Dr Karl Wilding

Lecturer in Philanthropic Studies

About

Karl is a part-time Lecturer in Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. He works within the Centre for Philanthropy, which explores philanthropic activities, social patterns of giving and the redistributive impact of transfers from private wealth to the public good. A former CEO and director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, he brings two decades of experience working in public policy, including extensive collaboration with the academic community. Karl joined NCVO’s research team following a PhD exploring mutual aid and health care provision in the Victorian period.He is also a practising consultant working across the public, private and voluntary sectors on strategy, governance and public policy issues. He is a director at MyCake, a trustee of Communities 1st, and a board member at Creating the Future, a US-based nonprofit.

Current work includes working with Professor Beth Breeze, Steph Haydon and Weinan Wang on ‘Moonshot Philanthropy’, funded by the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation.

Teaching

Karl teaches on the MA in Philanthropy, covering all topics relating to philanthropy, volunteering, the voluntary sector and broader civil society, and social research methods. His teaching experience includes modules on the voluntary sector, public policy, and social impact assessment.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Volunteering and Society (SOCI9570)
Research Methods for Philanthropic Studies (SOCI8000)
Fundamentals of Philanthropy (SOCI8080)

Supervision

Karl is working with PhD students looking at the public services and the voluntary sector, and the role of philanthropy and legacies in HE institutions.

Karl is interested in PhD candidates who wish to explore any aspect of volunteering, the voluntary sector, philanthropy, and broader civil society. He is particularly interested in proposals that explore the changing role of civil society and the relationship between the voluntary sector, volunteering and public policy.

Last updated 7th October 2024