have found year after year that when young people are given the chance, they exceed our expectations.

Through MFF’s investment in CSU Spur’s agricultural education efforts at the Terra building, we were introduced to the Colorado FFA state officers. This unique program identifies 10 top FFA students to spend a gap year strengthening their leadership skills. As a group, they apply their learning and share it with their peers across the state.

While getting to know the FFA students, we asked them what was keeping their peers from joining an organization that had been so impactful to them. The answer was simple: the cost of the required blue corduroy jacket. It took only seconds to realize this group of leaders would benefit from a philanthropy club similar to our Student Support Foundation (SSF).

They thoughtfully adapted the SSF model by creating bylaws and funding priorities tailored to FFA communities. Inspired by the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign, they chose a name that reflected both individual contributions and a sense of belonging to the whole. Since the corduroy jacket is iconic in FFA, the organization incorporated it into its name.

MFF provided each state officer with $1,000 to reinvest in their communities. While each officer received an individual gift, we encouraged them to pool their funding. This investment represents direct trust in young people to steward our money and give back to the local areas they understand best.

In our first year with My Cause My Corduroy, we couldn’t be more impressed with the outcomes. The officers traveled throughout Colorado, visited FFA high school chapters, reviewed grant applications, and made difficult funding decisions while learning to manage and distribute funds responsibly.

“I was always lucky to have a chapter that could financially afford things for students. After traveling and hearing stories, I quickly realized that’s not the case for every chapter in Colorado. I wanted to give chapters more help and opportunities for members,” said one state officer.

They also experienced their fair share of challenges.

As first-time grantmakers, they had to learn which information was critical to the application process. They realized they needed more detailed budgets from applicants to understand each chapter’s needs better. They wrestled with difficult questions around fairness, collaboration, and team decision-making.

Should funding decisions be made individually or collectively as a group?

How should multiple requests from the same chapter be considered?

These are the same conversations happening at nonprofits and foundations across the country. Still, there’s something inspiring about watching them unfold with openness and care among the next generation of philanthropists.

These leaders have not only learned the ins and outs of charitable giving but also seen the direct impact their donations have had on FFA chapters—including new official dress clothes for a chapter whose students couldn’t afford them and a sign language interpreter for the Colorado FFA State Convention.

The young people also personally felt the effects of this leadership development opportunity.

“My ‘why’ is to bridge the gap so others can accomplish what they dream of. When MFF came to us with this proposal, I knew this directly aligned with ‘my why.’ I have MCMC listed on my resume and bring it up during job interviews because it serves as an example of why I choose to serve others,” said another state officer.

The program has begun inspiring philanthropy beyond MFF. By simply sharing what they were doing, the group received a $2,500 donation.

MFF President, John Morgridge, said it best while meeting with them. “You should be so proud of yourselves. You are the reason this is so special because you have been able to give this money to those who you know need it most, making it even more impactful.”

There has never been a better time to try new things in your philanthropy. Sometimes all it takes is trusting young people with the opportunity to lead.

Read more about the group’s funding priorities and the Colorado state officers here.