The Social Science Research Council announces a new Program on Philanthropy and the Non-Profit Sector. Through annual dissertation fellowship competitions and research planning activities the Program will seek to provide visibility and coherence as well as intellectual momentum and direction to this cross-disciplinary area of research, fostering a scholarly community around these issues both across and within disciplines. It will provide the opportunity for focused and sustained scholarly conversation and promote the accumulation of knowledge and introduction of methodological innovation in this area of study.

The scope of the Program on Philanthropy and the Non-Profit Sector will include institutional structures such as foundations, religious organizations, educational, social service, healthcare, and arts and culture organizations, as well as altruistic behavior, charitable activities, and the biology of altruism. The Program will address issues of demography, motivation, personal meaningfulness and social impact of these institutions and behaviors in the U.S., or in the U.S. in a comparative context.

The program committee is still in formation. Currently, its members include: Ellen Condliffe Lagemann, Center for the Study of American Culture and Education, New York University (Chair); Charles T. Clotfelter, Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University; Paul DiMaggio, Department of Sociology, Princeton University; Barry Karl, The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Stanley Katz, Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs, Princeton University; Lester Salamon, Center for Civil Society Studies, The Johns Hopkins University; and Janet Weiss, School of Public Policy, University of Michigan.

To launch the new Program and to stimulate interest in its inaugural dissertation fellowship competition later in 1999, a research training workshop will be held on 21-24 October 1999 at the Chauncey Conference Center in Princeton, New Jersey for full-time doctoral students considering dissertation research relevant to philanthropy and the non-profit sector within the social science disciplines and policy studies. Details about the workshop are contained in a following posting.

Application forms for the workshop are available from the Council, and completed applications must be returned no later than 30 June 1999. Decisions will be announced no later than 30 August 1999.

Dissertation fellowship application materials will be available from the Council in mid-August for a December deadline.