Giving and Effectiveness

This course introduces students to the study of philanthropy. This introductory course is divided into two parts. The first part of this course focuses on philanthropic giving while the second part focuses on philanthropic effectiveness. Key questions to be examined in part one include why and how people give (time, money, skills, etc.). Key questions to be examined in part two include why and how to evaluate philanthropic effectiveness. In addition, students will be invited to consider how government policy influences giving and effectiveness. As students explore these questions, they will draw upon academic scholarship from multiple disciplines ranging from psychology and economics to ethics and philosophy.