The Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Informing and advancing social justice philanthropy

At the Sillerman Center:

  • We create accessible publications that guide funding in social justice areas and explore just, socially responsible philanthropic practice.
  • We design and host free educational programming, webinars, strategy sessions and other gatherings for funders, their advisors and nonprofit leaders.
  • We teach courses, fund fellowships, mentor students and host guest speakers for the Heller-Brandeis community.
  • We collaborate with numerous community-based groups, university-based philanthropy centers, social justice funders and national networks to build strategy, co-sponsor events and long-term projects and to support and learn from each other’s work.

Social Justice & Philanthropy 2023
The Spring 2023 Social Justice & Philanthropy graduate students selected Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and Boston Partners in Education to receive grants of $5000 each!

Next Generation Commemoration: Philanthropy's Past, Present, and Future Roles
Through this brief, we explore how grantmaker support for contemporary removals and reimaginings of commemorative landscapes can help put several communities on a road to civic repair.

2023 Brandeis Women's Soccer and Waltham Boys & Girls Club GiveBack!
On April 29, 2023, The Sillerman Center, in partnership with Sow Good Now, the Brandeis Women’s Soccer Team, and the Waltham Boys and Girls Club, held our third annual soccer clinic and GiveBack at Brandeis University. The 2023 grant recipient is Waltham Family School!

Youth Philanthropy Infographic Series
Our Youth Philanthropy Infographic Series explores the importance of youth philanthropy broadly and takes a deeper dive into the areas of mental health, unemployment, and technology access as they affect young people's ability to engage in work such as youth philanthropy.
Plant with $100 bill wrapped around it

Projects
Our long-term ongoing projects provide learning opportunities for grantmakers and foster community building among funders, scholars and community leaders.
Sillerman folder on table

Publications
Our publications explore contemporary issues in philanthropy, provide guidance and resources to socially concerned grantmakers and illuminate equitable, democratic philanthropic practice.
Wall with "Make Good" mural painted on it

Fellowships
Each year, we select up to three eligible Heller students and help to place them in paid philanthropy-related summer internships.