I was recently in touch with a colleague who works in education.  His previous research interests had led him to explore American philanthropy, which is how our paths crossed.  While he continues to be involved from the research perspective, we had the chance to catch up and talk more in depth about opportunities that are available for folks to stay involved on the practical side (especially if they are exploring philanthropy as a career option or taking notes while in career limbo).  



Here are a few ideas:
1.       Attend as many free conferences, open meetings, and workshops as possible.  Check your local foundation, grant-makers association, or regional non-profit association.

2.       Submit articles for publication in magazines like Stanford Social Review and Alliance Magazine.  Since I've been in Europe, I've had a few articles published by EFFECT (which is distributed by the European Foundation Centre).  This is a great way to stay informed also.

3.       Volunteering at a foundation would also be a good way to stay involved.  While you help out with some administrative tasks, you can also take the opportunity to learn more about the foundation’s practical work. 

4.       Identify 3-4 of your favorite foundations, and stay involved by signing up for newsletters, becoming familiar with their programming, and interview a few staff members to learn more about their work.

5.       Blog - This is a great way to be directly involved in a dialogue about the field.  You can get started here.... http://www.efc.be/publications/TalkbackEffect.htm  It's a new blog started by EFC...and I was SO excited because they selected my recent magazine submission to initiate some dialogue around diversity in the field. Leave a comment  (but don't be toooooooo harsh)!!!

6.       Join ISTR (International Society for Third Sector Research) - there are always calls for papers and requests for participation in various programs related to philanthropy. 

7.       Stay tuned into the Council on Foundations (www.cof.org) and European Foundation Centre (www.efc.be)  Checking  these sites at least 5 times a week helps in staying updated about what they are doing.