IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is the world’s first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy. Named for one of America’s great philanthropic families in honor of their generations of generosity and leadership, The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy works to increases the understanding of philanthropy and improves its practice worldwide through critical inquiry, interdisciplinary research, teaching, training, and civic engagement. The school was officially established in 2012, however has been teaching philanthropic studies since the Center of Philanthropy was founded in 1987. The school resides on the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis campus in Indianapolis.

The school not only focuses on providing a rich curriculum but also conducts cutting-edge research to increase the understanding of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Notably many in house research conducted has been cited in such publications as The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Association Fundraising Professional magazine.

Curriculum

Making passion into profession, the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy offers philanthropic studies degrees that allow future graduates to make a difference in communities on issues that include education, health, social services, the environment, animals, the arts, and religion. Taking a liberal arts approach the school offers classes such as: Diversity and Culturally Responsive Philanthropy, Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship, Religion and Philanthropy Tradition. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees as well as minor and certificate.

Within the curriculum three units focus on research on, education in, and understanding of important and timely issues in the field of philanthropy: Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, The Fund Raising School and The Women’s Philanthropy Institute. The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving offers customized programs that explore the broad context of religious giving by supporting the development of research design to translate data and giving trends into practical tools. The Fund Raising School addresses today’s fundraising needs and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities using practical tools, innovative strategies and ethical practices. The Women's Philanthropy Institute offer education and training about women’s philanthropy to reflect, analyze, and discuss timely issues regarding the powerful role of women as leaders in 21st century philanthropy.

Ties to the Philanthropic Sector

Regular and ongoing research activities contribute to the development of reports significant to the sector. The IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy has conducted studies related to many different areas of the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. The research team’s studies of household and individual giving, corporate giving, and foundation giving provide a basis of knowledge that strengthens the entire field.

Notable contributions the LFSoP has contributed are as follows:

• Philanthropic Giving Index, which shares current trends and future expectations in American philanthropic giving
• Indiana Gives
• Giving USA, research on giving for the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel's annual publication
• High Net Worth Donors, examines the giving patterns, priorities, and attitudes of America’s wealthiest households for the year 2015.
• The Philanthropy Panel Study (PPS), this study follows the same families’ philanthropic behaviors throughout their lives
• The Million Dollar List, is a record of publicly announced charitable gifts of $1 million or more given by U.S. residents, corporations, private foundations, and other grantmaking nonprofits

Notable Alumni and Faculty

• Robert Payton: nation’s first full-time professor of Philanthropic Studies and the first full-time executive director of the IU Center on Philanthropy
• Jane Chu: eleventh chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
• Greg Behr: Executive Director at The Grable Foundation
• Rusty Stahl: founder of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
• Cheryl Hall-Russell: President and CEO of the Hill House Association and the Hill House Economic Development Corporation
• Dale Neuburger:Director of TSE Consulting, his clients include the United States Olympic Committee and 22 of its National Governing Bodies
• Mason Rummel: President of The James Graham Brown Foundation
• Shariq Siddiqui: Executive Director at ARNOVA
• David Wlkinson: Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation (Jane Addams Fellow)
• Erdal Yildirum: General Manager at Vehbi Koc Foundation

History

Originally called the Center on Philanthropy and housed at IUPUI's School of Liberal Arts, the School on Philanthropy has been providing philanthropy programs since 1987. The school was officially established as a stand-alone school in 2012, and was inaugurated in 2013.^[1] Emmett Carson, CEO and president of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) was the key note speaker at the inauguration saying, "idea to create a School of Philanthropy, a “bold, visionary decision that was warranted, to put Indiana University at the vanguard of the necessary, reconceptualization of the nonprofit sector.”^[2]

The initial proposal for an institution on philanthropy was in 1986,^[3] conceived by a group of individuals including Henry A. Rosso, fund raising consultant and the first director of the Fund Raising School in San Francisco; Robert L. Payton, Professor Emeritus, Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI); Charles A. Johnson, retired vice president for Development, Lilly Endowment; and Eugene R. Tempel, former vice president of the Indiana University Foundation, vice president of External Affairs, IUPUI.^[4]

In 1988 Robert Payton was hired as the first full-time executive director at the Center on Philanthropy. Payton was considered by his peers to be a pioneer in the field of philanthropy,^[5] guarded to be “breathing life” into the concept of philanthropic studies as a whole. Among the countless contributions Payton made to the evolution of the school, Payton and his wife, Pauline, established the Joseph and Matthew Payton Philanthropic Studies Library at IUPUI, one of the finest collections on philanthropy and the non-governmental sector worldwide. Combined with the Ruth Lilly Special Collections & Archives, the IU philanthropic library represents an intensive study in all realms of philanthropy.

In 2012 the Center on Philanthropy became its own school, named after one of the great philanthropic families in America in recognition of their profound contributions to education, research and the well-being of society. Irene Lilly McCutchen, daughter of J.K. Lilly III. said that the family is, " especially pleased that the university has seen fit to honor in such a wonderful way the 'excellent business' of philanthropy, which has been a hallmark of our family through the generations. May the work of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy accomplish with great enthusiasm and excellence its vision to inspire many individuals and organizations to achieve positive, lasting change in the world."^[6]

The school remains open today, located at the University Hall which covers approximately 100,000 square feet and took 14 months to complete, is also home to the IUPUI administration as well as IU Foundation and the School of Social Work.

References