Commentary: On Teaching Philanthropy

Abstract

In a 2017 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (NVSQ) article titled “Can Philanthropy be Taught?” my colleagues and I presented evidence demonstrating that experiential philanthropy, as an innovative pedagogical practice in higher education, can be used to effectively increase student learning, promote prosocial values, and enhance civic engagement. Although the findings of our study still stand, in the years since I have had much time to consider, and practice, what it means to teach philanthropy in a way that results in students developing a long-term commitment to being philanthropically engaged. Thus, the purpose of this commentary is to offer insights on teaching philanthropy and to consider what it means to teach philanthropy using a diverse and inclusive curriculum—i.e., a curriculum where students see themselves, their experiences, and their communities reflected in the content of what we teach.

Keywords: Philanthropy, Pedagogy, Higher Education, Service Learning, Experiential Philanthropy