Philanthropy



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TerpVision 4: Philanthropy from University of Maryland on Vimeo.

“The most inspiring thing about the nature of philanthropy is the principle that the world is moving in a progressive and modernizing direction, and anyone can play a part in that evolution.”

~ Philanthropy undergraduate course alumnus

In the United States, the philanthropic and nonprofit sector encompasses over a million organizations, represents approximately ten percent of the workforce, annually reports trillions of dollars in revenue and assets, and annually generates over four hundred billion dollars through donations and volunteers.  The nonprofit sector is so heavily intertwined with the public sector that government executives will find themselves interacting and partnering with nonprofits on a regular basis.  Philanthropy and its key partners (nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, and social entrepreneurs) are major players in how social issues are addressed, how public policy gets developed and implemented, and how change occurs domestically and globally. 

Due to the growing importance of this sector, the Maryland School of Public Policy established a program in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership and Management for graduate and undergraduate students to develop the skills and habits of effective community leaders and citizens and appointed Robert Grimm as its first professor and program director. This innovative program incorporates “hands on experiences” and has already been extensively profiled by the Washington Post.  Established in January, 2010, this program has ambitious goals to become one of the premier academic centers for the study of Nonprofit Management and Leadership. This program is made possible through a generous gift from Bruce and Karen ('76) Levenson, whose goal is to produce graduates committed to advancing the work of nonprofits and to introduce students to the importance of philanthropy in society and their own lives.