Ethical and Effective Philanthropy for Sustainable Development (ETHICSOC 232T, POLISCI 236S, SUSTAIN 222)

What is the most effective way to support sustainable development? In a team-based, experiential project, students will select a nonprofit organization to receive a class donation of $50,000 to support learning to think ethically and strategically about promoting sustainable development. For example, should we prioritize developing clean energy technology, changing climate policies, advocating for environmental education and justice, or reducing immediate harm to human health? These are the difficult choices facing philanthropists, whose global giving to sustainable development now exceeds 110bn dollars per year. Students will develop a pitch about why an organization should receive the donation and how they would evaluate the grant's success, based on course readings and lectures on topics such as effective altruism, outcomes-based philanthropy, trust-based giving, and philanthropy from an environmental justice lens. We will also reflect on the appropriate role for private philanthropy and nonprofits versus business and government in solving social problems. **This course is designed for undergraduate students**