 |
February-March 2003
Resources & Links
Activities, Web sites and other cutting-edge information for global givers
Italian university to offer master's degree in philanthropy
The University of Bologna in Italy, in partnership with Indiana University, has just launched Europe's first master's degree program in international studies in philanthropy (www.misp.it). The year-long program, to be taught in English and Italian, provides professional training on the historic and contemporary social, cultural, political and economic roles of philanthropy. Lecture courses will be complemented with practical experience plus presentations by international philanthropy experts.
Global Philanthropy Partnership updates brief guides to issues in philanthropy
At several meetings of social investors around the world there have been requests for short, simple papers exploring various issues of world-wide importance. In response, the Global Philanthropy Partnership (www.global-philanthropy.org) has put together a set of Brief Guides to Philanthropy. Each two-page guide briefly describes the background of an issue, recent developments, how philanthropists can help, and, perhaps most importantly, where to go to learn more. Produced with assistance from the World Resources Institute, CARE, Synergos, and other groups, topics covered are climate change, community foundations, the digital divide, forests, HIV/AIDS, human rights, landmines, malaria, and refugees.
New resource consolidates philanthropy news
Harvest Today (www.harvesttoday.org) is a new online resource for philanthropy information organized by the National Philanthropic Trust (www.nptrust.org), a public charity run that provides charitable giving services for individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits. Drawing on some 200 websites, Harvest Today provides a daily overview of recent philanthropic developments.
Alliance magazine examines how foundations are coping with fall in assets and civil society's role in policymaking
The March 2003 issue of Alliance magazine (www.allavida.org/alliance.htm) includes an examination of how foundations involved in international grantmaking are coping with falls in their asset values. The key, according to Barry Gaberman of the Ford Foundation, is realizing that managing the upside, when resources are expanding, is just as important as managing the downside. While none of the foundation leaders surveyed admitted to reducing the proportion of their funds going to international grantmaking, almost all talked of tightening their program focus and of cost-cutting measures within the foundation. The issue also contains a series of articles on the issue of civil society's role in global policymaking, including an discussion of how civil society can help achieve the Millenium Development Goals.
Boston institute provides academic research on philanthropy trends
Since its founding in 1970, the Social Welfare Research Institute (SWRI -- www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/gsas/swri/) at Boston College has been examining the combined influences of spirituality, wealth, philanthropy and other facets of cultural life in our so-called "age of affluence." Recent studies have examined the impact of wealth transfer to the baby-boomer generation; the attitudes and practices of "high-tech" philanthropists; and the "new physics of philanthropy," which examines the "supply side vectors of charitable giving." Publications such as The Spiritual Secret of Wealth: The Inner Dynamics by which Fortune Engenders Care and can be downloaded from the SWRI website.
© 2003 The Synergos Institute
|
|
|
