Philanthropy Today: How Organized Money Fuels Innovation, Institutions and Movements

Catalog description

Why do people give? What does philanthropy engender? Philanthropy is one of the most powerful sectors in the world, shaping health systems, arts and culture, higher education, human rights, and numerous other public and private institutions and goods in many countries. But to many, these influential institutions and donors, like George Soros, Bill Gates, and a growing number of newly philanthropic tech billionaires, seem opaque and often unaccountable. This course will explore the ancient roots of philanthropy, its grounding in national and religious traditions, the creation of foundations in the modern era, their social impact, and their local context, including the legal and tax regimes that give rise to them. It will also delve into emerging trends, debates, practices and controversies, illuminated by case studies, talks with philanthropic leaders, site visits and an intensive, ongoing exercise that will enable students to identify an area of philanthropic interest and need, choose an organization, and design a process for making an actual grant. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026.