Course Description
[This course qualifies for the Graduate Portfolio Program in Nonprofit Studies]
Philanthropic Studies is a vibrant area of both interdisciplinary and international scholarship, teaching, and professional practice with relevance to numerous academic disciplines and fields. Among these are political science, social work, sociology, journalism, media and technology studies, third sector (also known as civil society or nonprofit) studies, history, and public affairs (government and public policy studies).
Yet, even though “philanthropy is everywhere” as experts have noted, its influence in setting and advancing social and policy change agendas remains unknown to many.
Thus, the goal of this course is to make visible the roles governmental, corporate, and social impact funders play in public affairs, both domestically and internationally. Specific attention is placed on how program officers mobilize “portfolio thinking” through strategic investments in programs, projects, partnerships, and collaborations that influence the trajectory of public affairs debates. These might be about climate adaptation, democracy, international development, human and civil rights, economic development, poverty alleviation, education, open government, public health, technology in society, migration/immigration, social/gender/racial justice, voting rights, and reproductive rights, among others.
Using mini lectures, guest speakers, small investigative assignments, films, academic and non-academic readings, student projects, as well as robust class discussions, the course begins by providing students with a general understanding of the theory and history of the concept of philanthropy in democratic societies. We then review the institutional and regulatory structure of philanthropy. The course then turns to examining various case studies support for social movements. The course ends with a Poster Session where students present and discuss their visualizations and mapping of a specific set of funding patterns that advance conversations about the history, theory, and practice of social movement funding.