About Us
The mission of the philanthropic studies collection is to support the educational and
research programs of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, including the Fund Raising
School. The philanthropic studies collection has mirrored the growth of the Indiana
University Center on Philanthropy and the development of the Master in Public Administration,
Nonprofit Management concentration and the Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies programs
at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
Funding to develop the collection through its first decade was provided by the Lilly Endowment.
In recognition of the growth of this interdisciplinary field of study, Robert L. and
Pauline S. Payton provided the opportunity in 1993 to create a unique space for the collection
within University Library. The Joseph and Matthew Payton Philanthropic Studies Library,
named for two of the Paytons' three sons is intended to be a space where young people can
study and prepare themselves for lives of service.
The Collection
Philanthropy, broadly defined, encompasses voluntary giving, voluntary service, and voluntary
associations, as well as professions associated with these areas. As a reflection of the
cross-disciplinary nature of the field, the collection includes works from all disciplines
as they relate to these areas of volunatary action. Although materials on nonprofit
management, fund raising, and volunteer administration are the most comprehensive areas of the
collection, the holdings are not limited to the social sciences. Works across other
disciplines, including philosophy, religion, history, literature, and medicine as they relate
to voluntary action and giving behavior make the collection a comprehensive resource for study
of the field. Special funds have been provided to enhance the collection in areas including
African-American philanthropy, civil rights, Quaker philanthropy, and children's materials
that emphasize philanthropic attitudes and behaviors. In addition to monographs, the collection
includes audio and video materials, specialized periodicals in the field, and dissertations.
Primary source materials in print and microform enhance the value of the collection for
research.
The Philanthropy Manuscript Collections, housed in the Special Collections and Archives of University Library include the historical records of organizations and individuals that have worked as advocates for the nonprofit sector, fund raising firms that help nonprofit organizations raise money, foundations and individual philanthropists, organizations devoted to the study of philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations that provide social services, particularly in central Indiana. When combined with the resources of the Joseph and Matthew Payton Philanthropic Studies Library, the collections represent a concentrated and growing resource for the study of philanthropy.