The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is the first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy. Since its inception, it has demonstrated a commitment to training and empowering students and practitioners to innovate and lead to create positive and lasting change in the world. This includes its growing bachelor’s, certificate, master’s, professional doctorate, and doctorate programs, offering students a mix of theory and practice.

Through The Patterson Foundation’s unique position of having an unfettered charter, it can undertake work in ways others are not doing, cannot do, or will not do. In that spirit, supporting courses; “TPF Immersive Impact: Through Engagement and Consulting” and “Beyond the Desk: Advancing Community Change” provided a lens on The Patterson Foundation’s initiatives, opening up possibilities for a new generation of leadership.

The focus of “TPF Immersive Impact: Through Engagement and Consulting” was to connect students to living examples of innovative philanthropic strategy through The Patterson Foundation and its connections to nonprofits in its home region. The course explores these questions:

• What may the philanthropic sector look like in the future?
• What will it take to build sustainable organizations that can tackle systemic problems within our local communities, country, and the world?
• How are innovative partnerships begun and sustained?
• What competencies and qualities will leaders of the future need?
• What ideas, questions, and recommendations do thought leaders have about the future of the philanthropic sector?
• Why are foundations different from other nonprofits?

During the semester, students had the opportunity to learn about and focus on capacity building, issue-based movements, and inspiring philanthropy. Over a weeklong spring Study Away experience, The Patterson Foundation connected students with local nonprofits to further explore these areas.

"Beyond the Desk" symbolized a commitment to collaborative engagement beyond the confines of a traditional office setting, focusing on driving change within the community by working closely with its members. For over a decade, The Patterson Foundation has dedicated itself to being an integral part of the community, seeking out common goals and working to achieve meaningful, enduring transformations.

For more information, contact Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative lead Dr. Donald R. Bowman: dbowmantpf@gmail.com.