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How can we most effectively harness the power of philanthropic giving and nonprofit work to create positive social change and address society's most pressing challenges?
How can charitable giving and nonprofit work be used to foster positive social impact? This course investigates this question by introducing students to the nature of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations, and their influence on civil society. Most moral and religious frameworks uphold some form of benevolence and charity, yet societies differ in their views of philanthropy and nonprofits. We will consider social scientific perspectives on charitable giving and apply them to topics like competing philosophies of giving and the relationship between philanthropic and state programs. Issues of social responsibility for billionaire and corporate philanthropic actors will also be addressed.
The course offers two unique activity-based learning opportunities to gain skills and experience. First, students will work in groups to identify and evaluate nonprofits as potential recipients of a donation provided by the Philanthropy Lab. They will assess how a donation could impact these organizations. Second, through a partnership with the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship, student groups will develop their own nonprofit ventures to address the social impact of COVID-19. Ventures will receive startup funding, and successful teams will compete for additional funding. The course will also offer guest lectures and workshops on entrepreneurship to support venture development.
Through class discussions and hands-on activities, students will gain an understanding of how charitable giving and nonprofit work can be leveraged to create positive social change.