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IU Indianapolis Bulletin » Schools » IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy » Courses » Courses
Graduate Courses
  • PHST-P 515 History of Philanthropy (3 cr.)

    This course examines traditions of giving and receiving charity and philanthropy in the modern era. It takes a comparative approach to giving including different historical contexts and traditions in American history. Among the topics covered will be donor motivations; definitions of need; identity formation; and philanthropy, politics, and social change. Key questions to be considered include: Who counts as a philanthropist? What counts as philanthropy? Why have American people given in the past? How have American people given in the past? What role has philanthropy played in the formation and development of the United States? How can history inform your professional practice in philanthropy?

  • PHST-P 518 History of International Humanitarian Assistance (3 cr.) This course covers the history of international humanitarian assistance during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its focus is on the movements and activities that developed in wealthier countries (Europe and the U.S.) during this period which attempted to help those in other lands in need of assistance (e.g., food, shelter, medical care). These needs arose from a variety of causes, both natural and man-made, such as famine, flood, epidemics, earthquakes and volcanoes as well as wars and government oppression. The responses took many forms, governmental and non-governmental, in a world that underwent very dramatic changes during the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • PHST-P 521 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)

    This course is an introduction to the size, scope, and function of the nonprofit and voluntary sector in the United States.  It provides a broad overview of the historical origins of the U.S. nonprofit and voluntary sector, as well as the religious, political, economic, and social rationales for its existence.  The course also examines how nonprofit organizations interact with the market and state along with their social impact.  The primary goal of this course is to help students become conversant in the critical theories, concepts, issues, research, and terminologies of the field of philanthropic studies in preparation for future courses.

    Objectives: 

    This course develops students’ ability to: 

    Understand and describe the purpose and composition of the nonprofit and voluntary sector, Demonstrate familiarity with resources useful for research on the sector, Understand and explain the historical origins and evolution of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, Understand and explain the diverse ways in which Americans use voluntary action, Understand and explain the limitations of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations, Define, analyze, and critique key terminologies, theories, concepts, and issues in the scholarly literature and public discourse on the nonprofit and voluntary sector, and Articulate their own personal definitions of and perspectives on the roles, meaning, and capacity of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
  • PHST-P 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective (3 cr.)

    This course explores philanthropy and civil society from a global, interdisciplinary perspective. It examines the universality of generosity, cultural influences on giving, and motivations behind generosity behaviors. Students will analyze differences and similarities across civil societies, considering factors like empathy, cultural norms, and legal frameworks. The course also encourages self-reflection on personal beliefs about generosity, comparing them with diverse cultural perspectives to develop a deeper understanding of global philanthropic behaviors.

  • PHST-P 527 Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Philanthropy (3 cr.) Examines cross-cultural research on philanthropy and pursues critical inquiry into the historical and cultural implications of philanthropy. The course focuses on the diverse system of giving and serving within philanthropy traditions in the United States and around the world.
  • PHST-P 530 Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy (3 cr.) Students examine the role of nonprofit organizations (universities, churches, hospitals, orchestras, charities, day care, research, nursing homes) in mixed economies. Public policy controversies such as regulation of fundraising, antitrust against universities, ‘‘unfair’’ competition with for-profit firms, and the tax treatment of donations are considered. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Community Foundations (3 cr.) This course will explore such areas as the role of and challenges facing community foundations and community philanthropy in Indiana and beyond; place-based giving in identity-focused groups, looking at Muslim community foundations and philanthropy; U.S. and comparative developments in the regulation and self-regulation of community foundations, including the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations; private and community foundation funding or the growth and diversity of the community foundation movement; challenges to community foundation from other economic and charitable actors; and other topics. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Philanthropy Ethics–East and West (3 cr.) This course provides a graduate-level introduction to philanthropy ethics in comparative perspective, focusing on China and the United States. In addition to their in-person classes, students from Indiana University and Sun Yat-sen University will engage in discussion via Course Networking. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Religion and Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course explores three relationships between people’s religious traditions and their philanthropic ideas and activities: 1) how diverse religious traditions have shaped distinctive philanthropic practices, 2) how political, economic and social forces have structured religious philanthropy, and 3) how competing visions of good lives and a good society have played out in the give and take of religious philanthropy. In examining the normative models of giving and service through a variety of religious traditions, we will analyze how religious narratives, practices, teachings and authorities have shaped people’s generosity and humanitarianism. In studying religious philanthropy in particular historical contexts, we will explore how religious philanthropy has been influenced by secular states and market economies, transforming religious traditions and communities along the way. In observing the tensions between the purposes of givers and takers, we will locate religious philanthropy in the world of social action so as to assess claims about the uniquely selfless, altruistic or civic nature of religious philanthropy. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 The Equity and Effectiveness of Philanthropy (3 cr.) What do we know about the experience of receiving help? What is it like for someone to walk in the door of a homeless shelter, a legal aid clinic, or a job training program and ask for help? How much do we really know about the experiences of those who motivate us to start a nonprofit, donate money, or volunteer time? While we have spent a lot of time studying those who give and the experience of those giving, we know far less about the experience of those receiving this help. This course draws on literature from anthropology, sociology, social psychology, and political science to examine the experience of receiving help. We will tease out when giving help is effective, why it’s often ineffective or less effective than it could be and then consider the implications for nonprofit management and public policy. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Philanthropy in a Comparative European Perspective (3 cr.) The study-abroad program provides students with a first-hand learning experience in philanthropy and public policy. Students will have the opportunity to learn from German professors, researchers, policy-makers, and leaders from the nonprofit sector. Students will visit state and federal agencies, local nonprofit organizations, think tanks, and philanthropic foundations. Germany has one of the largest nonprofit sectors in the world. It provides a great model of philanthropy and public policy because most basic needs are met through its extensive social welfare policies, thus leaving philanthropic organizations to concentrate on community building and social innovation. At the center of debates surrounding globalization, environmental change, European integration and humanitarian aid, Berlin provides the opportunity to explore many global trends. After daily morning lectures on current European Public Policy issues, students take afternoon field trips to leading policy institutions, philanthropic organizations, and governmental agencies in Berlin. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Altruism and Health (3 cr.) Does giving lead to better living? Or is caring wearing? What are the psychological and physical health consequences of prosocial versus more self-interested traits and behaviors? This course examines how extremes of self and other-focus affect both psychological and physical health outcomes. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Racial Equity and Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course will cover giving traditions of various ethnic groups and examine current practices in the philanthropic field through a culturally-responsive lens. A deep dive into the histories of these groups and their struggles for representation, validation, and justice will undergird our journey through relevant literature and scholarly works. May be repeated once for credit with a different course topic.
  • PHST-P 530 Data for Good (3 cr.)

    How can data be harnessed for good? This is a class about how to use analytics to help humanity, engage communities, improve nonprofit impacts, invest grant dollars strategically, and share data ethically and equitably with the producers of this treasured resource: everyday people. Students will hone their data literacy skills by learning about a variety of data forms, understanding their significance for lessening complex social problems, and critically considering their unintended consequences. A key aspect of the course is attention to data visualization and narration: telling compelling stories with data that are designed to improve society and help communities to flourish.

  • PHST-P 532 Applying Ethics in Philanthropy (3 cr.)

    This course starts from the premise that the human activity of philanthropy unavoidably and constantly raises complex and difficult ethical questions. We define philanthropy very broadly not merely as giving, but as all sorts of private, voluntary actions intended to achieve the public good, whether those actions are performed by individuals or organizations. This means the everyday practices of charitable donors (big and small), and of nonprofit or non-governmental organizations (funders and program providers and others), all have ethical implications. Ethics is not just a topic that comes up in extraordinary circumstances, or because “bad” people or groups do bad things. Ethics is implicated in all acts of philanthropy. 

    The course provides a graduate-level introduction to the ethical aspects of philanthropy. It will introduce the types of ethical questions in the field, and the various perspectives used to decide those questions through moral reasoning. It will also apply these perspectives and explore in depth several ethical issues and challenges that are at the center of current debates in the field, from the problem of “tainted donors” to how to build ethical culture in nonprofit organizations.

    We will cover subjects from the very conceptual to the very practical in this class. We will ask and discuss a lot of questions, but will not answer those questions in a definitive way. This is the nature of many practical ethical dilemmas. The goal for students is not to come to a “final answer” on every topic, but to improve your ability to think carefully and thoroughly about tough questions or controversial topics.

  • PHST-P 534 Gender and Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course provides a broad overview and deeper understanding of giving and volunteering by gender from multiple perspectives, and how this knowledge can be applied across the nonprofit sector today. As the 21st century unfolds, nonprofit practitioners – whether CEO, fundraiser, board member, or volunteer – and donors must recognize that neither philanthropy nor fundraising follow a one-size-fits-all format. Woven throughout this curriculum are examples of how women exercise their power and influence in philanthropy.
  • PHST-P 535 Law of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) This seminar examines aspects of the legal regulation of nonprofit organizations. Topics include the formation, operation, and governance of nonprofit organizations, duties and liability of officers and directors, charitable solicitation, tax-exempt status for public benefit and mutual benefit organizations, charitable contributions, political activities, foundations, membership organizations, and religious organizations.
  • PHST-P 536 Muslim Philanthropy (3 cr.)

    This course explores contemporary approaches to philanthropy and civil society among Muslims, particularly U.S.-based Muslim populations. While Muslims have practiced charitable, humanitarian, and socially benevolent acts that can be described as philanthropy for centuries, their contributions have often been ignored, or worse, marginalized from academic literature outside of Islamic studies.

    Muslims draw upon the Qur’an (the holy book of Islam), Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) and local traditions to influence their charitable acts. This course will provide a brief overview of Muslim charitable practices such as waqf (religious endowments), zakah (obligatory giving), and sadaqah (optional religious giving) as examples of Muslim philanthropy. We will then focus on Muslim philanthropy in United States while also examining available global data on Muslim giving in other parts of the world.

  • PHST-P 537 Muslim Humanitarianism (3 cr.)

    Muslim practices of charity and aid are as old as the Islamic tradition itself and follow in the social welfare footsteps of most of the world’s religious cultures. In the contemporary geopolitical moment, the historical structures and institutions of charity, aid, and development have taken on new forms, with many of them have been subsumed by the contemporary nation state and thus come under the auspices of political and social governance practices. Thus, the politicization of aid and development goes to the heart of the transformation of transnational Muslim civil society, compounding the impact of colonial modernity on the global Islamic tradition. Today, the global Muslim humanitarian sector—that broad, decentralized network of Muslim charitable institutions—accounts for billions of dollars, millions of volunteers, and immeasurable levels of social, political, and economic influence. This course provides a thematic survey of the Muslim humanitarian sector, its interdisciplinary and cross-sector study, and its implications for the global policy making and practitioner community. In doing so, it prepares students for advanced study, applied research, and policy advocacy.

  • PHST-P 538 Muslim Philanthropy Capstone: Applied Muslim Philanthropic Leadership (3 cr.)

    Bridging the gap between research and practice is a significant problem in most fields of knowledge. However, in understudied spaces and underdeveloped sectors, this “praxis gap” is typically more pronounced. In the context of humanitarianism, especially that of faith-based organizations, communication between scholarship and practice (or lack thereof) can have both positive and negative consequences.

    This capstone is structured as a collaborative applied research project and builds directly upon coursework completed in your Muslim Philanthropy and Muslim Humanitarian courses. It should be thought of as a working environment or internship rather than a traditional course and thus requires regular communication and collaboration with me and your colleagues. Working together, we will translate various aspects of your work to date and interest areas into formats that will be useful for public and/or specialized audiences, demonstrating your thought leadership and relevance to the fields of philanthropy, humanitarianism, and development. In effect, the capstone is designed to resemble the environment of a think tank or public-facing research center. While going through this process, we will also reflectively explore the pedagogical implications of our work through a limited amount of readings and discussion boards.

  • PHST-P 539 Religion and Philanthropy (3 cr.)

    This course explores three relationships between people’s religious traditions and their philanthropic ideas and activities: 1) how diverse religious traditions have shaped distinctive philanthropic practices, 2) how political, economic, cultural, and social forces have structured religious philanthropy, and 3) how competing visions of good lives and a good society have played out in the give and take of philanthropy for individual donors and communities.  In examining the models of giving and service through a variety of religious traditions, we will analyze how religious narratives, practices, teachings and authorities have shaped people’s generosity and humanitarianism. In studying religious philanthropy in particular contexts, we will explore how religious philanthropy has been influenced by secular states and market economies, transforming religious traditions and communities along the way.  In observing the tensions between the purposes of givers and recipients, we will locate religious philanthropy in the world of social action so as to assess claims about the uniquely selfless, altruistic or civic nature of religious philanthropy.

    The course opens with theoretical and comparative discussions of philanthropy in a variety of religious contexts before turning to the development and practice of religious philanthropy in the United States as well as an introductory glance at its intersections with global philanthropy. The primary focus is cultural, sociological, and historical, but students will also explore through research and application how the issues discussed in class affect individuals, institutions, and civil society in contemporary contexts. The course will be conducted in an asynchronous online model with text and online readings, brief online lectures/interviews, student-led group discussion, as well as more in-depth individual student exploration.

  • PHST-P 556 Grant Making and the Role of Foundations (3 cr.)

    While this course focuses on just one slice of the diverse philanthropic and nonprofit sector, that slice is a particularly impactful – and controversial – one. Philanthropic foundations are notably influential actors in any society in which they exist. Through their grantmaking, they provide crucial funding for organizations serving the public good in every corner of the nonprofit landscape, on every issue, and in most every community. Foundations have funded significant advances in health, education, human services, human rights, the environment, and much more. 

    Foundations are an increasingly diverse category. Besides the traditional model of a foundation making grants from an established endowment, there are “pass through” foundations that have little to no endowment. While most foundations engage primarily in grantmaking, there are plenty who also serve other roles, including “operating” foundations that primarily run their own programs. There are foundations classified (somewhat loosely at times) as “corporate,” “family,” “independent,” “conversion,” and more. Some foundations are designed to exist in perpetuity, while others are “limited life” and will spend down and cease to exist at some point. Increasingly, foundations are diversifying their activities as well, making loans as well as giving grants, investing their endowments in ways that serve their mission, and much more.

    Because they hold so much power, and are often closely tied to and governed by wealthy elites, foundations are the target of sustained and sharp critique. They are called out for being unaccountable and undemocratic, for being risk-averse, for supporting the status quo and/or funding only issues that elites care about, and more. 

    In the course, we will not take a side in the debate over foundations, but rather explore deeply that debate itself. We will identify the roles that foundations play and what might give them social or moral legitimacy, but we will consider the critiques and potential pitfalls as well. Turning more practical, the course will introduce you to the grantmaking process and the work involved in various stages, as well as discuss the ethical challenges in the grantmaking profession. Finally, we will examine some trends and innovations currently changing the foundation sector.

    This course will mostly focus on foundations and grantmaking in the context of the U.S., as this is where foundations were pioneered and are still most fully developed. It is also the context for most of the research and other writing about foundations and grantmaking. But when possible, we will consider foundations in other places.

    Learn about foundation types, roles, approaches, and impacts. Explore the various critiques of foundations, and understand how these relate to the legitimacy of foundations overall. Explore the professional roles of grantmakers, including their diverse activities and the ethical challenges they face. Identify current trends and innovations in foundations and grantmaking, and discuss how these might change the future of the sector. Develop a personal philanthropic philosophy to guide you as a giver, grantmaker, and philanthropic expert.

    This course provides you with an opportunity to improve your writing, presentation, and critical/conceptual analysis skills – skills that will be helpful to you not only in your work in the nonprofit sector, but in all future coursework in this field.

  • PHST-P 558 Principles and Practices of Fundraising (3 cr.)

    This course covers fundraising principles using Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th edition) and The Fundraising Reader. It blends theory and practice through expert insights, nonprofit partnerships, and donor analysis. Assignments challenge students to apply best practices, while guest speakers and online resources enhance learning. Emphasizing fundraising’s importance for all nonprofit roles, the course equips students with evidence-based skills to secure support and advance organizational missions effectively.

  • PHST-P 559 Donor Behavior in Major and Planned Giving (3 cr.)

    This course will develop students’ understanding of the motivations and behaviors of high-net-worth individuals, and their ability to plan effective strategies for donor identification, cultivation/engagement, solicitation, and stewardship in support of major and planned gifts. Special attention will be paid to the role of leadership in major and planned gift fundraising as well as ethical standards of practice.

  • PHST-P 560 Institutional Fundraising (3 cr.)

    This course examines various types of institutional donors (corporations, foundations, federated organizations, etc.) and the design and implementation of effective fundraising strategies to engage them. Revenue generation from alternative sources of income (i.e., venture philanthropy and social entrepreneurship) will also be explored to enhance students’ understanding of the changing dynamics of the fundraising landscape.

  • PHST-P 590 Internship/Directed Off-Site Study (3 cr.) A course for the advanced student of philanthropy. Students work 10 hours per week for a nonprofit organization, applying knowledge gained in earlier courses to practical situations. Requirements include a journal and a research paper.
  • PHST-P 600 M.A. Thesis in Philanthropic Studies (3 or 6 cr.)
  • PHST-P 602 Qualitative Methods in the Third Sector (3 cr.) This course will introduce students to qualitative inquiry. The readings and assignments are designed to introduce the key issues social scientists must consider when employing qualitative methods to understand complex social phenomena.
  • PHST-P 660 Ethical, Moral, and Religious Aspects of Philanthropy (3 cr.) This doctoral seminar focuses on the major ethical and moral texts that explain and justify philanthropy. Emphasis is placed on the philosophy of philanthropy in comparative perspective, world traditions of social and religious conditions, and moral issues raised in philanthropic practice.
  • PHST-P 662 Historical and Cultural Perspectives of Philanthropy (3 cr.) The course introduces students to the history of philanthropy in the United States in a comparative perspective. The course focuses on developments from the Poor Laws in England through the modern nonprofit sector.
  • PHST-P 664 Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations in Society I (3 cr.) This course is the first half of a two-course sequence, followed by PHST P665. These required courses provide a broad overview of core findings about philanthropy and nonprofit organizations from the various social science and management disciplines, along with more focused examination of selected active research topics. Students whose doctoral minor and intended thesis topic lie in the humanities will enhance their crossand multi-disciplinary literacy. The goal for these students is to prepare them to teach a broad range of courses in future academic employment. Others will receive an overview, with selected topics covered in depth, designed to prepare them for a career conducting and/or using social scientific and/or management research.
  • PHST-P 665 Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations in Society II (1-3 cr.) This course is the second half of a two-course sequence intended to prepare students for research, teaching, and service in the third sector. Students will read foundational literature and current research from economics, political science, sociology, and pyschology that will inform their doctoral studies and help identify a research project that has the potential to further knowledge in the field. In addition to the content of the course, the assignments are intended to support students’ development as critical scholars in the inter-disciplinary field of philanthropic studies. This includes learning how to evaluate empirical research, how to write for a variety of audiences, and how to leverage disciplinary perspectives to pose new questions.
  • PHST-P 690 Quantitative Behavioral Research Methods (1-3 cr.) P: One semester of M.A. course work. Quantitative research is a process that involves collaboration, inspiration, creativity, wit, logic, concentration, flexibility, and perseverance. In this course, we will review how and why quantitative behavioral research is conducted, practice and develop research and writing skills, and learn how to work closely with others. May be repeated once with approval by the chair of philanthropic studies.
  • PHST-P 732 Applied Philanthropy Project II (3 cr.)

    Completing a major independent research project is challenging for one’s intellect and organizational skills and is the final requirement for earning the PHILD degree to claim the expertise it represents. The major objective of this course is to provide students with time and space to work directly on their Applied Research Projects (ARPs) and to finalize their plans for structuring their third year of independent research. This course will have three major components: 1) Substantial work on the ARP based on goals identified by students; 2) Revision and finalization of an ARP Work Plan; 3) Reflection on how they have grown through participation in the PHILD program.

  • PHST-P 790 Research Seminar in Philanthropic Studies (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of research methods, issues, and tools, synthesizes the ways of knowing, and assesses forces that affect the conduct and use of knowledge in philanthropic studies. Multiple disciplinary perspectives and contemporary theoretical foundations of philanthropic studies are used to design and critique potential research projects. Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods approaches to research design are examined. The end goal is for the student to prepare her/his research prospectus.
  • PHST-P 890 Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 cr.) Research and writing dissertation.
Undergraduate Courses
  • PHST-P 105 Giving and Volunteering in America (3 cr.) This introductory course, designed as a general education course in the humanities, for non-majors encourages students to reflect on their past and current experiences with giving and volunteering. Students will be introduced to the historical, philosophical, and literary traditions of American philanthropy and will be encouraged to apply these traditions to their own lives, service experiences, educational and professional goals, and visions for a better world. One component of the course involves a service-learning experience and reflective essay. RISE=S
  • PHST-P 201 Introduction to Philanthropic Leadership (3 cr.) This course explores the issues and values surrounding philanthropy and nonprofit organizations as they have developed in history, as they shape contemporary formal study of philanthropy, and as an important part of students' personal, intellectual, and professional lives. One component of the course involves a service-learning experience and reflective essay. RISE=S
  • PHST-P 210 Analyze and Act for Public Good (3 cr.) This course draws from the social sciences and offers an introduction to the analytical approaches and perspectives that these disciplines bring to bear upon the study of philanthropy. The course surveys the issues and diverse roles played by voluntary action and philanthropic organizations in society, as well as the problems and questions that shape social science research on understanding and improving the practice of philanthropy.
  • PHST-P 211 Philanthropy, Arts, and Culture (3 cr.) This course draws from the humanities disciplines to address the question of responsible action in philanthropy. To whom or to what should a philanthropist be responsible? Readings and discussions will involve and analysis of values, goals, purposes, moral claims, and aspirations that sometimes compete, conflict, or coexist uneasily in philantrhopic action and organizations.
  • PHST-P 212 Citizenship, Civil Rights, and Civic Engagment (3 cr.) Using insights from history, economics, political science, and public policy analysis, this course examines the nature and scope of philanthropic giving, volunteering, and advocacy in the United States, the ideas and forces that have shaped its character and growth, and the issues it presents within democratic society. What contributions do philanthropy, voluntary and collective action, and nonprofit organizations, make to American society? How does American society influence the size and scope of philanthropy and the voluntary sector?  RISE=E
  • PHST-P 301 History of Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course provides an historical context to explore contemporary approaches to philanthropy and civil society in the United States. Topics will include the social, political, and cultural conditions, as well as the patterns and current expressions of philanthropy. Key historical documents and events will be examined to understand why philanthropy exist in American society, how philanthropy has remained constant or changed over time, contemporary approaches, and similarities or differences with other cultural contexts.
  • PHST-P 323 Donor Motivation I (3 cr.) Explore the elements of working with individual donors across the typical array of annual giving fundraising programs and activities (i.e., annual giving, donor relations, communications, and stewardship). This includes perspectives on individual donor motivations as related to developing the base of support for a philanthropic mission. You will focus on either women as donors, diverse ethnic donors, generational donors, workplace donors, or high-net worth donors, and have the opportunity to learn about all of these donor populations from one another. Learn about ethical and legal considerations related to annual giving fundraising. Practice relational and communicative aspects of individual donor engagement and develop your interpersonal skills through major course assignments and activities.
  • PHST-P 220 Introduction to Fundraising (3 cr.) This course describes the elements of nonprofit institutional readiness for fundraising followed by an introduction to the principles and techniques of philanthropic fundraising. The practical, hands-on assignments in this course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how different aspects of an effective nonprofit organization influence the nonprofit's fundraising readiness and results. Students will develop and strengthen skills that are essential for successful fundraising. The course is structured to simulate a real-world work environment. Students work in teams and learn through designing and developing projects that teach and utilize skills and practices that are foundational to fundraising in the philanthropic sector.
  • PHST-P 324 Get the Grant (3 cr.) This course examines the dynamics of fundraising with institutional donors such as corporations, foundations, federated organizations (United Ways, workplace giving funders, etc.), religious congregations, service organizations and associations, giving circles, donor advised funds and other formal donor vehicles. This course will explore the types and missions of institutional donors, provide perspectives and practices for approaching and engaging them, and strategies for developing long-term relationships and collaborations. Special attention will be placed upon ethical and legal considerations related to such donors. Students will draft a funding proposal as the major course assignment.
  • PHST-P 370 Learning By Giving (3 cr.) This course offers students the opportunity to combine the theory and practice of strategic philanthropy by granting $10,000 to local nonprofit organizations. This course thus aims to teach grantmaking best practices and to prepare students for work inthe field. This experience will familiarize students with local nonprofit organizations, expose them to local needs, and help them to develop their own grant-making strategy. One of the today's key discussions in the nonprofit sector is how to use strategically limited philanthropic resources in order to spur social change, have an impact, and leverage local resources. The first part of the course will introduce students to the multiple facets of strategic giving. In the second part of the course students will apply this knowledge to their own grant-making strategy.
  • PHST-P 375 Philanthropy, Calling, and Community (3 cr.) This course explores the intersections and overlaps among the concepts of calling, community, and the public responsibility of citizens and professionals in a democracy to work together towards the common good. The readings from philosophical and cultural traditions, as well as historical and contemporary biographies, provide the groundwork for students to develop their ideas and have informed deliberations about their personal values, vocation, and commitment to making a difference in the world through their career, profession, or personal lives.
  • PHST-P 390 Find a Career in Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course will assist students in developing your job search strategies for seeking internships, part-time and full-time jobs. In so doing, students will reflect upon their values, interests, abilities, and experiences to help clarify and articulate the types of additional experiences they hope to gain through an internship for credit. In this course, students will translate their philanthropic values and civic identity into strategies for increasing capacity to take action, identify career options that align with your philanthropic values and civic identity, critique personal and professional experiences related to philanthropy to inform your future actions and develop job search strategies for seeking internships, part-time and full-time jobs.
  • PHST-P 401 Ethics and Values in Philanthropy (3 cr.) This course provides an exploration of the ethical dilemmas and values that arise from philanthropy in contemporary society. The course readings will generate questions and inform discussion on issues such as: What is philanthropy and does it always seek the common good? When is philanthropic activity appropriate or inappropriate? What would it mean for individuals and communities to live philanthropically? Can the perspective of great writers enhance our appreciation and understanding of the value and complexity of philanthropic traditions in modern society?
  • PHST-P 410 Lead for Change in a Diverse World (3 cr.) This course examines the complexities of leadership within diverse social, cultural, and global contexts, equipping students with the skills needed to lead inclusively in the philanthropic sector. Through the exploration of cultural competence, equity and inclusion, ethical decision-making, and the impact of social identities, students will learn to navigate diverse organizational settings with sensitivity and effectiveness. Discussions and assignments are designed to directly relate to students' experiences in their concurrent internships, allowing them to analyze and apply course concepts in real-world contexts. Through case studies, group projects, and community engagement, students will develop the adaptive skills necessary for responsive, empathetic leadership in an interconnected world. This course supports students in becoming leaders committed to social justice and positive change across diverse communities.
  • PHST-P 450 Capstone Seminar in Philanthropic Leadership (3 cr.) This course will assist graduating seniors to synthesize and demonstrate substaintial knowledge and understanding in their major. Students will integrate what they have learned in Philanthropic Studies and prepare for their future careers, as they interact with professionals in the field and other students who are completing majors in Philanthropic Studies.
  • PHST-P 490 Double Major Internship (3-6 cr.) P: PHST-P 390 This course gives students the opportunity to apply theory to practice within a nonprofit organization. Students work with a host organization and a faculty advisor to develop a meaningful experience in their areas of interest, such as fundraising, marketing, communications, program development, board development, or volunteer coordination. This course is specifically designed for students who plan to double major. RISE=E twice
  • PHST-P 495 Readings in Philanthropic Studies (1-6 cr.) This course offers students an opportunity to undertake in-depth research in a topic of their own under the direction of a faculty member chosen by them. Topic and requirements are determined in discussion with the faculty member. Variable credit 1-6 hrs.
  • PHST-P 492 Career Prep Internship (6-9 cr.) P: PHST-P 390 This course gives students the opportunity to apply theory to practice within a nonprofit organization. Students work with a host organization and a faculty advisor to develop a meaningful experience in their areas of interest, such as fundraising, marketing, communications, program development, board development, or volunteer coordination. Students can choose 6 or 9 credits to work 20-30 hours per week. RISE=E twice