The John Templeton Foundation was honored by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy during the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) Spirit of Philanthropy Awards ceremony April 14 in Indianapolis.
Kimon H. Sargeant, Ph.D., Vice President, Human Sciences at the John Templeton Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.
"The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the John Templeton Foundation share a profound curiosity and commitment to uncovering new depths of knowledge about philanthropy," said Amir Pasic, dean of the school. "Our new Generosity for Life program, which the foundation has generously funded, will provide insights into generosity and the factors that shape it, as well as practical ways generosity can be increased. We are pleased to honor the John Templeton Foundation's dedication to exploring these concepts and to advancing philanthropy."
The John Templeton Foundation recently awarded the school more than $2.8 million to expand the study and understanding of generosity. The Generosity for Life: The Science and Imagination of Living Generously project, which began in January 2015, takes a scientifically based approach to exploring generosity and its evolution throughout the life of an individual, learning what factors increase generosity. It will increase knowledge about generosity and how it is practiced long-term and across age, religions, regions and other benchmarks. The project will link generosity scholars across a wide variety of disciplines to expand research in the field-including research design, data collection and access to data-and illuminate generational trends and differences in giving.
The Generosity for Life project includes four key components:
• An interactive website that will provide customized and dynamic information about Americans' generosity at different stages of life over time. Through the website, parents, children, educators, nonprofits and researchers will have access to interactive online resources to better understand philanthropy and to discover, reflect on and practice generosity.
• Research investigating issues such as intergenerational dynamics in generosity, the impact of generosity on individuals' well-being and how the project website influences individuals' giving.
• A re-granting program to assist scholars researching generosity in the sciences and humanities fields.
• Expansion of and support for the school's Philanthropy Panel Study (PPS), the most comprehensive longitudinal study of generosity within and among American families. It incorporates the philanthropic behaviors of the same nearly 9,000 families over time and across generations and life changes. The PPS database is made available free of charge to researchers worldwide.
The annual IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy luncheon and ceremony was held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. More than 350 people including IU Indianapolis students, administrators, deans, directors, faculty, staff, honorees and community members were expected to attend. The event is sponsored by IU Indianapolis, the Indiana University Foundation and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
About the John Templeton Foundation
Established in 1987, the John Templeton Foundation serves as a catalyst for discoveries relating to the "Big Questions" of human purpose and ultimate reality. The late Sir John Templeton's commitment to rigorous scientific research and related scholarship exemplify the primary focus areas of the foundation: science and the "Big Questions," character virtue development, individual freedom and free markets, exceptional cognitive talent and genius, and genetics. The John Templeton Foundation is committed to advancing the capacity of human beings to shape their own lives and minds in such a way to promote personal happiness, social benefit, and spiritual progress.
About the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, and the Women's Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter @IUPhilanthropy or "Like" us on Facebook.