News

UC Berkeley undergrads are learning to be philanthropists in the new Economics of Philanthropy course taught by Dr. Nora Silver, Full Circle Fund CEO Amy Lesnick, and Darian Rodriguez Heyman, former Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation and Full Circle Fund Fellow. The course is, in essence, a collegiate giving circle and marks the beginning of an exciting partnership between Full Circle Fund and the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

UC Berkeley’s Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership is led by Professor Silver and is ranked #3 by US News and World Report’s Best Business Schools (2009) with a nonprofit specialty.

“The bright minds emerging from Cal will be our world’s future leaders, policy makers, and philanthropists,” explains Dr. Silver, “so it’s critical that students examine and understand philanthropic giving from an economic, business, and now, experiential perspective.”

Over the semester, students will have experiential learning opportunities such as engaging with real world nonprofits, giving circles, social investors, and donors. The course culminates with a $10,000 contribution to a nonprofit chosen by the students and the implementation of a school-wide philanthropy symposium to educate 25,000 of their fellow Cal undergrads about giving. Prior philanthropic experience is not required.

“Full Circle Fund has been promoting the concept of engaged philanthropy to the next generation of leaders in the Bay Area since our inception in the year 2000,” says Amy, “So this course leverages many of the tools we’ve developed, as well as lessons learned from seasoned professionals from the philanthropic sector. And, of course, this step is in line with our tradition partnering with great institutions. We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with UC Berkeley.”

Posted in Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership at Haas, UC Berkeley, Craigslist Foundation, Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Community Partner, Amy Lesnick, member leaders