UROP Project

Exploring Philanthropy Goals of Entrepreneurs through the Smithsonian Institution's Giving Pledge Letters

Nonprofit, Philanthropy, Giving Back, Content Analysis
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Research Mentor: Richard Waters,
Department, College, Affiliation: School of Communication, Communication and Information
Contact Email: rdw22@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Eldaneka Rolle
Faculty Collaborators Email: etr22b@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Communication, social work, public administration, marketing but open to anyone interested in the project.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10 hours per week, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
  • Day: Thursday, September 4
    Start Time: 12:30
    End Time: 2:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/watersfsu?omn=94699613417

Project Description

The Smithsonian Institution’s Giving Pledge Letter Exhibit is designed to share and preserve the personal letters written by philanthropists as part of the Giving Pledge — an initiative in which wealthy individuals commit to donating the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. This research will analyze these different pledge letters to look for the personal motivations, values, and stories behind these pledges to encourage a culture of giving. The archive of the Giving Pledge Letters is located online (https://amhistory.si.edu/giving-in-america/interactive/#!/lettersLanding).

Research Tasks: Students will work with the professor to create coding categories and then collect data from the online resource. If students wish to work on statistical analysis after the data has been collected, I'm more than happy to have them assist with data analysis. I will pursue publishing this research in a journal, so students may also be asked to help with developing the literature review and discussion.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Interest in the nonprofit sector is helpful, but there are no required skills needed.

Mentoring Philosophy

I am looking to work with a FSU UROP student who wants to explore their creative side. I'm a former fundraiser who worked with tech executives in Silicon Valley to establish their philanthropic efforts beginning in the early 2000s. I know their interests are diverse, and I want to work with someone who is curious about their motivations and interests in giving their money to help the nonprofit sector. I am fairly open to the working situation and can work remotely or in meetings when they're needed. I imagine an ideal mentor relationship is one where we work together and each offer ideas for the project. I don't want someone who is simply wanting to carry out my project. I want someone who is interested in exploring their own ideas.

Additional Information


Link to Publications

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Waters-2
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