Philanthropic Studies (Distance Learning)

Philanthropy is not an easy word to pronounce or define yet it is a timeless feature of societies across time and place. It is also a timely topic because private donors are being increasingly called on to help improve local communities and meet global challenges, whilst philanthropic practice is evolving faster than ever before with new tools emerging to facilitate collaborative action and enable more financial and non-financial capital to achieve social impact. These developments are generating complex debates and adding new twists to enduring questions including “why be philanthropic?”, “how does philanthropy relate to state and market action?” and “what does it mean to do philanthropy ‘better’”?

Addressing such questions requires understanding the historical roots of philanthropy, philosophical and theoretical explanations of private action for the public good, assessment of its impact on society over time, and engagement with debates about contested philanthropic practices.

This module provides an up-to-date overview of current academic knowledge about philanthropy. You will gain an understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to philanthropy, the various theories and ideologies regarding the existence of philanthropic behaviours and the role of government and policymakers in shaping the legal, fiscal and cultural context for philanthropy.

Charities and Non Government Organisations in the UK and around the world depend on fundraised income: indeed, we know that 85% of donations are given because someone is asked. Fundraising and fundraisers are therefore essential to the effect functioning of civil society, and central to work that enables people to both survive and thrive, from providing services to homeless people, to putting on world-renowned opera performances.

You will explore the current state of fundraising, including evidence-based techniques and strategies (the ‘science’ of fundraising), and the latest research on the personal attributes of fundraisers that are understood to lead to successful outcomes, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders and embedding fundraising within an organisation (the ‘art’ of fundraising). You'll explore topics including ethics and EDI in fundraising, alongside other current issues facing the profession, developing fundraising strategy and shaping an internal culture to support fundraising activities.

By the end of the course, you will develop a critical understanding of fundraising, its role in society, and the ways in which it shapes both philanthropic practice and that of the non-profit sector.

When we think of ‘philanthropy’ we often focus only on the ‘philanthropists’, that is the people who are voluntarily giving away resources. But donors rarely, if ever, act alone. They exist and operate within a much broader set of individuals and institutions that includes all other charitable bodies, potential grantees and their beneficiaries, staff, trustees and volunteers, other philanthropic funders and relevant governmental agencies, and – if they are wealthy –financial and wealth managers and family offices.

We make sense of this complex philanthropic eco system and explore what kinds of support are available to all types of donor to make more effective, efficient and ethical decisions. Topics include both structural issues (tax, legal and wealth management) as well as strategic approaches (theory of change, goal-setting and distributional consequences). We explore current debates in advising and supporting donors, including the different approaches, outcome-orientations, methods of measurement and impact assessment.

By the end of this module you will develop a critical understanding of philanthropy advising and its role in society, and the ways in which private philanthropists and institutional donors are, and can be, supported.

How can social and collective action bring about meaningful change in the world? And what is the role of philanthropy in enabling this to happen? In this module you will develop an advanced knowledge and critical understanding of social action and social change theories within the philanthropic sector. You will be supported to evaluate historical and contemporary theories of social action and social change, addressing ethical challenges and complex social issues.

You’ll develop advanced leadership and management skills as you develop your own social action project.  As you combine theory with hands-on application you will engage deeply with leadership principles and the ethical questions that arise when driving social change initiatives. You will develop your ability to manage projects and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders to address complex social issues.

Through a combination of theory, practical application, and reflection on your own personal leadership capacities, you will gain the expertise needed to lead impactful social action projects and contribute meaningfully to positive societal change.

Should we expand our definition of philanthropy to understand global giving practices or stop using the word? Greater understanding of giving traditions and practices of contemporary philanthropy across the world are emerging alongside a call for decolonising western dominated institutional discourse and practice.

You will take a critical look at how philanthropy discourse is still dominated by western conceptualisations and practices and, through cross country case studies, engage in comparative analysis of individual monetary donations, donor motivations and welfare provision. Reflect on how and why philanthropic behaviour varies across different political, cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Learn how to apply current academic theory, knowledge and empirical research to take a critical perspective on global philanthropic organisations. Engage in podcasts, webinars and debate with guest speakers from across the sector. You will explore the role of global philanthropic institutions in global causes such as health, climate change and education and gain a broader understanding of philanthropy across the world.

How can social research help us to understand the changing world of fundraising and philanthropy? Which research methods can we use to generate insights that strengthen policy and practice? How can ethically grounded research help us to ensure that different voices will shape the future of fundraising and philanthropy?

By introducing you to methods and approaches used in social research, this module develops your ability to design and undertake social research on fundraising and philanthropy. You will develop skills in understanding, interpreting and critiquing social research to answer fundamental questions about the history and future of fundraising and philanthropy.

This module will prepare you to conduct research or read the latest findings on trends in giving. Using examples from fundraising and philanthropy, you’ll learn how different philosophical approaches shape research design, methods and analysis. You’ll explore ethical issues in research and learn how to conduct your investigation safely. You’ll develop research questions and explore common techniques of collecting and analysing data to answer them, from interviews to secondary analysis. And you’ll gain practical experience in reviewing reports and articles to assess research confidently.

Philanthropy stands as an exciting, emerging field within the academic sphere, offering fertile ground for exploration and advancement. This module empowers students to become active architects of this evolving discipline by engaging them in the dynamic process of conducting independent, in-depth research inquiries into philanthropic themes of their choosing. Through this immersive process, students will identify an area of philanthropy they feel requires further understanding, conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature, engage in rigorous, ethical research methodologies, analyse findings and draw conclusions within the framework of a dissertation. This research project aims to instill a research-centric mindset among students, nurturing their ability to undertake scholarly investigations in real-world contexts. Moreover, it seeks to equip students with the proficiency to potentially assume leadership roles, guiding others in similar scholarly pursuits.

Collaborating closely with their supervisors, students will refine their dissertation proposals to reflect their scholarly ambitions. Through regular and structured meetings with their supervisors, students will devise monthly work plans and establish achievable milestones, and will have ample opportunities to discuss the trajectory of their research and receive constructive feedback on their written work. This culminates in the creation of a robust and compelling dissertation thesis.

Our continued understanding of philanthropy is based upon asking questions and undertaking research as new issues emerge or the environment changes. In this module you will ask your own questions about philanthropy as you undertake your own dissertation research.

Building upon the Research Methods in Philanthropic Studies module, you will design and conduct rigorous, independent and ethical research into your chosen topic. You will deepen your knowledge of theory and research methods as you critically review the relevant literature and in response to your questions. You will collect and analyse data from primary or secondary sources and draw conclusions for further research or policy and practice. Throughout, you will work closely with your supervisor to refine and implement your dissertation plans, including regular meetings and feedback on written work. You will develop research skills and knowledge that will empower you to lead or conduct critical investigations in a work-based context.