New York School of Philanthropy

The New York School of Philanthropy was established in 1904. The School had its origins in 1898 with the first Summer School in Philanthropic Work offered in New York City. It was the first higher education program in the United States to train people in the field of social work. It began as a six-week summer program offered by the New York Charity Organization Society. Initially the program was more like a workshop than a college course.

In 1904, the program was expanded to an eight-month course of full-time graduate study at the newly renamed New York School of Philanthropy. Soon after, it was expanded to a two-year program. To ensure cooperation with Columbia University, Columbia's president was made an ex-officio member of the Society's committee responsible for the School's affairs. The New York School of Philanthropy changed its name in 1917 to the New York School of Social Work.

The New York School of Social Work operated until 1963, when it became the Columbia University School of Social Work.