As the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy kicks off the new school year, we wanted to highlight some of the classes that undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree students can take this fall.
Two of the graduate-level courses are offered online, and one is offered mostly online with the opportunity to attend a conference at the conclusion of the course. The undergraduate classes are offered on campus.
Read on to discover thoughts from professors about the courses they’re teaching, as well as enrolled students’ interests and expectations.
Graduate
Donor Behavior – Major and Planned Giving: Dr. Patrick Dwyer
What are donor motivations for giving? Teaching this course for the second time, Dr. Patrick Dwyer explains how this online class will help fundraisers learn more about donors, as well as what makes fundraising leaders effective.
“Students in this course will gain a greater appreciation for the motivations of donors, particularly high net worth donors. Who are these individuals and why do they give? And how could a fundraiser go about engaging them as potential donors to their organization?
“In addition to understanding what makes donors tick, students will also be encouraged to understand and articulate their own leadership abilities as a major gifts fundraiser. What makes fundraising leaders effective is another major emphasis of this course. Therefore, students will be given the opportunity to work on developing and presenting themselves as a leader in this area.
“Overall, students will find this course to be both highly engaging and useful to their work as fundraisers or other nonprofit professionals, and also potentially illuminating to their experiences as donors themselves.”
Community Foundations: Dr. Laurie Paarlberg
This brand new course offers students the opportunity to not only dive into the subject of community foundations, but to also attend a conference and network with community foundation leaders.
Dr. Laurie Paarlberg explains more:
“In today’s world, community foundations play key leadership roles in many policy fields. This course is the first and only course that we know of anywhere that provides an in-depth look at community foundations. This semester, we’ll dive into questions of what are community foundations, focusing on the essence of what community is and why community is important to philanthropy. We’ll then examine the nuts and bolts of how community foundations operate—focusing on some key managerial issues, such as revenue generation and strategic change.
“The course is offered in a hybrid format. The first part of the course will be held online, and we’ll conclude the semester with a trip to the Growing Community Foundations Conference in Wichita, Kansas, where we’ll have a great opportunity to learn from and network with leading experts and change makers in the field.”
Graduate student Linda Jo Doctor also chimed in about her excitement on taking the course:
“I believe community foundations are one of philanthropy’s greatest innovations. I have been fascinated by their history, how they have developed over time, and adopted to changing social, political, and economic factors. There are many questions to explore, including what does community mean today? What leadership roles can community foundations play today in the ever expanding field of community philanthropy? As a program officer working at an international foundation, I value the partnerships with community foundations. Taking this course will provide the reflective time to explore the opportunities even further.”
Gen Tech and Social Change: Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog
Ph.D. student Megan Hillier-Geisler shared some thoughts on what she’s looking forward to in this new and fully online course:
“I decided to take this course because my research interests include folklore’s personal narrative archetype and how it can apply to a philanthropic persona we build, particularly online. I spent a bit of time looking at this as a part of my MPA program and want to expand on that research. The way we curate our personal story of giving has and will continue to change with our relationship to technology. I am excited to see what has been studied and what trends we can expect to see when it comes to tech and social change.”
Undergraduate
Race, Social Justice, and Philanthropy: Dr. Michael Twyman
How does race and social justice impact philanthropy, and vice versa? Dr. Michael Twyman, adjunct faculty member, managing principal of InExcelsis, and founding Indiana director for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, will teach a course about race, social justice, and philanthropy, and will encourage students to ponder and find solutions to issues surrounding these topics.
“This course takes a deep dive into the historical precedents of racism and other social justice issues have impacted contemporary systems, institutions and interpersonal relationships.
“Many students who take this course say it opens their eyes to racial and social injustices and what role philanthropy can play to address these issues when working with other sectors to effect systemic change.
“The current racial divide and the volatile sociopolitical environment in the U. S. present heightened challenges for the philanthropic field. Students in this class have the opportunity to learn what they can do individually to help forge solutions to the problems within their spheres of influence.”
Bachelor’s degree student Annalise Miller shared some thoughts on why she decided to take the course:
“As I considered my senior year and the end of my professional education with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I had to make some hard choices about the final note in which I would hit. The course for social justice seemed appropriate before I take ethics because I thought it may help me achieve a deeper insight into the vast issues which are embedded in certain cultures. I look forward to being surprised, excited, and challenged.”
Psychology of Giving: Dr. Sara Konrath
Why do people give and help others? Are there some people who are more caring versus more selfish? If so, are they born that way or is it teachable? What happens to the brain and body when people give and help? Which situations increase or inhibit helping behaviors?
Dr. Sara Konrath, a social psychologist who studies the science behind philanthropy, will teach this course.
In addition to Race, Social Justice, and Philanthropy, Miller will also take Psychology of Giving.
“I am deeply interested in the Psychology of Giving course because of the nature of my goals going forward in the sector. For me, why we do what we do is fascinating and crucial to the expansion of philanthropy,” Miller said. “Who people are and where they come from is the number one interest I have in learning more about giving.”
Interested in taking any of these classes as a degree or non-degree student? Email Pamela Clark at pamelac@iu.edu.
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