Philanthropic Leadership

An engaged, experiential course in which students learn an intentional process of identifying social issues and develop individual and collective philanthropic goals and strategies to address the issues about which they care deeply.  

The four pillars of the course are:

1. Self-reflection on motivations and contributions; critical reflection on the purpose of philanthropy and non-profit organizations in society
2. Types of non-profit boards and board governance
3. Philanthropic expectations of board members and criteria for giving
4. Collective decision making

As a part of their immersive, engaged learning experience, students make real grants to Tompkins County nonprofit organizations. Funding for these grants comes from our partner organization, The Philanthropy Lab, and gifts from donors like you! The total amount of funding available depends on course enrollment, an incentive structure, and fundraising. With an enrollment of 19 students in the course and with full participation by the students in the course incentive structure, the class should have $58,900 to donate within Tompkins County this year.

Each student is a member of the NBA 5035 Foundation Board of Directors, and each student, given that they meet course attendance and participation requirements, has equal weight when voting. As the instructor, I set three guideposts for giving: (1) All grant recipients must be 501(c)3 organizations working in Tompkins County, NY, with at least two years of activity; (2) 20% of our total grant amount will be split evenly among the nonprofits with whom the class conducts site visits (see pic below) or otherwise substantially supported our learning in the course; (3) grants will be for general operating support. 

The class culminates in a Giving Ceremony in which the class celebrates the work of its grantee organizations. The class earns $500 per student from The Philanthropy Lab in incentive funding if Cornell's president attends. Last year, President Emerita Martha Pollack attended (see picture below). This year, Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff is planning to attend.

Donors are invited to join us for the 2024 Giving Ceremony on Tuesday, December 3 from 5–6 p.m.