What’s the science of philanthropy and why does it need an initiative? The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) is an initiative encouraging experimental (field and lab) research on charitable giving.

What’s the science of philanthropy and why does it need an initiative?

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Amir Pasic

The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) is an initiative encouraging experimental (field and lab) research on charitable giving.

Whether it’s about asking or giving, effective professionals and volunteers rely on rules of thumb and well-worn conventions to get the job done. Experience, after all, has been a trusted teacher for eons. What can science add that is so special?

First, science uncovers general patterns that span more experiences than any one person or institution can have. Experiments are the gold standard of science, and John List has used them to demonstrate that matches work to increase the likelihood of a gift and its size. Does the proportion of the match matter? Will a 2-to-1 or even 3-to-1 match yield better results than a 1-1 match?

If you are curious, you can attend the Science of Philanthropy Initiative Conference this September 21 and 22 and ask John List, who is not only a prominent member of the University of Chicago Economics Faculty but also Visiting Hartsook Chair in Fundraising at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

John List is pictured in a classroom setting. — John List is the Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago.

Joining John in organizing the conference are his colleague Christopher Clapp from the University of Chicago, Luigi Butera from Copenhagen Business School, Sarah Konrath, Mark Ottoni-Wilhem, Richard Steinberg, and myself from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. There will be three terrific keynote speakers, beginning with Cecilia Conrad, of Lever for Change and the MacArthur Foundation, who is a leading practitioner but also an award-winning researcher in her own right. Daniel Hungerman an economist from Notre Dame, is an expert on philanthropy and religion. Finally, Azim Shariff from the University of British Columbia is a social psychologist who researches how morality intersects with religion, cultural attitudes, and economics. They will be joined by scholars sharing their latest research and practitioners keen to engage in systematic approaches to the practices they have implemented in the field.

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Digital for Good: A Global Study on Emerging Ways of Giving

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Gilbert Flores

Collaboration between the government and the philanthropic sector as well as the introduction of innovative tools and strategies continued to enhance the philanthropic landscape in Singapore and South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philanthropic organizations in Singapore and South Korea have different philanthropic environments. In Singapore, the highly favorable environment (at an overall score of 4.52), active public engagement, and strategic governmental support have successfully promoted philanthropic values. In South Korea, a moderately favorable philanthropic environment (at an overall score of 3.94), along with a strong cultural and religious heritage of philanthropic giving have promoted giving and volunteering, especially in the last decades.

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly affected the philanthropic landscape and philanthropic giving increased in 2020 to fight against the pandemic in both countries. Findings from the 2022 Global Philanthropy Environment Index show that in both Singapore and South Korea, philanthropic organizations have implemented innovative strategies and technological solutions and worked closely with government agencies and other stakeholders in order to fund and deliver services effectively during the pandemic. The Digital for Good: A Global Study on Emerging Ways of Giving project explores some of the emerging vehicles of philanthropy that have become more prominent in recent years, such as crowdfunding, contactless giving, online giving, and online volunteering.

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Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Prompts New Challenges for Philanthropy

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Gilbert Flores

Demetrius Martinez, left, an abortion rights advocate and Philip Miedzinski, who is anti-abortion, argue outside the U.S. Supreme Court after the Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022 in Washington, District of Columbia. — Protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court after the Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022 in Washington, District of Columbia.

This article was first published by the Chronicle of Philanthropy and authored by IU philanthropic studies professor Leslie Lenkowsky.

An important but controversial era in public policy ended with last week’s Supreme Court ruling allowing states to outlaw abortion. Philanthropy and nonprofits have played large
roles on both sides of the fight over legalized abortion, and they will have even more to do as a new era unfolds.

Last week’s ruling centered on a Mississippi law — one of a growing number throughout the United States —that sought to limit the availability of abortions. Unless Congress can find a
politically acceptable way to legalize abortion that would survive Supreme Court scrutiny, the ruling places the responsibility of setting policy for the procedure squarely on state
governments.

Access the full article at the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s website.

Learning by Giving Class Works Together to Grant Indianapolis Nonprofit $10,000

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Gilbert Flores

Young program participant working on the farm. — Soul Food Project is a nonprofit urban farm in Indianapolis located in the Northeast Corridor.

Led this semester by Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog, the Melvin Simon Chair in Philanthropy and associate professor of philanthropic studies, students in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s “Learning by Giving” class got first-hand experience in the grantmaking process.

They worked together to create a foundation, identify community needs, and grant funds to an organization. Thanks to the generous support of the Learning by Giving Foundation and PNC Foundation, students in this course are able to grant $10,000 and have a “big check” ceremony at the end of the semester.

Students used the mission and values of the class, and of their newly formed foundation, to guide their decision-making process. After analyzing data on community needs, they identified food insecurity as a major issue affecting Indianapolis. They worked together to find an organization that’s working to end food insecurity by increasing access to fresh, healthy food in the community or addressing the root causes of the issue. They looked into nonprofits, created grant-information packets, requested proposals, and designed their selection process.

“I really expanded my capacity in terms of understanding how deadlines have a real-life and ancillary impact,” said Lauren Graves. “The most important thing this course gave me was experience, and that relative familiarity will certainly boost my confidence in a future nonprofit grantmaking experience.”

Established in 2017, The Soul Food Project has been working towards building a just and equitable food system through their urban farms and summer youth employment program.

At the end of the semester, the students voted to award a $10,000 grant to Soul Food Project, a nonprofit urban farm in Indianapolis that fosters wellness through food access, hands-on education, and creative space for artists. The class then organized and hosted a ceremony to award the grant, and recognize sponsors and faculty for their support.

During the ceremony, Danielle Guerin, executive director of Soul Food Project, expressed her gratitude, excitement, and plans for using the grant money. Funds will help pay for interns and to employ more young people.

“I am proud of the students for all that they accomplished together in just a few months,” said Dr. Herzog. “This semester, due to a concern for underrepresentation among grant recipients, the students prioritized funding a grassroots organization with a social and racial justice orientation. It was impressive how they collaborated to find a project that is truly grassroots.”

Written by Rachel Leininger.

Alumni George Suttles’ Commencement Speech

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Gilbert Flores

George Suttles, Executive Director of the Commonfund Institute addressed this year’s graduates.

The truest, purest expressions of philanthropy can be found closest to you.

Recently, LFSOP alumni George Suttles addressed this year’s graduates during commencement exercises in May. We thought our whole community might benefit from his words and wisdom.

Dean Pasic, esteemed faculty, family friends, and celebrated and decorated graduates, I send you congratulations and gratitude, thank you for allowing me to be here with you today. I am here because I was fortunate enough to receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award. I am filled with gratitude to my Lilly family for providing me the education and support to pursue my passion to serve communities we all care about. I always tell people that my time here at Lilly, and in Indianapolis, was a transformative time for me. I made good friends and did good work here. I reflect fondly on my professors and classmates. Shout out to Lance Chrisman and the Anthem Foundation team, who brought me in as a graduate assistant and never looked back. The Anthem team poured into me and working with them is still one of the highlights of my professional life.

What an auspicious occasion! You studied, you wrote all the papers, did all the problem sets, listened to all the lectures, and handed in all the midterms and finals, and now, we are all here together to celebrate what you have accomplished. I would be remiss if I did not reflect on the fact that each one of you accomplished your academic goals in the midst of a global pandemic, a racial reckoning spurred by the senseless murders of Black people by the hands of police, the realization that it may be too late to turn back the damage that has been done by global warming, and arguably one of the most consequential election/legislative/political periods of our time, …and amidst all of that here we are…amazing.

You come into the world of philanthropy, and the broader nonprofit sector, at a time where you are needed most. Your hearts and minds are desperately needed in the sector, no matter what it is you choose to focus your efforts on, the tools and resources you have received here at the Lilly School will serve you, and communities we all care about, well. So thank you for all you have done to get here, and thank you in advance for all you will do to make the world a better place.

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