The 2024 CASE CFR Master Class welcomes David Callahan for an in-depth discussion of his book, The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age. Each participant will be provided with a copy of the book in advance, to facilitate and enrich a lively discussion in a “book club” style. (NOTE: if you register after May 1, you will receive your book onsite). David Callahan is the founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy. He has written extensively on trends in philanthropy, as well as American culture, public policy and business. A widely quoted expert on philanthropy, he is also editor of The Inside Philanthropy Reader: Essential Articles on Giving, from Crowdfunding to the Rise of Billionaire Donors, and editor of the "State of American Philanthropy" white paper series published by Inside Philanthropy. In addition to The Givers, David is the author of seven widely reviewed books on domestic and international issues. He has appeared on hundreds of television and radio programs, including major networks and national NPR shows, and has spoken at over 150 universities and associations around the U.S., frequently as a keynote speaker. David has published numerous op-ed and feature articles, including in the New York Times and Washington Post. In his book, The Givers, David investigates a fascinating power shift in American society that has implications for us all. Based on extensive research and interviews with countless donors and policy experts, he'll give us an inside look at the secretive world of elite philanthropists—and how they’re quietly wielding ever more power to shape American life in ways both good and bad.

This year's newcomers class presents an unparalleled opportunity for participants to gain insights from seasoned leaders in CFR, forge connections with their peers, and delve into robust discussions encompassing their own work, the evolving landscape of the field, and its future trajectory. The panel promises to be an immersive journey through every stage of a CFR career path, spanning from the initial entry to the intricate art of relationship-building — both externally and internally — while strategically navigating one's career path. The session’s panelists, representing a diverse spectrum of CFR leadership, will spearhead an engaging discussion, sharing personal narratives of their journey into the field, highlighting the intrinsic passion that drives their commitment, and illuminating the strategic maneuvers that have shaped their careers. From examining the intricacies of organizational structures to cultivating invaluable alliances and assembling a personalized toolkit for success, this panel will comprehensively explore the multifaceted dimensions of CFR work. Moreover, it will provide a nurturing platform for participants to share their experiences and ask questions, in an atmosphere of open inquiry in which participants and presenters learn from each other.

Take this opportunity to connect informally with colleagues from institutions with common interests. Please note lunch is not provided, but feel free to bring your own lunch to enjoy while you reconnect with colleagues! Discussion will be moderated by a representative from your peer institutions. Roundtables include: Big 10 schools, Liberal Arts colleges, Academic Medical Centers, PAC 12 schools, Southeast region schools, schools outside urban areas and economic centers and R2s - High Research Activity

According to a recent Oxfam report, the world’s five richest men have more than doubled their fortunes to $869 billion since 2020. That same report indicated that wealth among billionaires has grown by more than $3 trillion, three times faster than the rate of inflation, from 2020 to 2024. At Davos in January, more than 250 billionaires signed an open letter to their governments asking that they tax the ultra-wealthy to address global issues like poverty and climate change. Many other high-net-worth individuals are attempting to address these issues through philanthropy, but in new ways. For example, many billionaires are choosing to give through donor-advised funds or other vehicles rather than establishing private foundations.
In her role as Vice President of Program Strategy and Learning at Lever for Change, Kristen Molyneaux has worked closely with high-net-worth individuals to design giving programs and challenges since she spearheaded the first 100&Change competition in 2018. David Callahan wrote The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age in 2017 and has been tracking giving trends as editor of Inside Philanthropy. We welcome your questions and insights as Kristen and David lead us in a critical discussion about the future of billionaire philanthropy and its implications for our field.

Some of the most impactful research in the realm of human health and disease stems from physician-scientists. While the dual roles of caring for patients and conducting research give physician-scientists unique skills and perspective in both the clinical and research realms, the realities of the training environment, funding landscape, and focus on publications dissuade people from this crucial dual path. Collectively, the lack of funding, limited mentorship, and time constraints steer would-be physician-researchers towards purely clinical careers, a trend that disproportionately keeps women and underrepresented groups from engaging in research. This session will bring together representatives from Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund to highlight their programs and engage with the CFR community.

The nature of corporate and foundation support in general and to education institutions, in particular, has evolved. Corporate support has become more strategic. Foundation support has become more varied. What are some of the roots of this change, and what does the landscape look like today? Join us for this session to explore these questions and feel free to bring your own.

We have all felt the panic when a dean, vice president, or other member of leadership urgently asks us to “find some money” for a new program, center, or institute. While we don’t have these funds readily available or up our sleeves, we can rely on tried-and-true steps to identifying, requesting, and stewarding awarded funds. We provide three checklists to refer to as you navigate the grants environment: 1) Information Gathering and Research Checklist: Ten strategies to listen internally and research externally; 2) Grant Writing Checklist: Ten key components of your LOI or grant documents to attract funders and secure grants and 3) Stewardship and Site Visit Checklist: Ten actions that can make a funder grow into a trusted partner.

Humanities research and programming is up against a number of challenges in the current climate, and yet the humanities continue to be a vital source of deepened understanding, creativity, and critique. In this panel discussion that will appeal to audiences from both small and large institutions, foundation and nonprofit funding organization officers will reflect on changes they have seen in humanities funding to universities in their careers as well as offer thoughts on future directions. Panelists from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Council on Library and Information Resources, and the American Council of Learned Societies have deep experience in the humanities funding landscape. They have all been involved in evaluations and evolutions of their respective organizations’ humanities grant programs in recent years as well as their partnerships with additional foundations, including the Mellon Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Guiding questions include: How have foundations evaluated and adapted humanities funding programs in recent years? What role do the humanities play for advancing higher education commitments to inclusion? How have funders diversified their higher education grantees to reach a broader range of institutions? Is there tension between curiosity-driven humanities research funding and publicly engaged humanities research funding? What is the role of foundations in shaping the direction of humanities scholarship, or what could it be? What new models of humanities funding support or collaboration can we imagine?

In June 2023, the Supreme Court made a historic decision to end the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Colleges and universities can no longer consider the race of applicants as a factor in their admission processes, which has the potential to drive down underrepresented student enrollment and challenges higher education institutions to find alternative ways to increase diversity in their student body and maintain their commitment to inclusivity. At the same time, a growing number of states have introduced legislation that would restrict, ban and defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public universities and colleges. In addition, numerous civil-rights complaints have been filed against higher education institutions that have diversity scholarship programs or have accepted philanthropic funding for DEI initiatives. A huge backlash on DEI efforts is seen in the corporate world as well. Corporate pipeline diversity fellowship programs such as the ones run by Perkins Coie LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP, and Pfizer, have already been hit with lawsuits alleging they are discriminatory and exclude applicants based on their race. The firms have since made changes to their programs’ eligibility criteria. Grant programs for specific racial and gender groups, such as the Fearless Fund’s program for Black women entrepreneurs, have also been sued for violation of civil rights. How is the Supreme Court's decision affecting the world of philanthropy and specifically foundations and corporations who are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the academy, and to expanding access to higher education for students from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups? How could the court’s decision impact universities’ fundraising efforts for DEI programs and ability to accept funding with gender- and race-conscious elements? Join us for a panel discussion with foundation and corporate representatives, and higher education legal experts as we discuss how they are responding to the Court's ruling, how they are navigating this new landscape, and how Corporate and Foundation Relations Officers can support efforts to increase diversity on college campuses.