Module 1 AN INTRO TO PHILANTHROPY

This module is designed to help you explore the practice and legacy of philanthropy in both an individual and a cultural context. This lays the groundwork for you to understand how privilege can position you to act philanthropically, how your identity and experience can shape your philanthropic engagement, and how your commitment to advancing social justice might introduce new questions about how you’ll practice philanthropy.

• You will understand philanthropy as a “multiplicity.”
• You can describe how you’ll benefit from and can engage in philanthropy.
• You can evaluate philanthropic tradition as an expression of society’s values and norms.

Payton, Robert L. & Moody, Michael P. Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission. Indiana University Press, 2008. (Excerpts from introduction)

Key facts on U.S. foundations and grantmaking trends can be found on Foundation Center’s website.

This module intersects with the topics explored in the Social Justice 101 module (Module 2). After you have a solid understanding of what philanthropy is and how philanthropy interacts with non-profits, move on to the Social Justice 101 module to explore the concept of privilege and how your commitment to advancing social justice might introduce new questions about how you’ll practice philanthropy.

• You may be assigned a pre-reading in advance of the exercises below. At a minimum, you should read excerpts from the introduction of Moody and Payton’s “Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission.”
• This module is recommended for the beginning of your journey.
• The content provided in this module can be stretched out over two 60-minute sessions. One session can be spent defining terms and exploring the concepts discussed in this module, and the second session can be spent on self-reflection and sharing with the “Philanthropic Autobiography” activity.