NACC, Texas A&M University

Joshua Carley
Program Coordinator, NACC
Nonprofit Management Student
Bush School of Government & Public Service
Texas A&M University

Student Spotlight: Meet Joshua Carley, Program Coordinator for NACC

Carley is a dedicated second-year Nonprofit Management student currently pursuing his master’s degree in Public Service & Administration at the Bush School of Government & Public Service. Carley is currently serving a local tourism organization as a Bush Board Fellow and is the student worker for NACC. Carley is deeply interested in cultivating and sustaining diverse community spaces, specifically focusing on looking at museums and local destination sites as areas of egalitarianism.

This past summer, Carley had the opportunity to explore both Washington D.C. and New York City to visit tourism nonprofits that represent our nation’s busiest cities. “The issues that face our world and tourism today deal heavily with how we can remain environmentally respectful of the space we travel. Organizations like Destination D.C. are leading the way in developing sustainable tourism that positively impacts the local culture and environment.” Carley looks forward to finding ways to scale these practices into his local community of Bryan/College Station and leave a green impact on tourism in Aggieland.

Upon graduation, Carley seeks to continue working with tourism nonprofits to help facilitate safe, sustainable, and exciting programming for locals and visitors alike.

Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation

ASU Lodestar Center Welcomes New Nonprofit Leadership and Management Faculty

The Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation welcomes two new faculty members to its nonprofit leadership and management faculty. Each has an appointment in the ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions within the School of Community Resources & Development.

We welcome:

Dr. Megan Pontes
Assistant Teaching Professor
Arizona State University Lodestar Center

Dr. Megan Pontes

Megan joins ASU as an Assistant Teaching Professor teaching nonprofit leadership and management. She has a BS in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, MBA from the University of Florida, and a PhD in Leadership Studies focused in nonprofit and philanthropic leadership from the University of San Diego. She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego. Megan has 13 years of experience in the financial sector and has years of experience as a board member, staff, and volunteer within the nonprofit sector. Her research interests include nonprofit advocacy for social change, philanthropy, board governance, and social enterprise.

Danbi Seo
Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Management
School of Community Resources and Development
Arizona State University

Dr. Danbi Seo

Danbi Seo is an Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Management in the School of Community Resources and Development at the Arizona State University. She earned her Ph.D. degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Seoul National University, South Korea. She studies nonprofit and public management, collaboration, resourcing, leadership, and organization theory, using qualitative and process-oriented research approaches. Her work has been published in major journals and book chapters, including Public Management Review, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, Public Performance and Management Review, and Policy & Politics. Before joining ASU, she worked at various centers, including the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center and the Shared Leadership Lab at the University of Minnesota, and the Asia Development Institute at the Seoul National University. She has worked with a group of nonprofit organizations and a collaboration in Minnesota as a developmental evaluator since 2015.

Peter Weber, Auburn University

Peter Weber
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (PNPS) Program
College of Human Sciences, Auburn University

Dr. Di Qing
Lecturer, Financial Planning
Auburn University

Peter Weber Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure, Auburn University Welcomes Dr. Di Qing to Philanthropy and Financial Planning Faculty

Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences proudly announces the tenure and promotion of Peter Weber to the rank of Associate Professor. Alongside this achievement, Weber will also serve as the Program Coordinator of the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (PNPS) program. Launched in 2019, the PNPS program has been instrumental in equipping students with the essential knowledge and practical competencies needed for successful engagement in philanthropic endeavors.

Weber’s research delves into the intricate intersections between private actors, associational dynamics, and philanthropic efforts, particularly during periods of political, cultural, and economic turbulence. His multidisciplinary approach draws from historical insights and contemporary analyses, providing a comprehensive understanding of civil society, international philanthropy, and democratic governance. As a multidisciplinary scholar, he has published extensively in edited volumes and peer-reviewed journals, including diverse disciplinary outlets such as Voluntas, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Civil Society, and Nonprofit Policy Forum, among others.

Auburn University is also delighted to introduce Dr. Di Qing as a valuable addition to its faculty. Dr. Qing brings his expertise to the realm of financial planning, a component interwoven within the university’s nonprofit program curricula. As a Lecturer at Auburn University, Dr. Qing will spearhead financial planning courses, offering students insights into estate planning, retirement strategies, and fundamental financial principles.

Dr. Qing’s expertise well aligns with Auburn University’s commitment to philanthropy and charitable giving. His research specialization in charitable giving adds a unique dimension to the educational experience, enhancing students’ understanding of how financial planning and philanthropy intersect to create meaningful societal impact. Additionally, Auburn University is in the process of establishing a Certificate in Financial Planning program under Dr. Qing’s coordination.

University of Texas at Dallas

Dr. Elizabeth Searing
Assistant Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management
School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences
University of Texas at Dallas

University of Texas at Dallas Introduces New Undergraduate Minor and Certificate in Nonprofit Management

The University of Texas at Dallas is proud to announce the launch of its latest academic offerings, the Undergraduate Minor in Nonprofit Management, and the accompanying Undergraduate Certificate program. Historically recognized for its exceptional graduate education in nonprofit management, the Public and Nonprofit Management Program within the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences is now extending its expertise to the undergraduate level, further cementing its commitment to nurturing socially conscious leaders.

Commencing in the upcoming Fall 2023 semester, the Undergraduate Minor in Nonprofit Management presents an exciting opportunity for all UT Dallas undergraduates, regardless of their major, to delve into the dynamic world of nonprofit organizations. This program offers students a chance to enrich their educational journey by acquiring valuable insights and skills related to nonprofit operations, social impact measurement, and resource development. Collaborating with peers from diverse academic backgrounds, participants will engage in a comprehensive curriculum that empowers them to effectively contribute to the nonprofit sector and drive meaningful change within their communities.

The program’s innovative courses encompass a spectrum of relevant subjects, including Managing Nonprofit Organizations, Measuring Social Impact, Starting a Nonprofit or Social Enterprise, Human Resources Management, and Resource Development for Nonprofits. Designed to foster a holistic understanding of nonprofits and other organizations striving for social impact, these courses will empower students to seamlessly integrate their distinctive interests and major-specific training into their nonprofit studies, equipping them with practical, real-world proficiencies that transcend traditional academic boundaries.

RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service

RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service
LBJ School of Public Affairs
The University of Texas at Austin

RGK Center Announces Call for Letters of Interest for Fall Symposium on Tech & Society

The RGK Center is thrilled to announce the launch of our Call for Letters of Interest for our Fall Symposium on Tech & Society. The theme of the symposium is “Researching the role funders play in advancing digital/data rights, justice, equity, and inclusion in the U.S. and beyond.” We invite you and your colleagues to participate by sharing your letter of interest with us by Friday, August 11th. We encourage you to share your expertise on this topic and look forward to your participation in this conversation.

Robert L. Fischer, Case Western Reserve University

Dr. Robert L. Fischer
Grace Longwell Coyle Professor
Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Co-Director, Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development
Case Western Reserve University

Rob Fischer Appointed to Grace Longwell Coyle Professorship

Dr. Robert L. Fischer has been appointed to a Grace Longwell Coyle Professorship at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, for a five-year term beginning July 1.

Professor Grace Longwell Coyle (1892–1962) made a profound impact on the study of social work group work and its practice. Her books and presentations were seminal to promoting group work education and the important analysis of group leadership, group dynamics and elevating social work leadership. The Grace Longwell Coyle Endowed Professorship was established in 1965 “to perpetuate the concept of the dedicated faculty member.”

Robert L. Fischer joined the Mandel School in 2001 as a senior research associate, became an associate professor in the tenure track in 2017 and tenured in 2020. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and generated more than $15 million in extramural grant funding as principal or co-principal investigator. Dr. Fischer has served as director of the MNO program since 2012 and was appointed chair of the program in 2018. He is the sole full-time faculty member teaching in the MNO degree program, and it is his dedication and leadership that led to it being in the inaugural cohort of accredited nonprofit masters programs in 2019 and its continued growth.

Additionally, Dr. Fischer has been co-director of the Center on Poverty and Community Development since 2005. He has also been an active member of the school’s steering committee, curriculum committee, budget committee, library committee and has served as chair of a standing committee on the faculty senate. Dr. Fischer has been a generous institution-builder at the Mandel School and CWRU and a frequent contributor to the academy.

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy accepting applications through May 31

Applications are currently being accepted for the Debra Mesch Doctoral Fellowship for Research on Women’s Philanthropy. The one-year, $5,000 fellowship supports doctoral dissertation research and writing that contributes to understanding of women’s philanthropy or gender differences in philanthropic behavior.

Ph.D. candidates from accredited graduate schools who have successfully completed their coursework and defended their dissertation proposal are encouraged to apply. The application deadline for the 2023 fellowship is May 31.

The Debra Mesch Doctoral Fellowship for Research on Women’s Philanthropy advances research to expand the base of knowledge on women’s philanthropy. Since 2009, the fellowship has supported emerging scholars in a range of academic disciplines, such as philanthropic studies, nonprofit management, higher education, economics, history, anthropology and religious studies.

Previous fellowship recipients have studied diverse topics, including Jewish women’s philanthropy and social change, women’s philanthropy initiatives at higher education institutions, the gender composition of nonprofit boards, and the history of gospel rescue missions.

Last year’s fellowship recipient, Anaïs Faurt of Rutgers University, is examining the history of child protection across five former French colonial territories between 1945 and 1989. By exploring who counted as a victim of war and whose child was worth saving, Faurt highlights the intersecting roles of gender and race in determining who should give and receive aid.

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Accomplished professionals who want to make social change and who have experience leading philanthropic, business, government or other organizations can now further hone their leadership and applied research skills to address complex, real-world problems by earning their professional doctorate in philanthropic leadership.

The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI welcomes applications for its new online Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership (PhilD), the first professional, doctoral-level leadership degree in the field.

The Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent

Two new books have been published by colleagues in the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, UK. Both are written by academics with extensive practical experience and are intended as useful additions to course reading lists across the world.

As the title suggests, Rhodri Davies’ book, What is Philanthropy For? provides a broad overview of the role of philanthropy today. He notes that for centuries philanthropy has played a major role in shaping our world but it has also been the source of much debate. Allowing people to use their private assets for public good undoubtedly brings benefits to society, but it also brings challenges, so how should we understand the role of philanthropy today, and how might it need to change in the future? Rhodri draws on his deep knowledge of the past and present landscape of philanthropy, and considers the alternatives, including charity, justice, taxation, the state, democracy and the market, to examine the pressing questions that philanthropy must tackle if it is to be equal to the challenges of the 21st century.

The second new book from the team at Kent, Advising Philanthropists: Principles and Practice, has grown directly from a course of the same name that is taught within our innovative Masters degree in Philanthropic Studies. That course was co-created by Emma Beeston, who works as an independent philanthropy advisor, and Dr Beth Breeze, director of the Kent Centre for Philanthropy. The book describes the emergence of philanthropy advising as a profession, explains what these actors do based on interviews with 40 advisors working across the world (many of which are shared as first person case studies), and engages with debates such as how best advisors can interact with fundraisers and nonprofit leaders.