Indiana U School Of Philanthropy Would Be A First For U.S.

Recognizing the increasing role of nonprofit organizations in today's economy, Indiana University is poised to launch the nation's first School of Philanthropy.

The university already is a leader in philanthropic studies. The nationally renowned research-based Center on Philanthropy is based at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The university also offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in philanthropic studies through the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

And now, with a growing market for nonprofit workers, university officials say the time has come for a formal school at IUPUI. If the university receives state approval this year, as is expected, classes could begin in the 2013-14 academic year.

The eyes of both the nonprofit sector and the academic world will be upon Indianapolis. Nonprofits already account for 9 percent of U.S. wages and salaries. Those jobs are expected to grow sharply as nonprofits continue to take on a larger share of philanthropic work from the government and private corporations.