What does generosity have to do with democracy? Can volunteering improve your health? What role do civil society organizations play in shaping well-being?
Hosted by the first collaboration between The Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy and University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), Katherina Rosqueta, founding executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy and SP2 adjunct faculty, joined SP2 professors Ram Cnaan and Femida Handy on September 18th to discuss how nonprofit institutions, faith-based organizations, and philanthropic foundations contribute to and complicate efforts to improve public welfare.
Moderated by Carleigh Douglas, a second-year MBA candidate at the Wharton School, the panel explored how civil society fosters community, trust, and purpose in democratic life.
Handy emphasized that acts of generosity not only benefit recipients but also lead to measurable health and psychological gains for donors and volunteers. “Generosity supports both human and democratic flourishing,” she noted.
Panelists discussed how generosity—whether through donating, volunteering, or organizing—is core to a thriving democracy and individual well-being.
“High impact philanthropy focuses on social impact, not personal legacy,” Rosqueta said.
Cnaan emphasized nonprofits’ essential role in maintaining pluralism and trust in a democracy.
The panel also examined the downsides of overreliance on unpaid labor, inequities in philanthropic power, and declining public trust in institutions. “We are in a moment of declining trust in institutions. Philanthropy, if done right, can help rebuild that trust,” Rosqueta said.
The session concluded with advice for students and individuals to get involved, give time or resources, and use collective action to amplify impact. Rosqueta states, “You don’t need a billion dollars to practice philanthropy. Your time, your talents, and even small gifts can have real impact.”