Show Me the Money: Philanthropy and Civil Society

This course will engage students in the history, policy, practice of philanthropy as a significant dimension of American society/public humanities. A core theme: the relationship between philanthropy and the idea of civil society as the arena in which individuals and organizations contribute to the common good and address civic challenges. The course will: explore the impact and influence of philanthropy over time, examine the dynamics of difference, power, equity; will conclude with an investigation of changing values, trends in philanthropy, including critiques of inequality+practices of impact investing; focus on examples of relevance to public humanities and highlight the RI context.