Philanthropy Today: How Organized Money Fuels Innovation, Institutions and Movements

(3 Credits)

Why do people give? What does philanthropy engender? Philanthropy is one of the most powerful sectors in the world, shaping health systems, arts and culture, higher education, human rights, and numerous other public and private institutions and goods in many countries. But to many, these influential institutions and donors, from Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller to George Soros and Bill Gates, and a growing number of newly philanthropic billionaires, seem opaque and often unaccountable. This course explores the ancient roots of philanthropy, the creation of foundations in the modern era, their social impact, and their local context, including the legal and tax regimes that give rise to them. It will also delve into emerging trends, debates, practices and controversies, illuminated by case studies, talks with philanthropic leaders, site visits and intensive, ongoing exercise that will enable students to identify an area of philanthropic interest and need, choose an organization, and design a process for making an actual grant. It is especially timely with the rise of an increasingly active and strategic philanthropic sector in the United Arab Emirates.