Call for Papers -- Law and Philanthropy

CALL FOR PAPERS - April 1 Deadline for Proposals

Conversations on Philanthropy is seeking papers exploring the theme

The Law of Charity: History, Theory and Social Practice
Papers will be discussed at the Eleventh Colloquium on New Philanthropy Studies to be held in Indianapolis, IN in the fall of 2011 (date to be finalized).  Revised papers will be published in a future volume of Conversations on Philanthropy.

We seek original work in several areas:

1. Exploring the history and legal infrastructure of charity and philanthropy.  How have laws recognized, instituted, and otherwise influenced social practices of giving?  What bodies of law (e.g., trust and estates, perpetuities, tax exemption) most reflect cultural and political attitudes toward philanthropy?  Are there comparative cultural studies that reveal distinct social practices emerging from different legal treatments of charity?

2.  Exploring the relationship of private philanthropy to welfare state policies.  Has charitable provision been crowded out in the wake of expansive welfare state policies?  How has the emergence of concepts of social justice impacted our the theory and practice of charity and philanthropy?  What is the role of special interest groups in promoting private charity or welfare state provision?

3. Exploring the nature of laws that encourage and sustain, rather than crowd out, a vibrant culture of philanthropy. What laws, beliefs, and/or social practices most conduce to generating a philanthropic society?

4. Exploring niche areas of law that may positively impact philanthropy, e.g. ways in which the law has inspired, reflected, and reacted to change, contributing, frequently without much fanfare, in the development of differing philanthropic practices.  Oftentimes technology has inspired and influenced initiatives.  So too have natural and man-made disasters.  The consequential innovations in law are many and profound over time.  Examples abound: organized responses to epidemics; “for-benefit corporations” (extentions of earlier eleemosynary corporations); special areas of patent law, etc.  It is noteworthy as well to remember the specific agency of individuals in this historical inquiry, people who at certain times and specific places both saw and then used elements of the law that in time would bear significant fruit in the development of philanthropic thinking and practice.

Proposals for papers must be submitted by April 1, 2011.  The proposal should describe the anticipated argument and how it relates to at least one of the conference themes. Proposals should be no more than two pages double-spaced, not including an optional bibliography of works the author anticipates discussing. The author’s credentials, current position, and full contact information must be provided.  Submit your proposal to:

Dr. Lenore T. Ealy

Editor, Conversations on Philanthropy

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(mailing address available upon request)

Journal editors will select a maximum of 12 papers for inclusion in the research colloquium, and will notify their authors by May 30, 2011. Final papers must be submitted to the Journal no later than by October 1, 2011.

Authors of accepted papers will have their expenses met to, from, and during the conference and will be paid an honorarium for papers submitted.

Call for Papers - PDF version