Pears Foundation funds UK’s first university philanthropy teaching post
Howard Lake | 24 November 2014 | News
The University of Kent will establish the first dedicated philanthropy teaching post at a UK university thanks to a £150,000 donation from the Pears Foundation.
The post, to be known as the Pears Philanthropy Fellow, will be based at the University’s Centre for Philanthropy. The first year of philanthropic studies students will start in January 2015, studying via distance learning together with study days on the Canterbury campus.
Dr Beth Breeze, Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent
Dr Beth Breeze, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy, said:
“This is a truly transformational gift. Many funders prefer to pay for something tangible, like a building, so we are delighted and grateful that Pears Foundation has decided to fund a lecturing post. We are confident this investment will have a positive impact beyond those who choose to study with us, but also on all those lives affected in the careers of students who go on, or go back, to leading positions in the charity and philanthropy sector.”
Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair of the Pears Foundation, explained why the foundation made the grant. He said:
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“Philanthropy has a long and honourable tradition in the UK, up to and including the present day. However there is always more to be done. We believe that this new initiative will contribute to a better understanding of the role of private giving in contemporary society, and offer practical ways to help grow an even stronger culture of British philanthropy for the future.”
While the course is expected to attract those wanting to work within the charity sector or develop their career there, some philanthropists also choose to take courses like this in order to understand better the role of philanthropy and the effectiveness of their giving.
Stephen Hammersley CBE, Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations, welcomed the initiative. He said:
“Charity employees and donors often have a strong personal interest in understanding the nature of philanthropy and increased university-level provision should lead to greater insight into issues such as donor motivation, how donors choose charities and strategies for more effective giving.”
The Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent was established in 2008. In partnership with charity sector partners it conducts research on a range of topics, including fundraising, major donors, giving circles, giving across the life course, corporate philanthropy, and philanthropy’s relationship with social justice. Recently it published its latest Coutts Million Pound Donor report.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.