Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

What Lilly Family School of Philanthropy does

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, founded in 1987 and operating as a constituent school of Indiana University Indianapolis, is the first university-based school dedicated to philanthropy. It trains students and professionals through a portfolio of academic degree programs — B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership, M.A. in Philanthropic Studies, Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies, and the Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership (PhilD) — alongside graduate certificates and an accelerated B.A./M.A. pathway. The school houses five specialized research institutes (Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Women's Philanthropy Institute, Higher Education and Philanthropy Initiative) and operates the Community of Fellows Program across five vertical areas including philanthropic advising, impact investing, policy, and sports philanthropy.

Its core technology consists of standard learning management systems and online course delivery platforms supporting hybrid and remote learning, with no proprietary technical features disclosed. The business model combines tuition revenue from degree programs, professional development fees from The Fund Raising School (offering five certificates in Fund Raising Management, Fundraising Leadership, Nonprofit Executive Leadership, Digital Fund Raising, and Planned Giving, plus customized corporate training), and funded research partnerships — notably the annual Giving USA report (a 60-year-old authoritative data series on U.S. charitable giving), donor-advised fund studies, and tax policy impact research conducted with partners such as CCS Fundraising and the Giving USA Foundation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; financial aid is offered through multiple scholarships including the Pitch Your Passion competition (over $94,608 awarded to 12 students), Hank Rosso and Dottie Rosso scholarships, and AmeriCorps benefits.

The school serves graduate and undergraduate students pursuing philanthropic careers, fundraising professionals seeking continuing education and certification (including through a CFRE International partnership linking the school's curriculum to the only ANSI/ANAB-accredited fundraising credential), nonprofit organizations requiring customized training, and research institutions accessing philanthropy data. It is governed as a public state university unit with no external private equity or venture capital ownership, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Legal name

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Website

https://philanthropy.iupui.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, part of Indiana University Indianapolis, is the first university-based school dedicated to philanthropy. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctorate degrees, professional certificates through The Fund Raising School, and produces the annual Giving USA report on U.S. charitable giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Philanthropy Studies

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking Advisory (FSAAADAG)

Keywords

• Philanthropy education
• Fundraising training
• Nonprofit research
• Academic degrees
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Programs: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate degree programs including B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership, M.A. in Philanthropic Studies, Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies, and the Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership (PhilD).
2. Professional Development Courses: Revenue from The Fund Raising School offerings including certificates in Fundraising Management, Fundraising Leadership, Nonprofit Executive Leadership, Digital Fund Raising, and Planned Giving, as well as customized training programs.
3. Research Grants and Partnerships: Funded research initiatives including Giving USA annual report, donor-advised fund studies, and tax policy impact research conducted in partnership with organizations like CCS Fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is an academic institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctorate degrees in philanthropic studies and leadership, alongside professional development certificates in fundraising management delivered through The Fund Raising School. It also produces philanthropy research, including the annual Giving USA report, and operates multiple specialized research institutes focused on faith, diversity, Muslim, women's, and higher education philanthropy.

Product overview

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Indianapolis operates as an academic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research institutes focused on philanthropy. The school's academic offerings include undergraduate (B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership), graduate (M.A. in Philanthropic Studies, Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies), and professional doctorate (PhilD) degree programs, along with graduate certificates and an accelerated B.A./M.A. pathway. Professional development is delivered through The Fund Raising School, offering five certificate programs: Fund Raising Management, Fundraising Leadership, Nonprofit Executive Leadership, Digital Fund Raising, and Planned Giving. The school houses four specialized research institutes: the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, and Women's Philanthropy Institute, plus the Higher Education and Philanthropy Initiative. Additional programs include the Youth Philanthropy Initiative with its Changemakers Summit and podcasts, the Community of Fellows Program, Pitch Your Passion scholarship competition, and the Patterson Foundation Fellowship. Research outputs include the annual Giving USA Report on charitable giving and various research publications. The school partners with CCS Fundraising on research and with CFRE International for professional certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B.A. in Philanthropic Leadership Four-year undergraduate degree program preparing students for leadership roles in nonprofits, foundations, government, and related sectors through study of philanthropic principles and practices.
• M.A. in Philanthropic Studies Master's program preparing graduates for leadership roles in nonprofits, foundations, and government, cultivating a deeper approach to philanthropic practice and research.
• Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies Doctoral program for advanced research in philanthropy, with students producing dissertations on philanthropic topics.
• PhilD (Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership) Professional doctorate program focused on advanced leadership in philanthropy; the first of its kind in the field. Inaugural cohort of 17 students graduated May 2026.
• The Fund Raising School Professional development division offering courses and seminars in fundraising management, leadership, and planned giving, with multiple certificate programs and customized training options for fundraising practitioners.
• Certificate in Fund Raising Management Professional certificate program covering comprehensive fundraising management principles and practices, offered through The Fund Raising School.
• Certificate in Fundraising Leadership Professional certificate program focused on leadership skills for senior fundraising professionals.
• Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership Professional certificate program preparing leaders for executive roles in nonprofit organizations.
• Certificate in Digital Fund Raising Professional certificate program focused on digital strategies and tools for modern fundraising.
• Certificate in Planned Giving Professional certificate program covering planned giving strategies and estate philanthropy.
• Customized Training Programs Tailored training programs developed for specific nonprofit organizations or corporate clients seeking bespoke professional development for their staff.
• Giving USA Annual Report Annual comprehensive report on U.S. charitable giving, researched by the school and published in partnership with the Giving USA Foundation. The 2026 edition covers giving in 2025.
• Global Philanthropy Tracker 2026 Research report examining the landscape of cross-border financial resources, establishing a new baseline for global philanthropy tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• U.S. charitable giving reached record $617 billion in 2025 per Giving USA 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Giving USA FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school researches and publishes the annual Giving USA report (The Annual Report on Philanthropy) in partnership with the Giving USA Foundation. This 60-year partnership produces the definitive annual report on U.S. charitable giving, with the 2026 edition reporting record $617.2 billion in 2025 giving.
• CCS FundraisingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research partnership with CCS Fundraising on philanthropy trends including tax law impact studies (projecting $5.7 billion annual loss to charities), donor-advised fund behavior analysis, and joint hosting of the annual 'Perspectives on Philanthropy' webinar presenting Giving USA findings.
• Sports Philanthropy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school was selected to host the Sports Philanthropy World Conference 2026 (SPW2026) on August 3-5, 2026, in Indianapolis. The conference brings together athletes, sports executives, philanthropists, foundations, and nonprofits to discuss sports philanthropy trends and practices as part of the school's expanding Sports Philanthropy Initiative.
• CaltechminorOthersPanelist organization at the Perspectives on Philanthropy webinar presenting Giving USA 2026 findings.
• Children's Medical Center FoundationminorOthersPanelist organization at the Perspectives on Philanthropy webinar presenting Giving USA 2026 findings.
• The Miami FoundationminorOthersPanelist organization at the Perspectives on Philanthropy webinar presenting Giving USA 2026 findings.
• Habitat for HumanityminorOthersHabitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford was hosted as a Lake Distinguished Visitor at the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving in March 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BoardSource: BoardSource is a nonprofit that provides training, research, and consulting on nonprofit governance and leadership. It overlaps with the Lilly Family School in executive leadership training and certificates for nonprofit leaders.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Candid is a nonprofit that provides data, research, and training on the philanthropic sector, including the Foundation Directory and grants data. It directly parallels the Lilly Family School's role as a data and research intermediary for U.S. philanthropy (alongside Giving USA).
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP): AFP is the professional association for fundraising professionals, offering certifications (CFRE predecessor relationship), training, and advocacy. It is a direct peer in professional development and credentialing for the fundraising workforce that the Lilly Family School serves through The Fund Raising School.
• Aspen Institute: The Aspen Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit that conducts research, convenes leaders, and runs policy programs including on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. It is a direct peer in producing thought leadership and convening the philanthropic ecosystem, with overlapping audiences.
• Urban Institute: Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that produces policy and sector research including on philanthropy, nonprofits, and the social sector. It is a direct peer in producing applied research that informs philanthropic practice and policy.

Others

• CCS Fundraising: CCS Fundraising is a fundraising consulting firm that partners with the Lilly Family School on tax policy and DAF research. It is a partner and adjacent commercial peer serving the same nonprofit fundraising market, but operates as a consulting firm rather than an educational institution.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Kennedy School: Harvard Kennedy School offers MPA and MC degrees with concentrations in nonprofit management and social enterprise. It is the most prestigious broad incumbent in graduate public/nonprofit leadership education, competing for similar students and faculty in the nonprofit and philanthropic leadership space.
• NYU Wagner School of Public Service: NYU Wagner offers MPA and other graduate degrees with concentrations in nonprofit management and public service. Comparable as a research-university-based graduate school training public and nonprofit leaders, though broader in scope than the Lilly Family School's philanthropy focus.
• University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2): UPenn SP2 offers MS in Nonprofit Leadership and PhD programs within a major Ivy League research university. It is structurally analogous to the Lilly Family School as a graduate school within a research university focused on social sector leadership, but serves a broader social welfare scope rather than philanthropy specifically.

Emerging players

• Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management: Weatherhead offers graduate programs with nonprofit management and positive organizational scholarship tracks within a research university. Comparable as an emerging business school addressing social sector leadership, though smaller and less philanthropy-specific than the Lilly Family School.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IUphilanthropy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IUPhilanthropy
• Facebookfacebook.com/IULillyFamilySchoolofPhilanthropy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indiana-university-lilly-family-school-of-philanthropy
• Instagraminstagram.com/iu.philanthropy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lilly Family School of Philanthropy