Stakeholders have the influence to shape the activities that meet a non-profit organizations mission or assist an organization in meeting its mission. Colleges as nonprofit organizations have many stakeholders. For example, donors may give financial gifts to a college, however, the gifts may be restricted and geared towards specific academic programs.  So while a college may meet its goal of education students, students participating in the programs that have better financial support, may be a greater advantage than students who are not.  Students of a college are constituents who can be the best ambassadors for a college. Many colleges ensure that donors meet and interact with students in academic programs that receive their funding.  Student testimony of the positive impact of donor gifts can ensure that a donor continues to provide funding. Staff members are also stakeholders who can advocate for the needs of various projects and programs that require funding in order to meet the mission of an organization. Corporate partners who cosponsor programs are also stakeholders who help to advance the mission of an organization through funding or expanding the network or reach of a nonprofit organization.  The development offices of colleges often have fundraisers who are specifically assigned to pursue corporate partners. A public college in particular will rely on elected officials to help advance the mission of the college.  Elected officials are stakeholders who create laws and policies that can have an influence on colleges as non-profit organizations. Elected officials can also advocate for funding for various academic programs or funding of capital projects that impact the facilities of the college. Let’s consider the example of Governor Cuomo who recently advocated for the creation of the Excelsior scholarship which will allow students who meet certain criteria to go to school for free.  Once of the criteria of the Excelsior scholarship is that recipients remain and work in New York for a certain number of years, after graduation, to contribute to the economy of the state.  In this particular circumstance, community of that which is the residents of New York are stakeholders who benefit from a college that meets its mission of educating and graduating students who will contribute to the state economy. Stakeholders are both internal and external of the nonprofit profit organization.