Emily Rettig

PHST P450

1/20/18

What is Philanthropic Studies? Why Study It?

As a fairly recent school of study, it would seem that the idea of philanthropy was also a

fairly recent idea, but philanthropy has been around for a very long time. In fact, philanthropy

can be linked back to the oldest civilizations and to every faith tradition. For example, if we were

to look at old Egyptian tombs, we would see philanthropic acts drawn on the walls (Wisely, pg.

2). As an emerging graduate of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I

wish to make clear what it is that I have spent four years studying and the skills that I will leave

this University with. Philanthropic studies is the academic study of how to give one's time talent

and treasure away wisely and for the betterment of society. According to Turner, “philanthropic

studies aspires to improve and transform the practices of philanthropy” (Turner, pg. 2084). This

is a necessary field of study for a number of different reasons. From my time within the school

learning and gaining skills, I have come to believe that philanthropic studies is not only

absolutely important but it is also absolutely necessary. Apart from philanthropic studies it would

be difficult to grasp the fullness of the idea of philanthropy and to wisely be philanthropic.

Philanthropy was once a field that we as a society knew very little about. We knew that

philanthropy was and still is present but that was basically it. There were many questions being

raised like; what are people's motives for being philanthropic?: how has philanthropy evolved

from one period of time to another?: and what is the economic basis for philanthropy (Curti, pg.

356-357). The academic field of Philanthropic Studies was created to answer these questions and
many more. The study of philanthropy really began to pick up steam in the 1970’s with Robert

Payton and many others, but “we would eer in believing that they created the area of interest”

(Hall, pg. 528). As mentioned earlier, the idea of philanthropy can be traced back to centuries

ago. Another reason why philanthropic studies exists is because philanthropy is in the very fabric

of our country. Philanthropy exists as an interdisciplinary field, therefore it mixes with multiple

fields. For example, we could look at any field such as the business field and see acts of

philanthropy being done either as a company initiative or on an individual basis. Robert Payton

and Patricia Dean say it this way, “Philanthropy permeates our lives. One cannot live through a

day without benefiting directly or indirectly from past and present acts of voluntary action for the

public good” (Payton, pg. 153). For this reason, philanthropic studies is necessary as a field of

study, because philanthropy is so deeply interwoven in our country, and frankly into our world.

Philanthropic Studies is also very important to study because the need is not going

anywhere. As long as there are people living on Planet Earth, there will always be a need for

philanthropy. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to study the essence of philanthropy. It is

important to study why people give so that we as Philanthropist can encourage more giving. It is

important to study what is ethical and what is not so that we can give in a way that helps, not

harms. Payton and Moody mentioned in their book Understanding Philanthropy that, “Each of us

have our own definitions of these ideals (good life and good society)” (Payton, pg. 98). What

they are getting at is that the idea of what is good is such a complex idea. We as Philanthropist

must study what the “public good” is then. It is important to study how culture and time affect

the way philanthropy is perceived and done so that as philanthropy changes over time, we as

philanthropist can emerge with it.

 With the study of philanthropy being so new, majoring in philanthropic studies is also a

very new phenomenon. There are great benefits to majoring in philanthropy both for the

individual and for society as a whole. One of the benefits of majoring in philanthropic studies is

that as the individual majoring, you receive a very specific understanding of the field. As the

person majoring, you get an in depth study of philanthropy as a field of its own. You also

understand so much more clearly how intricately philanthropy is woven into all aspects of

society. “Philanthropic Studies is, or can be, pursued as a field or discipline on its own... this

history of interdisciplinarity will continue to shape work in Philanthropic Studies even as the

field develops an independent and distinctive characteristic of its own” (Turner, pg. 2084).

Because philanthropy is such an interdisciplinary field, it is very rare to get an understanding of

what philanthropy is in and of itself. The benefit of studying philanthropy as its own field is that

you gain a deeper understanding of the field versus an overview of the field.

Another benefit of majoring in philanthropic studies is so that the field is enriched and

can better serve society. The more research done or knowledge gained about something only

serves to improve it. Therefore the more people majoring in philanthropic studies will only serve

to better the philanthropic sector of our civil society. It will improve how we operate our

nonprofits or charities. It will improve how we encourage people to give by understanding what

leads people to give in the first place. It will improve our knowledge on the need in the world

around us to improve the conditions of those who are suffering. The benefit of majoring in

philanthropic studies for society are incalculable.

As a graduating student from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I can personally

attest to how majoring in philanthropic studies has personally benefited me. I can also attest to
how I will be able to take the knowledge I have gained and the skills I have received to benefit

others. One of the greatest pieces of knowledge that I have gained from majoring in

philanthropic studies, is the absolute necessity of philanthropy in our society and other societies

in order for them to function. Brian O’Connell writes in his book, ​Civil Society​: The

Underpinnings of American Democracy, “If volunteers and voluntary organizations were to

disappear from our national life, we would be less distinctly American. The sector enhances our

creativity, enlivens our communities, nurtures individual responsibility, stirs life at the

grassroots, and reminds us that we are free” (O’Connell, pg. 61). It is within philanthropy that

citizens rights are acknowledged and fought for. Our civil society functions only when the

government, business, and voluntary sectors work together alongside the community. This

knowledge has shaped the level of importance that I have placed on philanthropic studies. It is a

discipline that will be necessary no matter what time frame or culture you are in.

Throughout my time in this major, I have gained many skills. The skill that I believe that

is my biggest and most profound would be, the ability to give wisely. Aristotle said it perfectly,

“​To give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it

and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man's power nor an

easy matter” (Aristotle, pg. 56). I came into this major knowing very little, and thinking that it

was all about giving money and time away. I questioned how hard could that be. My time

studying philanthropic studies has taught me that it is so much more than that. There is a true art

to know the who, what, when, where, and how of your gift, whether it be time, talent, or treasure.

Our passions and our values will influence much of our giving, but our love of humanity must be

at the center.
 In conclusion, philanthropic studies is the study of giving your time, talent, and treasure

away in hopes to improve the way it is done for the betterment of society. There is a necessity for

studying philanthropy because it has been a part of every society and will continue to be a part of

society. Philanthropy will be continually changing and emerging and we as a society need to be

able to change and grow alongside it. There is such a beauty in getting to love and serve the

things that you are most passionate about as your career, and this is the main reason I have loved

getting to study philanthropy.

 Works Cited

Turner, R. C. (2004). Philanthropic Studies as a Central and Centering Discipline in the

Humanities. ​International Journal of the Humanities,​ ​2​(3), 2083-2086. Retrieved January

19, 2018.

Payton, R. L., & Moody, M. P. (2008). ​Understanding philanthropy: its meaning and mission​.

Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Hall, P. D. (1999). The Work of Many Hands: A Response to Stanley N. Katz on the Origins of

the "Serious Study" of Philanthropy . ​Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly,​ ​28​(4),

522-534. Retrieved January 19, 2018.

Curti, M. (1957). The History of American Philanthropy as a Field of Research. ​The American

Historical Review,​ ​62​(2), 352-363. Retrieved January 19, 2018.

OConnell, B., & Gardner, J. W. (1999). ​Civil society: the underpinnings of American democracy​.

Hanover, NH: University Press of New England.

A., & PETERS, F. H. (1920). ​The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle​. London: Kegan Paul,

Trench, Trubner.

Wisely, D. S., & Engel, L. (1999). ​History timeline -- traditions, trends, and the future in

philanthropy for children, youth and families: grantmakers for children, youth and

families​. United States: Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Payton, R. L., & Dean, P. A. (n.d.). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. ​Indiana University

Press,​153-160. Retrieved January 20, 2018.