The leaders of both organisations intend this partnership to be an ongoing relationship that evolves as opportunities for collaboration arise. Programmatic work began in March 2022. Teresa Behrens, executive director of the Johnson Center, also spent one month on site at SU, from March to April 2022, on a Fulbright Specialist Program award.

"The Johnson Center takes our commitment to embracing a global perspective very seriously,” says Behrens. "Partnering with SU presents an extraordinary opportunity for the Johnson Center and the GVSU to explore how we can better understand, advance, and strengthen philanthropy outside of the United States in a manner that is sensitive to the local context."

Behrens’ time in South Africa included opportunities to connect with researchers and philanthropists across Africa, hosting preliminary conversations on key topics, and providing insights to SU colleagues regarding the operations of a university-based centre on philanthropy.

"Access to international institutional philanthropic support is currently a challenge for Stellenbosch University and many other tertiary institutions in Africa, as grant makers tend to direct their funds to higher education institutions in the global north," says Karen Bruns, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at SU.

"This new partnership with the Johnson Center is an important step in addressing and overcoming these challenges. We are eager to build on the Center’s expertise, pulling in our African scholars and fundraising professionals, sharing knowledge and realising our ultimate goal of establishing an African centre of philanthropy in higher education at our institution," Bruns explains.

The relationship between SU and the Johnson Center commenced in 2013. Staff from the Johnson Center visited South Africa to deliver a series of courses on philanthropy. Virtual conversations began again in late 2020 as the teams discussed how the Johnson Center could serve as a thought and research partner in the development of a potential new centre on philanthropy at SU.

About the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University was established in 1992 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Our mission is to be a global leader in helping individuals and organisations understand, strengthen, and advance philanthropy, resulting in a smart, adaptive sector that helps create strong, inclusive communities.

The Center puts research to work with and for professionals across the country and the world. Through professional education offerings; research, evaluation, and consulting services; and bold thinking to advance the field, we support a philanthropic ecosystem defined by effective philanthropy, strong nonprofits, and informed community change. More at https://johnsoncenter.org