The Economics and Business Perspectives of Philanthropy (UC Berkeley)

This is an interdisciplinary undergraduate course that aims to give students a better understanding of philanthropy. There are insufficient resources available to fund all charitable causes, so funds should be prioritized to the projects that yield the highest returns in social benefit on dollars invested. Students will be challenged to prioritize causes with this framework, and will explore needs, roles, and strategies from the perspective of both donors and charitable organizations. By the end of the course, students should be better prepared to make educated decisions as future nonprofit leaders, policy makers, and philanthropists.