In achieving its mission to increase the understanding of philanthropy and to improve its practice, the Center will focus on these goals:

1. Developing knowledge through research to increase the understanding of the philanthropic process of associating, giving, volunteering, and fundraising;
2. Disseminating knowledge through public affairs and education programs, media relations, convenings, seminars, and other programs on issues related to philanthropy and philanthropic traditions;
3. Providing educational programs in philanthropic studies, to teach theory and further best practices related to the philanthropic process and nonprofit structures for graduate and undergraduate students, ranging from undergraduate programs to those in the Master of Public Affairs and the Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies degree programs;
4. Offering public service and continuing education training based on the Center’s knowledge creation to citizen volunteers, fundraisers, and executives in the nonprofit sector through The Fund Raising School (TFRS), the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving (LI), and a range of professional development programs, seminars, and conferences offered in person, through media, new media, innovative technology, the web and around the world;
5. Providing philanthropic services to inform the sector through the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), Third Millennium Initiative, and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving;
6. Ensuring that a global perspective and an awareness of both the transnational and comparative dimensions of philanthropy are incorporated into all aspects of understanding philanthropy and improving its practice by developing strategic international partnerships, which will sustain the Center’s position as a world leader in the field.

VALUES

The Center on Philanthropy is guided by the following values:

1. Integrity, openness and honesty in everything we do
2. Obedience to the laws
3. Respect for the intrinsic worth of individuals and their ideas, including staff, faculty, scholars, students, practitioners, volunteers, and donors in the U.S. and abroad
4. Commitment to racial, cultural, demographic, gender, sexual orientation, religious, ethnic, international, and intellectual diversity in our policies, personnel, and programs
5. Leadership in institutional development, field building, and impact on society
6. Excellence in scholarship, research, teaching, training, and collaboration
7. Accountability and service to each other, our sector, and our community
8. Prudent application of knowledge and resources