A philanthropist is anyone who gives anything — time, money, experience, skills, and networks — in any amount, to create a better world. This course will empower you to become a more effective philanthropist and make your giving more meaningful to both you and those you strive to help. Giving 2.0: The MOOC, is a Stanford University-sponsored online course intended to teach givers of all ages, backgrounds, incomes and experiences to give more effectively. Taught by social entrepreneur, philanthropist and bestselling author Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, Giving 2.0: The MOOC will teach you how to assess nonprofits, create a high-impact philanthropic strategy, volunteer more effectively, use existing, free technology for good and more.
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Course participants will engage in an actual grantmaking process during which up to $100,000 of Learning By Giving Foundation capital will be allocated to student-selected nonprofits.
Giving 2.0: The MOOC is a six-week course. Each week has a particular theme and 5-10 content-packed and activity-rich, video modules exploring that theme. Video modules will include lectures from Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen as well as interviews, discussions and lectures given by guest speakers. Guest speakers are renowned leaders in multiple industries including philanthropy, technology and business, who will provide unique insights into course topics. Students will have the opportunity to join Talkabouts – small virtual meeting groups created to discuss class-related topics. By the course’s conclusion, students will have created an Individual Giving Action Plan to guide their future giving in a highly effective and meaningful way. Students will also complete a formal nonprofit assessment. Students will consider and vote on eligible nonprofits and collaboratively determine which ones receive Learning By Giving Foundation grants. Students will also be provided with ongoing, post-MOOC philanthropy education content that will support continued development and execution of their philanthropic goals.
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to Philanthropy
Learners will examine how to approach their giving in new ways, why they have given historically and how they – through strategy and planning – can give in a way that matters more.
WEEK 2
Philanthropic Strategy
The goal of this module is to study the tools used to craft a philanthropic strategy. Learners will be guided through issue area selection, the theory of change framework, how to assess a social or environmental issue’s landscape and how to pick a high-impact intervention strategy.
WEEK 3
Nonprofit Selection and Assessment
This module will empower learners to efficiently assess any nonprofit through a variety of tools, metrics and perspectives. Course participants will learn how to research and engage with nonprofits, as well as conduct a comprehensive nonprofit assessment.
WEEK 4
Taking Stock
Learners will reflect on all of the resources they can access and/or deploy in order to realize their full giving potential.
WEEK 5
Giving with Greater Meaning
This module centers on discovering the many, diverse ways course participants can leverage their unique philanthropic resources to create the impact they want to have. We have numerous guest speakers sharing their expertise in this module – review the lessons that interest you before moving on to module 6.
WEEK 6
Philanthropy – the Never-Ending Gift
Learners will take stock of their progress over the course and learn how to stay connected with the course content and their fellow course participants moving forward.
