Organized philanthropy has a complex history in the U.S. and is an important, growing component of the nonprofit sector. The term philanthropy is used in this course to refer specifically to the broad national and international private “giving” sectors. The course provides students with an overview of the field of philanthropy in the United States – and to a more limited extent in other countries. There are currently more than 78,00 grant makers in the United States and they are a growing and wealthy subsector of the nonprofit sector. Students become familiar with the most current, reliable research in how foundations, giving circles, trusts, donor-advised funds, philanthropic collaborations and other “giving” entities operate. One particular theme that has received enormous public and political attention has been diversity in the sector and philanthropies support of (and lack of support of) social justice in the United Statues. There is a specific course focus on how private philanthropy defines, practices and promotes social justice.