“Philanthropy is a word. From the Greek, it roughly translates as love for humankind. But it is also an idea. Philanthropy brings light to the darkness, hope in moments of despair, and in moments of crisis, relief and response and resolve. It translates generosity into justice for all.”
— Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation
cultivating the next generation of philanthropists
The Philanthropy as Civic Engagement course is designed to facilitate your academic, personal, and professional growth and to help you become a more informed, engaged, and thoughtful citizen and philanthropist.
Our work throughout the quarter is grounded in the core tenets of the Social Change Model of Leadership.
consider
What is philanthropy? Who gives and why? How are charitable dollars distributed? What role does the nonprofit sector play? What are your personal giving priorities? What kind of society do you want to live in? How can you contribute to creating the change you want to occur?
connect
Work collaboratively with peers, professors, and community partners to enhance your knowledge and understanding, research organizations, conduct site visits, prepare briefings, communicate persuasively, negotiate and solidify group decisions, write proposals, and deliver presentations.
contribute
Thanks to the generosity of local donors, embrace the privilege and responsibility to award $100,000 to Los Angeles area nonprofit organizations. In lieu of a final exam, develop guiding questions for the organizations’ grant reports and host a reception to celebrate awardees’ work.
why philanthropy “as civic engagement”?
Civic engagement relates to an individual’s responsibility to care for, actively take part in, and improve their community.
As conceptualized by psychologist and professor Lonnie Sherrod (2008) and illustrated below, civic engagement reflects the intersecting dynamics of concern for others, connectedness, and active citizenship.
One of the many ways citizens can be civically engaged is through philanthropic giving that focuses on improving life and promoting the common good.
In the Philanthropy as Civic Engagement course, we review traditions of philanthropy in the U.S. that are oriented around the values of alleviating human suffering, maximizing human potential, catalyzing change, and building community.
Understanding the power of giving and considering how to give effectively is facilitated through studying nonprofits that foster arts and culture, civil rights and human services, environmental and animal interests, and health and wellness and deciding collaboratively how to award $100,000 to selected organizations.
learning through community
The Philanthropy as Civic Engagement course is possible thanks to the generosity of many people working collaboratively to enable UCLA undergraduates to develop knowledge about the nonprofit sector and experience with philanthropic giving.
Each time the course is offered, representatives from roughly 50 nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles area offer their time and experience to help promote awareness and understanding of the needs that are served through their work. Guest speakers, including course alumni, share graciously their stories, offering unique perspective and inspiration. The diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of students enriches class discussions and deliberations. And, ultimately, this unique learning experience would not be possible without the tremendous generosity of course donors whose gifts are made with no stipulations about where students “should” give or restrictions regarding "how” they should make decisions.
Toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of the course, UCLA Women in Philanthropy members committed in Fall 2019 to establish an endowment to support the course, fundraising for which is ongoing.
Through the course, which was established in 2012 and incorporated as an Honors Collegium offering in 2016, UCLA undergraduates have awarded $1,000,000 of donor contributed funds to 35 Los Angeles area nonprofit organizations.
teaching team
Our Philanthropy as Civic Engagement teaching team is led by Jennifer Lindholm in collaboration with Laura Fox and Michael Suarez.
Each team member brings professional expertise and personal experience that contributes uniquely to the interdisciplinary and experiential nature of the course. We share a passion for the subject matter and a commitment to creating a learning environment that encourages all who are involved with the course to bring the best of who we are to this philanthropic adventure.
Ultimately, we consider it a privilege to guide students through the process of discovering the knowledge that exists around them and recognizing the wisdom that lies within them.
alumni reflections
“You are about to embark on a life-changing experience. Taking ‘Philanthropy as Civic Engagement’ has been one of the greatest choices I have ever made. Not only did this class enable me to create a tangible impact within the Los Angeles community, it also allowed me to gain the tools that are necessary in understanding how to be an effective philanthropist. Being a board member of the ‘Philanthropy as Civic Engagement’ class is all about being a proactive learner. You are learning from your peers, from your professors, the class speakers, and the nonprofit representatives themselves. You will learn how to navigate the non-profit world, you will see—first-hand through site visits—how organizations are creating positive changes in the community, and you will gain new perspectives on life. You will have a great time taking this class. Cherish every moment because it will pass by rapidly.”