Who we are

The John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business promotes social change in the Arab region through building a culture of effective giving, corporate social responsibility, and civic responsibility. In addition to disseminating research and policy papers, the center strives to build capacity for leadership among Arab youth and to enhance their ability to become more civically engaged, and positively impact society through social entrepreneurship, mentorship, and creativity. These goals are pursued with an array of national, regional and international partners in the academic, civil society and corporate sectors. Through fellowships, seminars, conferences, publications and digital platforms, the center is filling important information gaps and providing analysis of trends and critical issues in the field. The Center also seeks to develop the pool of next-generation scholars and to link them with social activists, donors, and philanthropy professionals.

The center was named after John D. Gerhart, the late president of AUC, whose career provided a model of public service. Established in 2006, the center aims to further The American University in Cairo's mission to advance social responsibility and active citizenship. The center prides itself on having a significant footprint in the region by introducing the field of ‘Philanthropy’ thus gradually building an academic discourse on philanthropy related research and unveiling opportunities for foundations and civil society to tap into philanthropy as a platform to instigate social impact and change. In tandem with, the center published its flagship book titled ‘From Charity to Social Change: Trends in Arab Philanthropy’ further anchoring its role as a driver of philanthropy in the region. The center has also introduced the concept of ‘community-based learning’ as a methodology that couples learning with serving the community.

To further capitalize on its social added value to AUC and the community at large, in 2014 the AUC business school became the umbrella under which the center is currently operating. With this strategic move the center has been provided with a supplementary gateway to an invaluable business knowledge base, and human capital. Once again, leading a new trend, the center is advocating to link philanthropy, civic engagement and responsible business practices through community initiatives, research and directly engaging the private sector. As such the Gerhart Center is now perceived as the developmental arm of the business school.

Our Vision and Mission