Legacy/History of Philanthropy in America
Vickie Wilson, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, University of Denver University College [pictured right], led
the morning session, which provided an understanding of how the third sector came to be and how the history of charitable giving in the U.S. created the environment we have today.
From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth
Author Darren Walker writes of a new gilded age -- defined by levels of inequality that far surpasses the 19th century. 26 billionaires control as much wealth as millions of the poorest. 
Our traditional interpretations of charity--one that emphasizes generosity toward the downtrodden is simply insufficient in today's workld and neglects the root causes of our socio-economic equality.
Consider the Role of the Government in Forming/Balancing the Nonprofit Sector
(1) Regulation of influence (laws allowing and prohibiting lobbying); (2) Taxation (early tax laws spurred the creation of major foundations); (3) Involvement in addressing social issues: Hoover’s “low-cost governance” vs. Roosevelt’s “New Deal"Philanthropy isn’t just for the wealthy
Early examples of mass philanthropy include campaigns to support the Red Cross and other public health campaigns. Narratives of philanthropy are diverse and inspiring, a few groups to know:
Black Resilience of Colorado | Latino Community Foundation of Colorado
Native Americans in PhilanthropyClifton Strengths & Strengths-Based Leadership 
Dr. Ellen Winiarczyk, Director, Nonprofit Studies Program, University of Denver University College
[pictured right]
- A strengths-based approach is really impactful for teams. A much-loved example is Lessons from Geese,
including the importance of standing by each other when one is weak and when one is strong. - Operating in your "strengths zone," you may find improved: confidence, direction, hope, kindness, and a greater chance of good health outcomes in life.
- Using this tool can increase employee and team satisfaction.
- Effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and build on each person’s strengths
- Diversifying team members' strengths activates innovation, adaptation, and ability to deal with changes
- Broader groupings of a team’s strengths contribute to overall success
What's next? The cohort will receive a chart of everyone's strengths so that they're able to connect with and use one another as resources throughout the year.
