Science of Philanthropy Initiative Conference

SPI 2025 Cover Photo

Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) Conference

Keynote Speakers

Lara Aknin, Simon Fraser University
Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator
Michael Kremer, The University of Chicago

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics is pleased to announce the Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI2025) and Advances with Field Experiments (AFE2025) conferences will convene sequentially this year, on September 17-18 and September 18-19, respectively. Professor Michael Kremer will be a shared keynote presenter for both conferences.

September 17-18, 2025

Location: University of Chicago
5757 S. University Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

ORGANIZERS

John List, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago; Visiting Hartsook Chair at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Amir Pasic, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Luigi Butera, Copenhagen Business School
Christopher Clapp, Harris School of Public Policy
Sara Konrath, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Rich Steinberg, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

ABOUT SPI

SPI is an initiative started by John List, Michael Price, and Anya Samek in 2012 to encourage experimental (field and lab) research on charitable giving. In addition to providing an avenue for research discussions, another aim of the conference is to bring together researchers studying charitable giving with practitioners in the field of philanthropy.

PROGRAM

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics is pleased to announce the Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI2025) and Advances with Field Experiments (AFE2025) conferences will convene sequentially this year, on September 17-18 and September 18-19, respectively. Professor Michael Kremer will be a shared keynote presenter for both conferences.

REGISTRATION

Conference Registration: Registration coming winter 2025.

Conference Payment: Attendees must complete the Conference Registration Payment Form to attend SPI 2025. 

To attend the conference, registrants must submit both the registration form and registration payment. Without submitting both the registration form and payment, registrants may not attend the SPI 2025 Conference. Registration and payment will open during winter 2025. 

Presenter applications: We would like to invite presentations that use laboratory or field experiments to investigate social preferences that shape philanthropic giving (including altruism, reciprocity, inequity aversion, warm-glow giving, etc.), techniques charities may use to increase giving, the role of culture on giving, and development of social preferences (i.e., experiments with children/young adults). Topics that are also of interest are volunteerism, the organization of charities/how they operate, and organ/blood donation.

Presenter applications will open in winter 2025. 

SPI PARTNERSHIP CHALLENGE: CALL FOR COLLABORATION
An invitation to researchers to partner with charitable organizations

A primary objective of The Science of Philanthropy Initiative is to bring together researchers studying charitable giving with practitioners in the field of philanthropy. SPI received a generous donation from Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund and BWF providing a funding opportunity to defray some of the costs of this partnership.   

  • $2000-$4000 will be awarded to the partnership. (Maximum of 8 awards)
  • If you are a grad student or a professor interested in applying for this award, please sign up here. Please be prepared to upload your CV, and to provide a short description of your ability to partner with an organization, as well as any experience you have with experiments with firms.
  • Deadline: May 1, 2024
  • By June 1, we will share with you a list of charities including their data capabilities, things they can measure, and their goals/constraints.
  • You must be able to attend SPI in person September 18-19, 2024 at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

Please note: We will be sharing a separate call to invite charitable organizations to apply to be matched with researchers. Stay tuned!

CONFERENCE LODGING

More information regarding conference lodging coming soon! 

WATCH: Presentations from previous SPI Annual Conferences

Topics that are also of interest are volunteerism, the organization of charities/how they operate, and organ/blood donation. You can visit spihub.org to see the papers that were presented in previous years. [SPI2024] [SPI2023] [SPI2022] [SPI2020] [SPI2019] [SPI2018] [SPI2017]

General questions? Please contact SPI conference administrator Jamie Temmer.