This blog post was written by Hatchet reporter Lauren Gomez.

At 36 years old, alumnus Jason Franklin landed a spot on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “40 Under 40” list.

Franklin, who graduated from GW with a degree in political communication in 2002, was honored for his philanthropic work, including a new position as the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, which he began last June. Franklin told the Chronicle he hopes to use his academic position, which focuses on community research and advocacy, to figure out the best way to get donations where they need to go.

“I’m part of the field, but I don’t have a stake in any organization’s priority,” Franklin told the Chronicle.

Before starting his new post at Grand Valley State, Franklin was the first president of the New York-based nonprofit Bolder Giving, which provides free programs and resources that promote philanthropy, according to the Chronicle profile. Bolder Giving has been acknowledged by philanthropist Melinda Gates as an inspiration for her Giving Pledge, which encourages the mega-rich to donate the majority of their wealth.

Franklin has also held positions at the Office of National AIDS policy and the 21st Century School Fund, according to a Grand Valley State website. While working toward a PhD in public administration at New York University, Franklin served as an adjunct professor, coordinated NYU’s Next Generation Leadership Network and became executive director of Bolder Giving.