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Our goal is to ignite students'
interest and participation in philanthropy
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Become A Philanthropy Lab Partner
The Philanthropy Lab is pleased to expand our programming to new universities, fulfilling our mission of igniting students’ interest and participation in philanthropy.
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The Philanthropy Lab in the News
Philanthropy Lab courses put real grant dollars in students’ hands. Over the course of a semester, they research local nonprofits, evaluate program models and financials, debate priorities with their classmates, and vote on where the funding goes. The decisions are theirs, and so are the consequences. The following articles are what happened next.
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Granted
$ 0
Grants Awarded
0
Students
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Classes Offered
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Universities
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$20,906,896

Granted

1,862

Grants Awarded

6,481

Students

271

Classes Offered

36

Universities

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We asked over 1200 Students how the Philanthropy Lab course stacks up against other courses at their university.

0 %

of those students said the Philanthropy Lab course was in their top 10% of all college classes.

0 %

of those students said the Philanthropy Lab course was in their top 25%.

Resources

Grant Map

Click below to view all grants awarded by students in Philanthropy Lab courses since 2011.

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Giving Goals

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have called for the most affluent people in the world to demonstrate philanthropic leadership by committing to give away a large amount of their wealth to charitable causes. Many of these high net worth individuals and couples make their pledges public in order to inspire others’ personal giving commitments. As college students who have not yet embarked upon a career, now is the time to thoughtfully consider your own philanthropic ideals in a Giving Goal.

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Grant Evaluations

Through the evaluation of past grants, we hope students further challenge their assumptions about giving, thoughtfully reflect on their grant-making decisions and initial goals for providing the grants, and contribute to future students’ learning.

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What People Are Saying

Angela WangBoston University
The Philanthropy Lab course reshaped how I think about giving by pushing me to look beyond good intentions and focus on measurable impact. Before, I approached philanthropy more emotionally, but now I consider cost-effectiveness, transparency, and evidence when evaluating organizations. Overall, it motivated me to be more intentional and informed about how I give in the future.
Glenn PaulColumbia University
The Philanthropy Lab course had a real impact on me because it made giving feel less abstract and more consequential... the course pushed me to think more critically about what philanthropy can and cannot do. It made me reflect on giving not simply as generosity, but as a form of decision-making shaped by power, responsibility, and values... More than anything, the course made me more thoughtful: it motivated me to approach giving with both empathy and analysis, and to see philanthropy as something that should be done with humility, seriousness, and attention to the people most affected.
Isaiah FontanVanderbilt University
Going into this course, I thought giving back was mainly about good intentions. This class showed me it’s also about responsibility. We weren’t just learning about nonprofits, we were evaluating them, advocating for them, and making real decisions about where money should go. That made everything feel more real and forced me to think more critically about impact. It also became personal. Learning about different communities and needs made me reflect on where I come from and the kind of impact I want to have. It shifted my mindset from just wanting to help, to wanting to help in a way that actually lasts. Overall, the course pushed me to be more intentional. Not just to give more, but to give in a way that’s thoughtful, informed, and meaningful.
Nicole WizmanColumbia University
This course felt like a necessity in my curriculum because it connects students to the real world, giving them a break from the theoretical, and exposing them to organizations that they could have a real impact not just now but in the future.
Sadie BuckUniversity of Arkansas
Before the course, I do not think I understood the impact of donating to nonprofits, but these programs do amazing things with the funding they receive. I have seen how it has effected people first hand when visiting organizations, and when researching them I have learned how far even a small donation can impact a nonprofit.
Victor FernandezColumbia University
The Philanthropy and Just Societies course has significantly expanded my perspective by revealing the diverse avenues through which one can contribute. I have learned that philanthropy is not merely about financial donations; it is equally about the gift of time. This was a recurring theme among our guest speakers, many of whom noted that their organizations began as simple volunteer initiatives. Furthermore, the course encouraged me to look closer at the mechanics of impact, specifically, who is being served, how the organization’s mission aligns with my personal values, and the importance of analyzing both qualitative results and quantitative data.
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