The Jewish Week quoted James Ferris, USC Price professor and director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, on how a cut to the charitable tax deduction would affect nonprofit groups like universities and hospitals.
Nonprofits & Philanthropy
The nonprofit sector is where change becomes a reality, dealing with some of society's most daunting public problems and working to develop innovative solutions. The issues span from school reform to health care access, economic development to cleaner environments, affordable housing to greater mobility, civic engagement to effective governance. For more than 30 years, the USC Price School of Public Policy has been a leader in research and education in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Explore how USC Price faculty, students, and alumni are shaping the future of Nonprofits and Philanthropy.
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The Jewish Week quoted James Ferris, USC Price professor and director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, on how a cut to the charitable tax deduction would affect nonprofit groups like universities and hospitals.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy's first two social innovation interns blurred the lines between local and global arenas by serving refugees and other residents of San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. The internships were organized and funded by the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation, which promotes sustainable community development in City Heights and underserved urban areas.
U.S. News & World Report featured several USC schools and programs in its 2013 edition of "Best Graduate Schools." The USC Price School was ranked No. 4 for Health Policy and Management; No. 6 in Public Affairs, up from No. 7 last year; No. 6 for Public Management Administration; No. 7 for City Management and Urban Policy; No. 7 for Nonprofit Management; No. 9 in Social Policy; No. 12 for Public Policy Analysis; and No. 21 for Public Finance and Budgeting.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy was among several USC schools and programs that ascended in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report . The Price School climbed to sixth place (from seventh in 2008) in the newest edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools" for public affairs.
The Sacramento Bee featured research by the USC Price School's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy finding that nonprofit, charitable foundations boomed in number and assets between 1999 and 2009. Californian foundations, contributions and assets grew faster than all national trends during that decade, with the contributions more than doubling to $6 billion. After adjusting for inflation, that represents an increase of 55 percent. A second story in the Sacramento Bee highlighted the research.
Philanthropic giving by California's foundations jumped from $2.8 billion to $6 billion over the past decade despite two economic recessions during that period, a new USC analysis announced today shows. Those numbers, adjusted for inflation, represent a 55 percent increase in giving from 1999 to 2009. Foundation giving nationwide increased 52.5 percent during that period, according to the report by the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy based at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Confetti shot through the air, the Spirit of Troy played the USC fight song and faculty, staff, students, alumni and university officials lifted two fingers in a victory salute on Feb. 7 as the university celebrated the newly named USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. USC president C. L. Max Nikias and USC Price dean Jack H. Knott were joined on stage in front of Lewis Hall by brothers Robert and Larry Price to officially announce the $50 million naming gift from the Price Family Charitable Fund to honor the life and legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist Sol Price '36, '38.
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Helping Americans lead healthier and wealthier lives -- that's how USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development graduates Brooke Lykins and Mary Kuhn plan to spend their upcoming year courtesy of the Clinton-Orfalea Fellowships. The fellows will head to New York in August to work at the William J. Clinton Foundation, which addresses issues of global climate change, HIV and AIDS in the developing world, childhood obesity, and economic opportunity and development.
Education has been driven by special-interest groups with no one advocating for the children, said Michelle Rhee, former D.C. schools chancellor and founder of StudentsFirst, at a recent Distinguished Speaker Series event by the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy. "She shared the lessons she's learned in the trenches and had some insights about what's possible," said James M. Ferris, director of the center and professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development.
After realizing that his students had done everything from founding nonprofits to raising more than $25 million for the Downtown Women's Center, USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development professor Robert Myrtle had two words to say: "Holy smokes!" Myrtle teaches "Strategic Management in the Nonprofit Sector," one of the three required courses in SPPD's popular Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Policy program.
Students at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development chose seven nonprofit organizations to give a total of $10,000 as part of the Learning by Giving program sponsored by the Sunshine Lady Foundation. As part of a project in "The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest," a course taught by SPPD professor Richard Sundeen, students were afforded the opportunity to have their academic research make a real-world monetary impact.
This fall, one of the top five master of public administration degree programs in the nation will be offered remotely. The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development -- ranked fifth in the country in public management/ administration and fourth in city management and urban policy, according to U.S. News & World Report -- has partnered with Embanet, a leading online learning services provider for top colleges and universities, to offer its signature MPA degree online.
Watch a video about SPPD's new online MPA degree
Social entrepreneurs create innovations that disrupt the status quo and transform the world for the better, according to Sally Osberg, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation. Osberg delved into the topic when she addressed nearly 200 leaders from philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, government and industry as part of the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy 2010-11 Distinguished Speakers Series.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy quoted SPPD Professor James Ferris of the about celebrities hiring philanthropy consultants. Ferris is director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at USC.
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Professor James Ferris about celebrities hiring philanthropy consultants. Ferris is director of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at USC.
Christian Science Monitor quoted SPPD Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett about celebrity philanthropy and social activism, and mentioned Currid's forthcoming book, "Starstruck."
SoCal Minds highlighted research for USC's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy conducted by Professor James Ferris and SPPD alumni Jeffrey Glenn and Lisa Moore. The researchers found that Los Angeles philanthropic foundations differ from their counterparts elsewhere in that they are relatively young, though they play key financial roles in multiple sectors.
Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development has released a report on the state of foundation philanthropy in Los Angeles. The 2007 report, an update of the center's 2002 study, provides a look at the changes that unfolded over the previous five years.
The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development celebrated its 10th anniversary with a forum on "Philanthropic Leadership: Exploring Opportunities in Uncertain Times." More than 200 leaders from the nonprofit sector, government, business and academia attended the two-day conference. The keynote speaker was Sonal Shah, deputy assistant to the U.S. President and director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that White House Official Sonal Shah made a speech at a conference held by SPPD's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy about her views on the challenges for government, foundations and non-profit organizations. Shah is head of the White House's Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, the story noted.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.