The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy was established in 2008 by a generous gift from Laura and Robert Sillerman. The Center draws upon the deep and diverse expertise of faculty and researchers at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. The Sillerman Center draws upon scholarship and practitioner experience to inform philanthropy that moves social justice work forward. They engage emerging and established members of the philanthropic community via publications and programming and through coursework and fellowships that provide real-world experience in social justice grantmaking.

Contributions

Community-Centric Youth Philanthropy: A Case Study of Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Youth for Community Improvement Program

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

This case study aims to demonstrate how youth philanthropy can be an avenue to democratize philanthropy while it simultaneously benefits young people. We invite readers to explore Youth for Community Improvement, a youth grantmaking program at Greater Worcester Community Foundation, from the vantage points of young people who participate in the program and their adult supporters… Read More

From Beneficiary to Active Agent: How Youth-Led Grantmaking Benefits Young People, Their Communities, and the Philanthropic Sector

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

In this brief, the Sillerman Center explores Youth Philanthropy as a model with the potential to make grantmaking more democratic, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of underserved communities. It is also a model that, if more widely supported and expanded, could contribute significantly to the preparation of sophisticated future grantmakers who share social justice values. This brief explores the… Read More

Social Justice Philanthropy Terminology Guide

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

This guide focuses on developing a deeper understanding of both general and niche philanthropy-related terms. Some of the terms, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion are more general and applicable outside of the field of philanthropy. Other terms, such as charitable industrial complex, mission creep, and return on investment are very much focused on the field of philanthropy. Although some… Read More

Best Practices for Assessing an Organization’s Wellness

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

The purpose of this guide is to provide tools to assess the general wellness and well-being of organizations that your foundation funds or seeks to fund. This guide considers financial well-being as well as other factors, such as mission alignment and outcome measurement. Although the guide focuses on financial-related information, we encourage you to look beyond the numbers and ask questions… Read More

Discretionary Grants Guide

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

Discretionary grants are those made at the discretion of individual trustees or other authorized individuals, without the standard approval process and/or review by the full board. The purpose of this guide is to detail the benefits and concerns of discretionary grantmaking. We also provide recommendations and key best practices to consider when providing discretionary grants as well as some sample… Read More

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