Learning from academic institutions The field has also benefited from the emergence and growth of university-based programs that have begun to analyze and study philanthropic activity. No fewer than two dozen academic research centers have joined the earliest school-based programs at Yale, Indiana University, Boston College, University of San Francisco, and New School University in New York in the last 25 years to focus on all aspects of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. The programs have become important sources of knowledge about philanthropic practice and strategy for both philanthropists and students interested in the nonprofit sector. A few examples of research centers created in the last decade include: The Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford University School of Business has created a forum to engage scholars in research about social issues and the nonprofit sector. The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University conducts research about the importance, roles, and performance of civic organizations. The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley State University engages in research on issues related to the traditions and practices of philanthropy, volunteerism, community service learning, and nonprofit organizations. The Center for Leadership of Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and the Public Sector at the University of Minnesota aims to enhance the leadership of institutions that serve the public—nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector.		Introduction     Tour At A Glance     Where Are The Patterns In The Innovation?     Experimenting With Grantmaking Strategies     Rethinking Available Resources     Redefining The Spheres Of Activity     Creating A Culture Of Learning     Learning From Evaluation Learning From Communities Learning With And From Grantees Learning With And From Other Funders Learning From Academic Institutions Learning From Professionals: Formalized Knowledge And Personal Advisory Services Learning From Other Types Of Information Intermediaries   Aggregating Actors     Questioning The Foundation Form