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Stanford Business School Offers New Executive Program for Philanthropy Leaders

February 1, 2005

STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS—Stanford University's Graduate School of Business will offer a new executive education course geared exclusively for leaders of grant making organizations—a program that is the first of its kind at a business school. The six-day Executive Program in Philanthropy will run July 31 through August 5, 2005. The application deadline is May 15.

"As the world's social issues grow more profound and complex, the role of philanthropic institutions is becoming both more important and more challenging," says faculty member James Phills, director of the Executive Program in Philanthropy and codirector of the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "To ensure their effectiveness in a changing landscape, foundation leaders are exploring new approaches to social progress." The executive program, launched by the Center for Social Innovation, exposes participants to cutting-edge ideas and helps them develop skills essential to a wide range of leadership challenges unique to philanthropic organizations.

This groundbreaking program will bring together a diverse group of high-level philanthropy leaders and foundation CEOs. It targets organizations that grant at least $1.5 million annually and have full-time staff. It is open to a mix of participants from private, corporate, community, and operating foundations.

As part of the Business School's mission and commitment to management education in the social sector, the Center for Social Innovation partially underwrites the program's cost. The net $6,500 tuition includes all materials, meals, and accommodations.

Members of Stanford Business School's world-renowned faculty create a rigorous academic learning experience in Silicon Valley, one of the most dynamic economic centers in the world. Sessions will focus on strategic approaches to grant-making and provide new frameworks to deal with key challenges faced by foundations today.

Participants will develop valuable professional networks that will support ongoing learning and foster personal bonds that span many organizations. They also will receive a multimedia toolkit to enhance their learning.

The Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business already offers four other executive education programs for nonprofit leaders in the arts, social services, education, and other fields.

The Business School is committed to educating a community of people who impact the world, who believe in the power of ideas, and who lead the process of innovation in a wide range of areas. The Center for Social Innovation fosters new solutions to social problems by enhancing the leadership, management and organizational capacity of individuals and institutions addressing social issues. The Center promotes solutions through a unique combination of interdisciplinary research, teaching, and engagement with those who lead social change.

For more information and an application to the Executive Program in Philanthropy, go to www.gsb.stanford.edu/exed/epp or contact the program manager, Jennifer Harris, at 650 724-4973.