Courses
EDUC 374/POLISCI 334. Research Workshop: Philanthropy and Civil Society.
1- 3 Units, Fall – Spring (Debra Meyerson and Rob Reich)
This workshop is intended for graduate students doing research on the nature of civil society or philanthropy and advanced undergraduates doing research or writing senior honors theses on related topics. Professor Meyerson and Reich will lead discussions of recent writings that form the corpus of our scholarly knowledge of the nonprofit sector and civil society. Students will present their work, circulate drafts of chapters and proposals, and receive feedback from Professors Meyerson and Reich, the teaching assistant, and fellow students. The class will be visited on occasion by other scholars and practitioners for a discussion of their work as it related to themes of the class. The course's aim is to help students to produce high quality work that will have an impact in their respective disciplines and shape the scholarly terrain of research on philanthropy and nonprofits.
EDUC 378X. Seminar on Social Change Processes and Organizations.
3-4 units, Winter (Debra Meyerson)
The course is aimed at PhD students and upper-level undergraduates interested in processes of organizing for social change. Viewing organizations as the locus of action, it will examine how public and private philanthropic institutions influence the terms of organizational legitimacy and form, shape organizational agendas, and create networks among actors. The course will consider a number of normative questions about the role of private philanthropy in shaping and serving public interests. The seminar will conclude by coming full circle back to the individual agent, considering critically the role of leadership in social change processes.
PUBLPOL 183. Philanthropy and Social Innovation.
2 units, Spring (Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and Peter Hero)
Philanthropy’s role in modern society and the translation of its vision and capital into social action. Topics: individual giving; philanthropic history and industry; foundation models and infrastructure; philanthropic strategy and grantmaking; accountability and board governance; global and corporate philanthropy; and public policy engagement. Readings include business school cases and industry articles.
POLISCI 236. Theories of Civil Society, Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector.
5 Units, Spring (Bruce Sievers)
The historical development and modern structure of civil society emphasizing philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. What is the basis of private action for the public good? How are charitable dollars distributed and what role do nonprofit organizations and philanthropic dollars play in a modern democracy? How do nongovernmental organizations operate domestically and globally? Readings in political philosophy, political sociology, and public policy.
Student Testimonial
PACS Undergraduate Lauren Finzer '09 speaks about the influential role PACS had on her Stanford academic career and how PACS is creating the next generation of philanthropic change agents.
PIPE Conference
PACS recently hosted a research conference to launch the project on Private Initiatives in Public Education (PIPE) that brought together leading scholars and practitioners who are working on projects related to emerging trends and cross-sector innovations in public education. Specifically, the conference explored the following themes:
1) The influence of philanthropic and private intermediary organizations in education;
2) Models of organizing diverse providers (charters and district schools) of public education;
3) Innovations in the development of human capital for education;
4) Entrepreneurship in the era of Obama.
The conference also set out to establish an agenda for future research in these areas.
