PHST 330 Learning by Giving
Fall Semester 2014
Dr. Gregory Witkowski
IT 155
MW 12:00-1:15
Office Hours:
My office hours are by appointment because my administrative role requires me to attend many
meetings. That said, I am also on campus most days so it should not be a problem to schedule a
time to meet. My office is in the Sigma Tau Building, Room 311. You may reach me at my
office phone, 317-278-8970, or contact me by e-mail gwitkows@iupui.edu. I generally check
my e-mail and phone messages every day. However, if you have a question about an
assignment please DO NOT count on getting me the same day you call or e-mail. Plan
ahead!
There are a number of campus-wide policies governing the conduct of courses at IUPUI. These
can be found at http://registrar.iupui.edu/course_policies.html
Course Description:
This course centers on the academic and practical study of philanthropy by focusing on the
granting of $10,000. You will form your own "foundation" to grant money to the local
community. Through this experience, you will be introduced to the real world process of grant
making, understanding the functioning of non-profit organizations and learning of the impact of
philanthropic giving on society. You will also develop your own philanthropic mission or ethic
in the process so that you are prepared to join the philanthropic sector. Grant money for this
course was generously provided by the Learning by Giving Foundation. We will be
collaborating with the United Way of Central Indiana. Readings will concentrate on the role of
philanthropy in society and the work of foundations and provide a critical basis for your
decisions.
Statement on Disability:
If you need course accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be
evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
Required Readings:
There will be additional course readings placed on Oncourse.
Joel Fleischmann, The Foundation: A Great American Secret, New York: Perseus Books, 2007.
ISBN: 1586484117
Optional Reading:
Robert Payton and Michael P. Moody, Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission,
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2008.
ISBN: 0253350492
Grading Policy:
Attendance is mandatory. Because we are working together to grant the money, it is essential
that all participate in the process as much as possible. Missing more than three sessions will lead
to me dropping your semester grade by a half grade (B becomes B-) for each additional session
you miss.
The breakdown of the grades is as follows.
Class Participation 10%
Research Paper/Presentation 15%
Exam 15%
Class Project 50%
Report/Presentation for granting process (e.g. Site Visits) 15%
Analysis of grant applications 35%
Reflections 10%
Class participation: I encourage all of you to ask questions and participate in class discussions.
You should read the assignments and be prepared to discuss the themes listed for each week. I
expect the class to be almost exclusively discussion based. Asking good questions during the
granting process is essential to making good granting decisions.
Research Paper: This paper requires you to research need in the community, non-profits
addressing that need and to present about these needs to the class. Because there are few books
to turn to on current need in Indianapolis, much of your research will involve newspapers and
websites about Indianapolis and the community. The paper will be 5-8 pages in length, define
the need and examine non-profits that are working on improving the situation. Depending on the
number of students each person will present individually or in a group by sector. Your paper will
be your own.
Exam: An exam will test factual knowledge about the readings and your ability to use that
knowledge to interpret the causality and significance of developments in philanthropy. It will
include short answer and an essay. You will receive a study guide before the exam.
Class Project: This assignment includes granting funds to a local agency or agencies. These
funds have been provided by the Learning by Foundation. We will examine our values and local
needs before writing a mission statement for a foundation. This statement will include the
guiding principles and goals the class wants to pursue in their charitable giving and will be used
to formulate the request for proposals. Among the decisions we will make is what issues to
target and what to fund, e.g. special projects, operating expenses, endowment. Each grant will
be evaluated and finalists will be visited to determine the NPO to receive the grant. Because the
granting agencies must be given time to respond to the request, we need to complete a number of
tasks early in the semester. Please be prepared to dive right in.
Reflection Paper: The specific reflections are 2 page assignments on aspects of the course. You
should describe what happened, evaluate an important aspect of the process, and analyze what
you have learned. These are to be placed on Oncourse on day they are due. They will not be
graded but need to be posted. At the end of the course, I will ask you to reflect on the entire
course. This paper will be about 10 pages in length and ask you to think about the whole course
in addition to the specific aspects. You may use material from your specific reflections in your
final paper. This will account for the grade.
Honors Contract
The Honors component will require the development of leadership skills through numerous
course assignments. Honors students will be asked to synthesize the reports on local needs to
help the class highlight different components of need and how they can have an impact. Honors
students will also serve as mediators between the course and the community. They will organize
the discussion of local needs, lead presentations in course and organize the site visits. They will
be program officers, who will answer e-mails from prospective applicants about the request for
proposal. Grantwriters often ask about the goals of the fund and these students can provide that
feedback to them. Finally, honors students will write a 15 page philanthropic autobiography,
which traces not only what they learned in class but how this course has changed their view of
philanthropy.
Grading Scale:
A+
A
AB+
97-100%
93-96%
90-92%
87-89%
B
BC+
C
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
CD+
D
D-
70-72%
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
Academic Integrity:
This course is to help you learn to formulate and express your own ideas; it therefore goes without
saying that all work you turn in should be your own. We will discuss correct ways in which you
may incorporate other people’s ideas into your writing. However, knowingly passing off someone
else’s words as your own is a violation of Indiana University’s Code of Student Rights,
Responsibilities, and Conduct. Depending on the nature of the offense, the penalty for plagiarism
may include receiving an F on a paper or assignment, failing this course and being referred to the
Dean, or being expelled from the university. The Code may be found at http://www.iu.edu/~code/
Principles of Undergraduate Learning:
IUPUI has developed a set of expectations for the undergraduate educational experience called
the Principles of Undergraduate Learning (PULs). Each course contributes in unique ways to this
campus goal for student learning. To a certain extent, the curriculum, readings, activities, and
structure of PHST330 will support many of the PULs. However, PUL 3 Integration and
Application of Knowledge receives a major emphasis in PHST330. In PHST330, your
instructors will assess your mastery of Integration and Application of Knowledge by identifying
the following in your work and class participation:


Ability to articulate personal values and how higher education and experience has enhanced
their personal lives
Ability to meet professional standards and competencies related to philanthropic endeavors





Ability to articulate knowledge, skills, and dispositions to advance personal and professional
goals as well as the goals of society
Ability to analyze information and work across traditional course and disciplinary
boundaries
Ability to read, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and critically reflect upon course readings and
assignments.
Ability to ask insightful questions through disciplined thinking.
Ability to find and make use of quality information and data to support positions and inspire
ideas.
Assignments:
The following is a tentative schedule of assignments. These may be changed if necessary,
especially to accommodate the granting process. You will need to do site visits off campus and
to attend the award ceremony. The readings will stay as listed so please complete them for the
class date listed.
Week 1
Grantmaking and Need
8/25 Introduction
8/27 Complete the Survey. Read Robert Payton and Patricia Dean “Philanthropy” in
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis and Kirsten Groenjberg Indiana Nonprofits Survey (Oncourse).
Choose research topics.
Week 2
Philanthropy in Indianapolis
9/1 Labor Day
9/3 Visit Starfish
Week 3
Philanthropy in Indianapolis
9/8 Visit La Plaza
9/10 Christie Gillespie, United Way (in class)
Week 4
Philanthropy and Values
9/15 Discussion of the meaning of philanthropy. Read Richard Gunderman We Make a Life by
What We Give Chapter 1 (Oncourse).
9/17 Read mission statements from Learning by Giving Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, and your favorite non-profit organization.
9/19 Research Paper on Need Due
Week 5
Local Need
9/22 Presentations
9/24 Presentations
Week 6
Forming our Foundation
9/29 Read Fleischman, Chapters 1-4
10/1 Read Barbara Kibbe, et. al. “Panning for Gold” in Grantmaking Basics, A Field Guide for
Funders (Oncourse) and previous year’s RFP. Make revision to RFP and post on Oncourse
Week 7
Writing the RFP
10/6 Read Fleischman Chapters 5-6
10/8 Read Fleischman Chapters 7-8
Week 8
Foundations in Society
10/13 Read Fleischman Chapters 9-11
10/15 Read Fleischman, chapters 12-Epilogue
Week 9
Fall Break
10/20 Fall Break
10/22 Review
Week 10
Tools for Evaluation
10/27 Exam
10/29 Read “Numbers and Sense” from Grantmaking Basics, A Field Guide for Funders
(Oncourse), “Site Visits Kibbe” from Grantmaking Basics, A Field Guide for Funders
(Oncourse), pp. 15-35, “Site Visits Boston University”(Oncourse)
Week 11
Evaluating Applications
11/3 Read first three grants, write evaluations
11/5 Skim all applications, Write ten evaluations, Discussion of Applications
Week 12
Evaluating Applications
11/10 All Grant Evaluations Due
11/12 Grant discussion
Week 13
Conducting Site Visits
11/17 Grant discussion
11/19 Site Visits
Week 14
Conducting Site Visits
11/24 Site Visits
11/26 Thanksgiving break
Week 15
Discussion of Site Visits
12/1 Presentations on site visits.
12/3 Presentations on site visits
Week 16
Awarding the Grant
12/8 Decision on Grant (Final Evaluations due)
12/10 Decision on Grant
Week 17
Celebrating
12/13 Wrap-up discussion
12/15 Reflection Due
12/17 10:30-12:00 Award Ceremony in Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (TG) first floor
conference room. Attendance is required!