The Case for Integrating ePortfolio Pedagogy Into Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies

Recently named a high-impact practice in undergraduate education, electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) are student-created, web-based presentations of student learning and development designed for a particular audience. The ePortfolio pedagogy, as a prominent teaching method used at more than half of all U.S. colleges and universities, is particularly well-suited for the field of nonprofit and philanthropic studies (NPS) but has not yet been widely adopted. Engaging students in the process of creating ePortfolios produces numerous educational benefits that speak directly to NPS’s aspirations for its students as they graduate into their careers and lives as active citizens and for itself as an emerging field continuing to establish its authority within the Academy and its credibility with a public that struggles to understand what NPS is, what it does, and why it is needed. This essay explores the potential of the ePortfolio as a signature pedagogy for NPS. After examining what ePortfolios and ePortfolio pedagogy are, I argue that the strengths of ePortfolios are well-balanced and address key goals and particular considerations unique to NPS as an emerging and interdisciplinary field of inquiry in the 21st century. Following this, I review major issues and possibilities in adapting ePortfolios to support effective teaching and learning at different scales within undergraduate NPS. Finally, I offer professional development resources that help NPS instructors and program administrators initiate or advance their use of the pedagogy, and further encourage broader adoption across the field

Gospel of Giving: The Philanthropy of Madam C.J. Walker, 1867-1919

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)This dissertation employs a historical approach to the philanthropic activities of Madam C.J. Walker, an African American female entrepreneur who built an international beauty culture company that employed thousands of people, primarily black women, and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenues during the Jim Crow era. The field of philanthropic studies has recognized Walker as a philanthropist, but has not effectively accounted for how her story challenges conventional understandings of philanthropy. I use historical methods and archival research to determine what motivated and constituted Walker’s philanthropic giving to arrive at three main conclusions. First, Walker’s philanthropy can be best understood as emerging out of a moral imagination forged by her experiences as a poor, black, female migrant in St. Louis, Missouri during the late 1800s dependent upon a robust philanthropic infrastructure of black civil society institutions and individuals who cared for and mentored her through the most difficult period of her life. Second, she created and operated her company to pursue commercial and philanthropic goals concurrently by improving black women’s personal hygiene and appearance; increasing their access to vocational education, beauty culture careers, and financial independence; and promoting social bonding and activism through associationalism, and, later, fraternal ritual. Third, during her lifetime and through her estate, Walker deployed a diverse array of philanthropic resources to fund African American social service and educational needs in networks with other black women. Her giving positions her philanthropy as simultaneously distinct from the dominant paradigm of wealthy whites and as shared with that of other African Americans. Her approach thus ran counter to the racialized and gendered models of giving by the rich white male and female philanthropists of her era, while being representative of black women’s norms of giving

Working with Volunteer Fundraisers

Through their freely chosen and uncompensated involvement, volunteers embody passion and commitment to the cause, which is inspirational to potential donors and adds special value to fundraising efforts. Volunteers can offer practical help with fundraising tasks and linkages to prospective donors. This chapter will help you understand the strategic role and value of volunteer fundraisers, distinguish two main types of volunteer fundraisers (staff-driven and supporter-driven), learn about volunteer trends, and gain insight about volunteer motivations. You will also learn about six steps to successfully involve volunteers in all stages of the fundraising cycle: (1) determining what kind of volunteer help your organization needs; (2) Identifying and recruiting volunteer fundraisers; (3) welcoming and developing volunteers; (4) ensuring meaningful engagement; (5) managing performance; and (6) recognising and retaining your fundraising volunteers. Volunteers are a vital source of creativity and connection to local communities. Following the advice in this chapter will help you to maximize the success of your fundraising programs by enabling you to recruit, reward and retain them for your organization