Pamela Paxton, PhD

Fulfills LAH Scholars experiential learning credential.

Charitable giving in the United States topped 370 billion dollars in 2016, and over 70% of those dollars came from individual giving. Is this money well spent? Unfortunately, only some charities are effective. This course will cover the scope and diversity of the nonprofit sector, as well as individual patterns of giving and volunteering.  A significant portion of the course will focus on providing students with the tools and skills to evaluate charitable programs for effectiveness using social scientific techniques.

Based on their own evaluations, students will have the opportunity to distribute significant funds, at least $25,000 (provided through The Philanthropy Lab and individual donors), to charitable organizations. Students will be placed into groups that will do extensive research on a category of nonprofits, ultimately deciding which charities will receive funds through discussion and debate.

Consent of instructor required. Email ppaxton@prc.utexas.com.

Who gives? Who volunteers? Does it matter? This course will cover the history and current state of American giving and volunteering, American giving in comparative perspective, the causes and consequences of philanthropy, and how to evaluate charitable programs. It is expected that students will have the opportunity to distribute between $25,000 (provided by anonymous donors) to charitable organizations.

Charitable giving in the United States topped 370 billion dollars in 2016, and over 70% of those dollars came from individual giving. Is this money well spent? Unfortunately, only some charities are effective. This course will introduce students to nonprofits, philanthropy, and how to give money away. It will cover theories of giving, the nonprofit sector, and criticisms of both. A significant portion of the course will focus on providing students with the tools and skills to evaluate charitable programs for effectiveness using social scientific techniques. We will also address the relationship between philanthropic and state-sponsored programs and discuss  issues of social responsibility that arise when billionaires, foundations, and corporate actors engage in philanthropic work.

The experiential learning portion of the class will introduce students first-hand to the dilemmas donors face as they evaluate nonprofits. Based on their own evaluations, students will have the opportunity to distribute significant funds (provided through The Philanthropy Lab and individual donors), to charitable organizations. Students will be placed into groups that will do extensive research on a category of nonprofits, ultimately deciding which charities will receive funds through discussion and debate.

Course Materials:

Peter Singer.  2009. The Life You Can Save.  New York: Random House.  Available at University Co-op.

Other course readings available through Canvas.

Charitable giving in the United States topped 370 billion dollars in 2016, and over 70% of those dollars came from individual giving. Is this money well spent? Unfortunately, only some charities are effective. This course will cover the scope and diversity of the nonprofit sector, as well as individual patterns of giving and volunteering.  A significant portion of the course will focus on providing students with the tools and skills to evaluate charitable programs for effectiveness using social scientific techniques.

Based on their own evaluations, students will have the opportunity to distribute significant funds, at least $25,000 (provided through The Philanthropy Lab and individual donors), to charitable organizations. Students will be placed into groups that will do extensive research on a category of nonprofits, ultimately deciding which charities will receive funds through discussion and debate.

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Description

Effective philanthropy requires understanding the nonprofit sector as well as individual motivations to give and volunteer. At the same time, nonprofits need fundraising professionals to meet their financial goals. Effective Philanthropy: Fundraising and Nonprofit Advancement is designed to meet both goals by introducing students to theories of the nonprofit sector and individual prosocial behaviors like giving and volunteering, while also introducing the components of a successful development program and basic principles and techniques of fundraising. Students will learn theories and research on the nonprofit sector and prosocial motivations and behavior from Professor Pamela Paxton. Simultaneously, students will receive practical instruction from Adrian Matthys and other fundraising professionals in the local nonprofit community on all aspects of effective fundraising and stewardship, from building a solid base of annual contributors to cultivating relationships with major gift prospects. Attention will also be given to behind-the-scenes activities required to have a successful fundraising operation, including appropriate donor stewardship, prospect research, database maintenance, and donor analytics. Students will be exposed to the best practices of fundraising teams at all levels. The course will further provide students with unique hands-on experience raising money, with the assistance of professional fundraising from the UT Austin Office of Development, to be given away to charities through the paired Philanthropy: The Power of Giving course.

Readings:

Available on Canvas

Grading:

Class participation:  10%

Paper One: 10% (250 words)

Paper Two: 10% (500 words)

Paper three: 20% (1250 words)

Project: 50%

Note:  Professor consent required.

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Description

Effective philanthropy requires understanding the nonprofit sector as well as individual motivations to give and volunteer. At the same time, nonprofits need fundraising professionals to meet their financial goals. Effective Philanthropy: Fundraising and Nonprofit Advancement is designed to meet both goals by introducing students to theories of the nonprofit sector and individual prosocial behaviors like giving and volunteering, while also introducing the components of a successful development program and basic principles and techniques of fundraising. Students will learn theories and research on the nonprofit sector and prosocial motivations and behavior from Professor Pamela Paxton. Simultaneously, students will receive practical instruction from Adrian Matthys and other fundraising professionals in the local nonprofit community on all aspects of effective fundraising and stewardship, from building a solid base of annual contributors to cultivating relationships with major gift prospects. Attention will also be given to behind-the-scenes activities required to have a successful fundraising operation, including appropriate donor stewardship, prospect research, database maintenance, and donor analytics. Students will be exposed to the best practices of fundraising teams at all levels. The course will further provide students with unique hands-on experience raising money, with the assistance of professional fundraising from the UT Austin Office of Development, to be given away to charities through the paired Philanthropy: The Power of Giving course.

Note:  Professor consent required.

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Description:

Linear regression and related models are routinely used in social scientific research.  This course provides an introduction to this class of models.  It will cover functional form, interactions, diagnostic techniques, and violations of the regression assumptions.  Later sections of the course will cover multi-equation systems including recursive and nonrecursive systems.  Analysis with limited dependent variables will also be introduced.  The course will emphasize the methods behind the procedures, practical experience with the techniques, and the interpretation of results.  

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Description:

Linear regression and related models are routinely used in social scientific research.  This course provides an introduction to this class of models.  It will cover functional form, interactions, diagnostic techniques, and violations of the regression assumptions.  Later sections of the course will cover multi-equation systems including recursive and nonrecursive systems.  Analysis with limited dependent variables will also be introduced.  The course will emphasize the methods behind the procedures, practical experience with the techniques, and the interpretation of results.  

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Linear regression and related models are routinely used in social scientific research.  This course provides an introduction to this class of models.  It will cover functional form, interactions, diagnostic techniques, and violations of the regression assumptions.  Later sections of the course will cover multi-equation systems including recursive and nonrecursive systems.  Analysis with limited dependent variables will also be introduced.  The course will emphasize the methods behind the procedures, practical experience with the techniques, and the interpretation of results.  

The Signature Course (UGS 302 and 303) introduces first-year students to the university’s academic community through the exploration of new interests. The Signature Course is your opportunity to engage in college-level thinking and learning.

Linear regression and related models are routinely used in social scientific research.  This course provides an introduction to this class of models.  It will cover functional form, interactions, diagnostic techniques, and violations of the regression assumptions.  Later sections of the course will cover multi-equation systems including recursive and nonrecursive systems.  Analysis with limited dependent variables will also be introduced.  The course will emphasize the methods behind the procedures, practical experience with the techniques, and the interpretation of results.  

Interdisciplinary topics relating to Women's and Gender Studies.  Seats restricted to WGS MA and Portfolio students during early registration.  Check cross-listings for home departments and originating field of study.