Can Philanthropy Be Taught in a Classroom?

Can philanthropy be taught in a classroom? And would philanthropic donors armed with MBAs in impact and effectiveness actually be a good thing for the voluntary sector?

Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett thinks so. He’s spent the last three years setting up the London School of Economics' (LSE) new Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship.

Having launched in June and already commissioning research, it is due to offer an MBA-style course in philanthropy for 2017, aiming “to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal of private contributions to the public good.”

Hughes-Hallett, a self-described “Thatcher-era capitalist” with 25 years in investment banking, expects the typical student at the Marshall Institute to have “reached the age of 50, a partner in an international firm, who’ve decided they’ve made their money and want to put something back.”