University of Southern California

Nonprofits & Philanthropy

News

Ferris on $100 Million Gift to Children's Hospital

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October 23, 2009

The San Francisco Chronicle quoted SPPD Professor James Ferris in a story about a $100 million gift received by Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. "It's unusual partly because there's so few of those large gifts happening today," Ferris said. "A few years ago, it wouldn't have been that unusual." Ferris is director of the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy.

Ferris Dissects Celebs' Impact on Post-Katrina Charity

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August 27, 2009

CNN interviewed Professor James Ferris about New Orleans-directed philanthropy after Hurricane Katrina. Katrina has generated ongoing charitable interest partly because of the 24-hour news coverage the disaster received, some of which was fueled by celebrity response, Ferris said. "Obviously, that's one of the assets that a celebrity brings to an endeavor. It gets attention; it gets name recognition," he noted. Ferris is director of the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy.

Nonprofits Boost Civic Engagement with the Internet

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June 17, 2009

Philanthropy Journal featured research by Assistant Professor David Suarez in a widely carried story. United States nonprofits are increasingly using their Web sites to encourage community engagement and civic participation, Suarez found. Regulations dictate much of what nonprofits may do in the advocacy field, but many are finding it legal to use the Internet to boost civic engagement, according to the study. "Websites provide a novel opportunity for nonprofits to scale their social impact and expand their civic purpose," Suarez said.

Study: Nonprofits Promote Civic Engagement

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June 11, 2009

Nonprofit groups are becoming increasingly active through the promotion of causes on their online sites and serving as bridges of civic engagement, according to a new study by David Suarez, assistant professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

SPPD Students Earn Clinton-Orfalea Fellowships

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May 27, 2009

Four USC students - including three from the School of Policy, Planning, and Development - have won the Clinton-Orfalea Fellowships. The fellows will head to New York in August to lend their talents to the William J. Clinton Foundation, which addresses issues of global climate change, HIV and AIDS in the developing world as well as childhood obesity, and economic opportunity and development.

Ferris Comments on Schools' Participation in Donor Matching Site

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May 11, 2009

The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Professor James Ferris about San Diego schools' participation in DonorsChoose, a Web site that matches charitable projects with individual donors. "The trend over time is that donors want to be able to direct their giving," Ferris said. "They don't want to give it to an intermediary and then have the intermediary decide where it goes." Ferris is director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at USC, the story noted.

New Book Examines Foundations, Public Policy

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March 25, 2009

Foundations and Public Policy: Leveraging Philanthropic Dollars, Knowledge and Networks for Greater Impact, a new book edited and co-authored by USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development faculty, explores the implications -- and potential impact -- involving the efforts of nonprofit organizations to shape public policy.

SPPD Celebrates Its 80th Anniversary

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January 26, 2009

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development marked its 80th anniversary by hosting a special colloquium Jan. 16 at the Davidson Conference Center. During the conference, Dean Jack H. Knott noted that SPPD remains dedicated to advancing academic theory and making a vital impact in the world.

SPPD Signs Pact With Peace Corps

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December 22, 2008

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development signed a formal agreement to participate in Fellows/USA, the Peace Corps' graduate fellowship program. This agreement will enable former volunteers to pursue a graduate education in public administration, public policy, urban planning, health administration and real estate development.

May 1, 2008

In an unprecedented sweep, all three recipients of the William A. Carlson Fellowship award - presented by the California Redevelopment Agency in March - are current students at SPPD.


October 27, 2006

Weathering economic downturns earlier this decade, California foundations have rebounded, nearly restoring assets and exceeding giving levels found at high watermark levels in the year 2000, according to a new report by the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.


February 22, 2006

Los Angeles area philanthropic foundations have experienced significant growth in assets and giving, but the community has not kept pace with its state and national counterparts, according to a new study released today by the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.


The Philanthropic Landscape

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March 10, 2003

The USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy has received a $1 million endowment to support its research on the changing philanthropic landscape. In the midst of a shaky economy, the funding represents an 'important investment' in the future of California.


Research Centers and Groups

Established in 2000, the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy promotes more effective philanthropy and strengthens the nonprofit sector to advance public problem solving. Its research focuses on trends and patterns in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, philanthropic strategies for social impact, and challenges in philanthropic stewardship and leadership.


Research Contracts and Grants

R153 USC Center of Philantropy and Public Policy

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Principal Investigator: Shui Yan Tang
Sponsor: California Community Foundation
Amount Awarded: $6,000.00

R153 USC Center of Philantropy and Public Policy

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Principal Investigator: Richard Sundeen
Sponsor: California Community Foundation
Amount Awarded: $5,996.25

Principal Investigator: David Suarez
Sponsors: Case Western Reserve University, Kellogg Foundation
Amount Awarded: $15,000.00

R153 USC Center of Philantropy and Public Policy

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Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Graddy
Sponsor: California Community Foundation
Amount Awarded: $6,000.00

California Foundations 2000

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Principal Investigators: James Ferris and Elizabeth Graddy
Sponsor: California Endowment
Amount Awarded: $100,000.00

California Foundations 2000

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Principal Investigators: James Ferris and Elizabeth Graddy
Sponsor: The David and Lucille Packard Foundation
Amount Awarded: $50,000.00

Health Philanthropy and Foundation Policy Efforts

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Principal Investigator: James Ferris
Sponsor: The California Endowment
Amount Awarded: $192,130.84

Foundation Support of Non-profit Capital Needs

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Principal Investigator: James Ferris
Sponsor: Weingart Foundation
Amount Awarded: $10,000.00

(R153) USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy

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Principal Investigator: James Ferris
Sponsor: California Community Foundation
Amount Awarded: $157,002.75