2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient takes a quiet approach to her work

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Jane Morrow

Through her role as executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation—and a career marked by meaningful achievements—Sarah Nathan, Ph.D. ’13, has made an impact that earned her the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award —an honor she did not anticipate. “I have a quieter approach to my work,” Nathan said. “To be recognized and know others are paying attention is gratifying.”

She describes her three-person team at the foundation as “small but mighty.” With a small staff, Nathan wears many hats—from serving as the chief fundraiser to managing daily operations. Her ultimate goal is to strengthen community and promote generosity in Middletown, Ohio and its surrounding communities.

It’s work that fills her with pride. “The part of the job that brings me the most joy is working with generous people, donors and families who really love this community,” she said. “This is a community that has a lot of challenges, but it’s clear that people really love this community and it shows through their generosity.”

The community entrusts the foundation to steward its resources responsibly, supporting free public events, educational initiatives, and evolving needs. Nathan has seen firsthand how the foundation’s funding turns vision into reality. For instance, the foundation provided seed money for a local high school to launch an eSports team. A teacher wanted to create a space for students not drawn to traditional athletics or the arts. Outside of gaming, these students now do other activities together such as going on college visits—proving that it’s about more than just gaming; it’s about belonging.

Her journey to the field of philanthropy didn’t take a direct route. As a college student, she didn’t know what career she wanted—only that she wasn’t interested in “just selling widgets.” While studying history and political science at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, she worked in the alumni office, calling graduates to ask for annual gifts and staying on during the summer.

“It was a formative experience,” she recalled. “I witnessed fundraising and alumni engagement up close.” That experience led her to seek roles in national nonprofits, taking her to Washington, D.C., and later back to her alma mater.

She later decided to pursue graduate studies. “When I found out about philanthropic studies, I realized it was the formal study of the work I’d already been doing but hadn’t had a vocabulary for,” she said. During a campus visit to Indianapolis, a suggestion by Philanthropic Studies Librarian Dr. Fran Huehls to take a walk cemented her decision. “We walked from the library to White River State Park, and the downtown skyline came into view. I thought, ‘I can live here.’ It was everything I hoped for in a graduate school.”

Nathan earned her master’s degree in 2009 and her Ph.D. in 2013, aiming to become an educator. In 2015, she joined the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy as associate director of The Fund Raising School. “It was the perfect fit—it combined my desire to teach with my field experience,” she said. “The best part is seeing participants immediately apply what they’ve learned.”

Finding purpose through philanthropy: A journey to meaningful impact

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Jennifer Donovan

“I reached a point in my career where I felt the need for something more, something that aligned with my values and desire to make a meaningful difference,” said Stephanie Green, B.A. ’24. “On a whim, I decided to go back to school, not entirely sure what I wanted to pursue, only that I was committed to earning my bachelor’s degree.”

After nearly two decades working as a medical biller, Green decided to enroll at Ivy Tech. Around the same time, her 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a learning disability. One of her class assignments was to write about something you’re passionate about; she chose to research special education requirements in public versus private schools. Her research led to the discovery of a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap in special education standards between school systems.

“That project lit a spark in me. That’s when I knew philanthropy was the path I wanted to follow,” said Green. “I started looking into degrees that aligned with that kind of work, and to my surprise, I discovered the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. I transferred in as a junior.”

In her final semester at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Green was hired by Brooke’s Place as operations manager. The organization’s mission is to provide a safe environment where children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers can process their grief and find connection, hope, and healing. Her role is multifaceted, allowing her to contribute meaningfully across several areas of the organization.

“I play a key role in ensuring our day-to-day operations run smoothly by combining direct service with behind-the-scenes planning,” said Green. “This includes managing financial processes and reporting, overseeing office operations, maintaining inventory, coordinating with office volunteers, and ensuring everything is functioning efficiently to support our staff, programs and the families we serve.”

Green credits the school’s study away and study abroad programs for expanding her perspective and deepening her appreciation of the many ways philanthropy can take shape. “The study away program with The Patterson Foundation was one of the most impactful parts of my academic journey,” said Green. “It ignited my interest in the consulting side of philanthropy—listening, analyzing, and helping communities identify solutions that work for them.”

Even more impactful for Green was studying abroad in Germany and the Netherlands. The experience showed her that philanthropy isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. It was an eye-opening experience that allowed her to connect classroom knowledge with real-world application on a global scale. “The most beneficial part was gaining a global perspective on giving, service, and social change,” said Green. “I saw how different societies approach community care, and how their values shape their philanthropic models.”

Green says she is driven to be involved in the philanthropic sector because she has a desire to contribute to something greater than herself. “It’s incredibly motivating to know that the work we do can have a lasting, tangible impact on someone’s life,” said Green. “That’s what keeps me going every day.”

Returning to school: Advancing a nonprofit career with Philanthropic Leadership degree

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Jane Morrow

Not everyone’s journey to the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is the same, and each path adds a unique perspective to the school.

Senior Wade Arvizu’s path included 15 years of nonprofit government work focused on human trafficking and exploitation, after he completed two years of college at Missouri State.

In addition to being a student, Arvizu is serving a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. As a fellow, he works with people who have experienced trafficking, as well as service providers and researchers, to understand what is working in the field and to help shape practical, long-term ways to improve support and build a more effective response.

Throughout his career, he knew he wanted to go back to school. A degree in philanthropic leadership hadn’t crossed his mind until a colleague in China shared a research article from the Lilly School of Philanthropy and asked, “aren’t you from Indiana?” Learning of this school, which happened to only be 10 minutes from home, piqued his interest. He was impressed by its reputation as a leading research institution in philanthropy.

Once accepted, Arvizu learned about Pitch Your Passion. This scholarship opportunity appealed to him for its unique format—no essay required. “I liked the concept of pitching something I’m passionate about,” he shared. “It was a lot of fun.” It paid off for him — he was awarded a $7,500 annual scholarship.

Before enrolling at the school, Arvizu had an independent consulting practice, serving as a subject matter expert on anti-human trafficking initiatives. He also provided recommendations to inform research, policies, and programs to address exploitation and trafficking. He provided training and technical assistance to government, nonprofit and grassroots sectors to build organizational capacity, sustainable funding models, and strategic partnerships while promoting impact-driven programs that center community-led solutions.

He has worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, trained and collaborated with government agencies, and partnered with organizations like Polaris, a key player in anti-trafficking research. He worked with the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, where he contributed to international efforts addressing labor exploitation and sex trafficking. This role involved community engagement, including building relationships with organizations in Kenya. Currently, he serves as the board chair of Azadi Kenya, which provides support for survivors of trafficking.

Arvizu recognizes the unique roles and overlapping efforts of various sectors. He plans to combine his work experience and his degree to drive change and innovation. He also would like to do more with fundraising. Additionally, Arvizu’s passion for fundraising has been a driving force in his career.

“Not everybody enjoys fundraising, but it’s something I really love and I’m good at it,” said Arvizu. “That was a big part of the reason that I decided to come back to school.” Having raised substantial funds and secured grants for organizations, he aims to leverage a formal education to transition into a dedicated development role.

Journey to philanthropic studies influenced by life events

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Jennifer Donovan

Ryan Moriarty, a Master’s Degree in Philanthropic Studies student, has taken a unique journey in his education. A graduate of the Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis, where he earned a marketing degree in 2019, Moriarty is currently an account executive at Salesforce, where he has worked since 2022. His path to studying philanthropy is influenced by life events.

Moriarty was working professionally when he decided to pursue his graduate certificate in Philanthropic Studies. He was familiar with the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy but didn’t decide to pursue his certificate until he lost two close friends. “The reason that I got started with the program – I had a very close friend of mine in college that passed, and it was very traumatic and completely unexpected,” he said. “That woke me up and within a few months I lost another close friend. I quickly realized that mental health is a large societal issue. These stories may seem anecdotal but further research suggests otherwise,”

Following those tragic events, he wanted to do something that could truly make a difference in the community specifically for those struggling with their mental health. His perspective shifted even more after becoming a father. He says, “Once you have children, they become the center of your whole world and everything you do becomes a direct reflection of the world you want to create for them.”

Throughout his studies, he noticed a theme in his coursework that many of the problems in society such as mental health and food insecurity have underlying systemic issues. This inspired his pursuit of a Masters of Arts in Philanthropic Studies to further supplement his education.

It also inspired him to seek more volunteer opportunities putting his studies into practice. Fortunately, Salesforce provides many avenues to express his passions as part of Salesforce’s 1-1-1 model. It’s their commitment to give back 1% of employees time, 1% of their equity, and 1% of technology to their community.

Moriarty encourages others wanting to make an impact on society to pursue an education in philanthropy. He says, “You should never stop educating yourself.”

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy student named to Top 100, chosen to intern at Goldman Sachs

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Jennifer Donovan

Kimberly Hesterman

Indiana University Indianapolis Junior Kimberly Hestermann has been named to the Top 100 List. Each year, IU Indianapolis honors 100 outstanding undergraduate students who demonstrate excellence in three categories—academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement. Hestermann is a dual major studying Philanthropic Leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Finance at the Kelley School of Business.

For Hestermann, the combination of philanthropy and finance isn’t just an academic pursuit – it’s a combination of two passions. Discovering a love for volunteering during high school and an interest in finance, Hestermann found the perfect way to merge her passions as a dual major at Indiana University. “As I’ve explored both pathways and talked to a lot of people within both of the sectors, I really found a niche interest in social impact as well as corporate social responsibility, which is the intersection between business and philanthropy,” said Hestermann.

This summer, she is combining those passions with an internship at Goldman Sachs in New York City. The Goldman Sachs Summer Program has a highly competitive acceptance process and selects less than 1%of applicants. She will be serving as the 2025 summer analyst in the Office of Corporate Engagement, where she will be fully immersed in day-to-day activities. She will be the only intern in the office that works on the company’s community initiatives. “I’ll be able to do a lot of the impact metrics and tracking of those initiatives,” said Hestermann. “I’ll be able to work with the partners to make sure they’re hitting the metrics required or that they align with the mission.”

Her love for volunteering took root in her senior year of high school. “I really wanted to do something impactful my senior year, so I, along with a few friends, decided to run for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital,” she said. That experience drove her to fundraise and raise awareness for a cause close to her heart – the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. That pivotal experience ignited her dedication to philanthropy.

Hestermann is also a Thomasson Scholar at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Thomasson Scholarships cover the cost of four years of tuition and fees, room and board, books, and a semester of study abroad. She has studied in Germany, which allowed her to not only be exposed to a different culture, but also to take in the way philanthropy operates both the same, yet differently compared with the U.S., due in part to differing economic systems. She also participated in the school’s study away program in Florida with the Patterson Foundation.

Currently, Hestermann is interning with Active Minds, a mental health advocacy nonprofit in Washington, D.C. She works remotely with its corporate and foundation relations team. Hestermann has also completed two other internships. In 2023, she interned with Resilient Retreat and Strada Education Foundation.

Hestermann believes the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy perfectly aligns with making her passion her profession.

“You can advocate and be around fellow change makers, which I really appreciate.”