The PLATO Philosophy Fund Initiative
Philosophy Fund Info
Nationwide, scant funding exists that is geared specifically for philosophy programs, and, in particular, for programs that bring philosophy outside of colleges and universities to non-traditional settings, including schools, senior centers, libraries, museums, prisons, refugee centers, and public lecture halls.
Yet everyone can benefit from doing philosophy. Philosophical inquiry improves analytical reasoning and logical argumentation abilities, cultivates the skills necessary for thinking independently, and pushes us to pose clear questions and challenge our own and others’ assumptions. Philosophy enhances the ability to think deeply about our lives and values and to understand why we hold the beliefs we do.
A New Source of Funding
Recognizing the importance of greater access to philosophy for all adults, youth, and children, as well as the scarcity of funds available for philosophy programs, in 2016 PLATO created the PLATO Philosophy Fund (PPF), which will provide funding for a wide range of innovative philosophy programs with the aim of broadening philosophy’s reach. The expectation is that many of these programs will take place in public and other non-traditional settings. Applications will be due in February each year, with funding decisions announced in the spring.
For the 2016-17 academic year, the new PPF fund raised $25,550, including a challenge grant of over $12,000, and funded six applications, supporting innovative philosophy programs around the country. For the academic year 2017-18, a $25,000 challenge grant has been secured from the Squire Family Foundation.
Become a PPF Member
With over 1,100 degree-granting philosophy departments around the country, as well as Ethics and Humanities Centers, Colleges of Education, and other academic departments, PPF has the potential to become a robust funding source for philosophy programs. We are gratified by the success of our initial PPF membership drive in 2016-17 — 46 institutions joined as PPF Founding Members with membership contributions of $250 or more.
Won’t you join us by becoming a member today?
Thank You, PFF Founding Members:
- A2Ethics, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- American Association of Philosophy Teachers
- American Philosophical Association
- American University Department of Philosophy
- Duke University Department of Philosophy
- Duke University Kenan Institute for Ethics
- Gettysburg College Department of Philosophy
- Grinnell College
- Harvard University Department of Philosophy
- Hofstra University Department of Philosophy
- Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
- Manhattanville College Department of Philosophy
- Michigan State University Department of Philosophy
- Michigan State University Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
- New York University Department of Philosophy’s New York Institute of Philosophy
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Pennsylvania State University Department of Philosophy
- Pennsylvania State University Rock Ethics Institute
- Philosophy Documentation Center
- Political Flux
- Portland State University Department of Philosophy
- Prindle Institute for Ethics, DePauw University
- Salisbury University
- Sam Houston State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Santa Clara University, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
- Teachers College, Columbia University
- Teagle Foundation
- Texas A&M University, Public Partnership and Outreach, Philosophy for Children Partnership
- University of California Santa Cruz Center for Public Philosophy
- University of California Santa Cruz Department of Philosophy
- University of Chicago Civic Knowledge Project—Winning Words Precollegiate Philosophy Program
- University of Connecticut Department of Philosophy
- University of Hawai’i Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education
- University of Maine Department of Philosophy
- University of Massachusetts/Amherst Department of Philosophy
- University of Massachusetts/Boston Department of Philosophy
- University of North Carolina Charlotte Center for Professional and Applied Ethics
- University of North Carolina Charlotte Department of Philosophy
- University of Richmond, Jepson School of Leadership Studies
- University of South Dakota, Division of Curriculum and Instruction
- University of Washington Department of Philosophy
- University of Washington Program on Values
- University of Washington Simpson Center for the Humanities
- Utah Valley University
- Villanova University Ethics Program
- Washington and Lee University’s Roger Mudd Center for Ethics