Think Tank” Summit Will Highlight Changes in Fundraising and Philanthropy in the United States and Abroad As A Result of Globalization and the Advent of Technology

NYU Heyman Center To Hold Leadership Summit on Global Philanthropy

Think Tank” Summit Will Highlight Changes in Fundraising and Philanthropy in the United States and Abroad As A Result of Globalization and the Advent of Technology

Representatives from 40 institutions from throughout the world are coming together to attend a frank exchange of ideas in a “think tank” summit meeting on global philanthropy called by the Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising (scps.nyu.edu/philanthropy) within the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS). Taking place at the NYU Kimmel Center from Thursday, February 17 through Saturday, February 19, 2011, The Leadership Summit on Global Philanthropy will highlight the changes in fundraising and philanthropy in the United States and abroad as a result of globalization and the advent of technology.

“Philanthropy today, like every other aspect of life, has gone ‘global,’” said Naomi Levine, executive director of the Heyman Center.  “New trends driven by the advent of technology have clearly played a major role in this globalization.”

Levine continued, “Many institutions abroad have learned from the Internet that 1.4 million nonprofits in the US raised $306 billion dollars last year. How can the institutions abroad apply this ‘American model of fundraising’ to supplement the reduced financial aid many of them now receive from their governments?  American organizations, on the other hand, are interested in exploring the approach that many institutions in other parts of the world are now using to learn whether they can improve the American model.  The walls are clearly down and the institutions, as diverse as their geography, are learning from one another.”

It is in this spirit of exchanging ideas and learning from one another that this Summit is being called.  Representatives from many important nonprofit organizations from throughout the world, such as universities, museums, libraries, and social service agencies are attending.

Keynote speakers include:

  • Dame Stephanie Shirley, Ambassador for Philanthropy of the United Kingdom, will launch the three-day conference with a keynote address on the evening of Thursday, February 17, 2011;
  • Dr. John Sexton, President of New York University;
  • Sir C. Duncan Rice, former Principal of the University of Aberdeen;
  • Stacy Palmer, Editor, Chronicle of Philanthropy;
  • Dr. Robert Lapiner, Dean, NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies;
  • Dr. L. Jay Oliva, President Emeritus, New York University;
  • Mr. Jean-Paul Warmoes, Executive Secretary, King Baudouin Foundation United States and Director, International Relations, King Baudouin Foundation.

Other major speakers are scheduled to address the Conference, including experts in the fields of major gifts, technology and social media in fundraising, foundation and corporate philanthropy, ethics, annual campaigns, board governance, and other aspects of philanthropy and fundraising.

Registration for the three-day conference is now open online at scps.nyu.edu/heymanconference.

MEDIA ONLY:  Reporters wishing to cover the conference, please contact Cheryl Feliciano at cheryl.feliciano@nyu.edu or Kaitlyn Kotlowski at kkotlowski@schwartz.com.

About The George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at NYU-SCPS

The Heyman Center was established to help fundraisers learn about the complexities in fundraising and philanthropy and help them become sensitive to the many ethical issues that arise in governance and fundraising.  Since its inception in 1999, the Heyman Center has now taught more than 3,000 students and provides more than 40 courses in non-credit certificate programs.  It offers a two-year Master of Science in Fundraising and Grantmaking Program and three professional certificates (in Fundraising, Global Philanthropy, and Grantmaking and Foundations).   

About the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Established in 1934, NYU-SCPS (scps.nyu.edu) is one of NYU’s several degree-granting schools and colleges, each with a unique academic profile. The reputation of NYU-SCPS arises from its place as the NYU home for study and applied research related to key knowledge-based industries where the New York region leads globally. This is manifest in the School’s diverse graduate, undergraduate, and continuing education programs in fields such as Real Estate and Construction Management; Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management; Global Affairs; Philanthropy and Fundraising; Graphic Communications Media, Publishing, and Digital Arts; Human Capital Management, Marketing, and Public Relations; with complementary strengths in the Liberal and Allied Arts, Translation and Interpreting, Management and Information Technology, and Finance and Taxation. More than 100 distinguished full-time faculty members collaborate with an exceptional cadre of practitioner/adjunct faculty and lecturers to create vibrant professional and academic networks that attract some 4,800 degree-seeking students from around the globe. In addition, the School fulfills the recurrent continuing higher education needs of local and professional communities, as evidenced by 54,000 annual enrollments in individual courses, specialized certificate programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, and public events. NYU-SCPS is especially proud of the ever-growing worldwide network of its supportive degree-holding alumni, now 24,000 strong.


Press Contacts

Cheryl Feliciano
Cheryl Feliciano
(212) 998-6865
Christopher James
Christopher James
(212) 998-6876