Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment MSc; PGDip

Program Overview

The MSc in Philanthropy, Grantmaking, and Social Investment is a part-time program designed for individuals working in or aspiring to enter the social funding field. It provides a comprehensive understanding of philanthropy and grantmaking principles, ethical frameworks, and social investment practices. The program emphasizes both theory and practical application, with input from leading practitioners and opportunities for fieldwork exercises. Graduates are equipped for careers in public funding organizations, charitable trusts, foundations, and other social sector organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

MSc in Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment

Target Audience:

This program caters to individuals already working in social funding, or those who aspire to enter the field. It serves both career progression and career change goals.

Focus:

This program delves into the intricate world of social funding, exploring both theory and practice. Key focus areas include:

• Effective and transparent funding practices
• Ethical frameworks
• Strengthening relationships with external communities and agencies

Program Structure and Learning Outcomes:

• Part-time program spread over 24 months (or 29 months for students opting for the PgCert)
• Students initially enroll in the PgDip with a chosen specialization and can opt to complete the MSc at the end of the first year
• Students build a strong foundation in:
• Historical and theoretical aspects of philanthropy and grantmaking (international and domestic examples)
• Enhance understanding of strategic and tactical decisions in philanthropy
• Foster critical thinking skills for social investment, covering evaluation, impact measurement, risk, and operations management
• Learn from leading practitioners
• Design and implement impactful social investment programs
• Develop expertise in grant-giving and other investment approaches

Course Outline:

Program Content:

• The program comprises PgCert, PgDip, and optional MSc stages

Module Outline:

PgCert Modules:

• Learning and Understanding the Voluntary Sector (10 credits):
• Introduces the learning process and establishes personalized learning plans
• Offers historical perspectives and scholarly approaches to voluntary sector and government relations
• Strategy, Diversity and Governance (20 credits):
• Provides a broad foundation in strategy development, diversity, and governance
• Marketing and Fundraising (10 credits):
• Equips learners with concepts, skills, and techniques for planning and developing marketing and operational systems
• Enables analysis of marketing needs, evaluation of marketing plans, and application of marketing concepts in specific organizational contexts
• People Management in the Voluntary Sector (10 credits):
• Introduces key aspects of human resource issues in the sector, with a focus on volunteer management
• Charity Accounting and Finance (20 credits):
• Provides understanding of the specialist charity accounting framework
• Covers trust law, fund accounting principles, and issues of financial management
• Fieldwork Exercise (20 credits):
• Students participate in a 5-day consulting assignment on a financial project within a charity

PgDip Modules:

• All PgCert modules
• Principles of Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment (15 credits):
• Examines principles of funding and their application across various UK institutions:
• Public and quasi-public authorities
• Independent charitable trusts and foundations
• Management of Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment (15 credits):
• Enhances understanding of the critical role of effective management in funding activities
• Covers management of various funding aspects within diverse funding organizations

Assessment:

Assessment Methods:

• Coursework: The program relies primarily on coursework for assessment

Progression:

• Successful completion of the PgDip allows continuation to the MSc stage
• The MSc requires:
• Completion of the Research Methods for Managers module (in 1st quarter of MSc year)
• Personal, supervised research culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation (completed by mid-September in the 2nd year)
• Alternatively, students can choose a taught Masters option by selecting specialist modules from other Charities programs

Teaching:

Teaching Staff:

• Program leadership by Dr. Peter Grant, a renowned UK practitioner in public and charitable funding
• Dr. Grant brings rich experience and expertise across various sectors:
• Arts
• Inner-city youth charity
• Sport England
• National Lottery
• New Opportunities Fund

Teaching Approach:

• Emphasis on both theory and practical application
• Learning from leading practitioners in the field
• Case studies, fieldwork exercises, and active engagement
• Access to the knowledge and insights of Dr. Peter Grant, a highly respected authority in the field

Careers:

Career Opportunities:

• Graduates are equipped for a range of positions in:
• Public or quasi-public funding organizations
• Independent charitable trusts
• Foundations
• Other social sector organizations
• The program is highly relevant for individuals seeking career advancement or entry into the social funding field

Career Stories:

• Testimonials from program alumni:
• Fozia Irfan: Transformative personal and professional experience
• Caroline Taylor: Enabled a step change in her career and transition to a CEO role
• Bruno Spriet: Enhanced strategic and impactful approach in her organization

The fee for the Postgraduate Diploma is £7,250 for the 2024/25 academic year of entry. A deposit of £400 is payable on acceptance of a place. For self-paying students, the balance is payable in two instalments, the first during the registration process September and the second at the end of January.

• The fee for those converting the Diploma to MSc is a further £4,200 for 2024/25 and is payable in one instalment at the beginning of the second year.
The conversion fee for the following year of entry will be subject to an annual inflationary increase.