Love for humanity and universal goodwill: reflections on philanthropy through theory of change and the United States Land grant values in Uganda

The increasing levels of food and nutrition insecurity has fostered the development of philanthropy to support the diversification of livelihood strategies. This study describes how the activities implemented by the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) based in the United States, implementing livelihood programs in Uganda through the Iowa State University Uganda Program (ISU-UP) exemplify the classical meaning of philanthropy love for humanity through the operationalization of the land-grant philosophy. The study employed integrated sustainable livelihood framework and theory of change approaches to examine the impact of CSRL/ISU-UP’s initiatives on community resilience and sustainable development in Uganda. Mixed-methods design were adopted combining content analysis of program annual reports and 12 focus groups with 125 mothers in nutrition programs. Data were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that programs implemented operationalize the land-grant mission to enhance livelihood development across different backgrounds. Educational programs, such as vocational training and adaptive homeschooling during COVID-19, promoted student retention and led to human capital development across diverse age groups. We also describe the long-term impact of global service-learning and school gardening on inter-institutional partnerships and community development. Additionally, this study explains various collaborative research efforts that focus on integrating indigenous knowledge with rigorous scientific inquiry to create innovative solutions to pressing food and nutritional security challenges. We also discuss the extension arm, demonstrating the practical application of knowledge and how these activities promote community partnerships and shared responsibility. Focus group participants explained how initiatives benefit community individuals who may not be direct clients, illustrating the ripple effect of knowledge sharing and community engagement. However, they also described limitations like hesitancy and time constraints, which hinder broader participation, ultimately demonstrating the need for tailored outreach strategies. This study explains how CSRL/ISU-UP’s approach to sustainable livelihood development synergistically combines the core elements of the land-grant mission to exceed the expectations of classical philanthropy by positioning communities as equal partners and co-creators of change. Program efforts should focus on enhancing outreach and engagement to maximize impact and ensure that program benefits reach all members of the community and also strengthen collaborative efforts with stakeholders in similar causes.