Six people, six perspectives, and one day at a Habitat for Humanity build

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Abby Rolland

Six people, six departments, six different perspectives. Dive into faculty, staff, and students’ thoughts on spending one day at a Habitat for Humanity build.

Abby Rolland

There’s something powerful about putting words in actions. Here at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, we discuss and act on philanthropy in multiple ways. We act on it through research, through marketing and communications, through the special lenses of our institutes and schools, through connections with students, and through volunteering in our own community.

On September 28, we focused on the last part – volunteering. Six of us represented the school as a whole, but we all came from different units – research, faculty, Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, student services, communications and marketing, and a Ph.D. candidate. We all perform different roles, but we coalesced around one mission for the day, which was to help build a home for an Indianapolis family.

We also worked on various projects throughout the day. I joined with several individuals from Academic Affairs on adding windows to the home. Some worked on the roof of the house, while others worked on making marks around the house to ensure accuracy for other projects.

Like we do at the school, we worked on different projects, but all of those projects (both on the house and in our day-to-day work lives) are vital. They ensure that the house becomes a home and the school succeeds in its mission. At the end of the day, the house was more completed than when we started. At the end of each work day, I see the impact of another research project set to further inform our thinking about philanthropy, another student who engages with philanthropy in some way, or another blog post that translates and transmits information about our school or philanthropy to a broader audience.

We come from different places, different paths, and have different mindsets, but in our own ways, we truly are all making the world a better place.

Avis Frieson

I have a newfound respect and appreciation for home builders. I’m also grateful to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy for the opportunity to fulfill my dream to assist with being a volunteer for Habitat.

I learned a lot about houses with my assignment, which was to mark and measure spots around the frame of the house, using a leveler where the studs goes and holding the ladder for my partner. Also, I participated in measuring and cutting the Styrofoam wrap, which keeps the moisture from entering the home. During this process I noticed:

No task is insignificant
How precise I must be
Small projects are time consuming
Absolutely no shortcuts
Tasks should never be rushed

Something else I will never forget on site on Friday: I met an 85-year-old neighbor who expressed her gratitude for the cause. I was ecstatic to share with the sweet neighbor the new and additional initiative Habitat is launching. They received a huge grant to assist established homeowners in the areas, which enables them to transform their homes to be more accessible and meet coding standards. Some of those projects include tub conversion to walk-in shower, updated windows to siding, and much more.

Julie Hatcher

The Habitat build was a great reminder of the value of volunteers. From the well-seasoned “Orange Tigers” who gave us clear guidance on how to measure, find studs, and level windows, to the novice volunteer with little knowledge of a plumb line, level, or slats, we all made a difference. With our names affixed to our helmets, we all mattered and discovered new ways that we are more similar than different in terms of our common goals. Cheers to IUPUI for hosting its first-ever Habitat House.

Christina Eggenberger

Being brand new to Indy and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I jumped at the chance to volunteer for several reasons. First, it was my first opportunity to volunteer in Indy. Volunteering is a great way to feel connected to a community and learn new things about it. Second, it’s a great way to get to know people. I work on the same floor as five of my fellow volunteers, but it wasn’t until I was on a roof or on our lunch break that I got to talk to them more than a passing “hello.” Lastly, it always feels good to step away and replace theories and research with hammers and power saws. It was a reminder that what I am studying is happening throughout our community and our world every day of the week.

Curtis Kester

Participating in the Habitat for Humanity build recently with my colleagues from the school was incredibly life-giving and so much fun! Being able to step away from our day-to-day work and have a tangible representation of generosity through volunteering our time together truly represents our vision as a school in helping to create lasting change in our world.

Kinga Horvath

The opportunity to meet colleagues from different units, as well as full-time Habitat volunteers, was a great experience. Collaborating with people who have diverse backgrounds and interests while working for the same cause reminded me that philanthropy does its best if we work as a part of and for a diverse community.

First-generation students share firsthand experience and knowledge

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Abby Rolland

Happy First-Generation Day at IUPUI! We’re celebrating first generation students and how awesome they are today and all days.

In order to celebrate that awesomeness, I went around to various first-generation students and graduates on the third floor at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to ask them about their first-generation experiences and what advice they have to current first-gens.

What drove you to complete your undergraduate degree, and then continue on?

Erin Polley (current executive master’s degree student): When I was growing up, both my parents worked full-time and took their careers very seriously. My mother didn’t complete college, but she ascended in her field through experience and an ongoing commitment to educate herself. After high school, I didn’t think I needed to go to college right away and that I could learn through my experiences and following my passions. I had a lot of interesting jobs and learned a lot about professions I DIDN’T want to end up in. Around age 23, I decided to pursue my education to learn more about the world around me. I had a desire to travel, to connect the dots and to really analyze history, culture and politics. I pursued Cultural Studies at Columbia College Chicago and my worldview was dramatically altered as a result of my education.

Who did you go to when you had questions about the experience? How did they help?

Coretta McAllister (philanthropic studies bachelor’s degree graduate and current master’s degree student): I went to Pamela Clark for everything! I was allowed to vent, to cry, to be confused and all over the place. However, she helped by keeping me grounded, and continues to understand me, my life and my goals. She put me first when we talked and never ceased to encourage and uplift me. Those moments with Pamela supported me to keep going.

What did it mean to you and your family to see you graduate college? (And continue on, if you’re a current master’s or Ph.D. student or have one or both of those degrees.)

Pamala Wiepking, Ph.D. (Visiting Stead Family Chair in International Philanthropy, visiting associate professor): My family was extremely proud of me for graduating from college, and then for acquiring a Ph.D. My family did think I was a bit odd as well, to study for that long, and then continue with a career in higher education. Some of them still ask if I am done with studying. But then I kindly explain that I now am in the fortunate position to help educate a new generation of students, and enable them to reach their own potential and pursue their dreams.

What did it mean to you and your family to see you graduate college?

Tim Seiler, Ph.D. (Rosso Fellow in Philanthropic Fundraising, clinical professor of philanthropic studies): The entire family was delighted when I graduated, including an uncle who had been the first in our family to enroll in college, although he withdrew and did not graduate. He was emotional at my commencement. Continuing for a master’s degree and ultimately for a Ph.D. was expected since everyone knew my goal was to become a college professor. My family, especially my parents, were overjoyed when I finished the Ph.D. They hosted a surprise party for me to celebrate, and my dad painted this on his garage: “Congratulations, Tim, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.”

Alexis Davenport (philanthropic studies bachelor’s degree graduate and current master’s degree student): My undergraduate graduation ceremony was pure bliss — I remember it like it was yesterday. I was smiling from ear-to-ear. It was the proudest moment of my entire life and I know my family felt the same. Earning my bachelor’s degree meant that I had options; it gave me hope that I wouldn’t struggle to survive and that I could create a better life for myself and my family.

What lens can first-gen students contribute to the university experience?

Alexis Davenport: The experiences of first-generation students can contribute to the university experience because our stories are about persevering and seizing the opportunities our families didn’t have. Furthermore, first-generation students navigate university without that tangible, reliable parental experience to refer to as guidance. Yet, we persevere hoping that the stories of success of college graduates can be our realities too.

Erin Polley: The value of education is not lost on me and my educational experiences have been unique truly because I was the first in my family to pursue higher education. As a mother now, I talk to my son a lot about my education and WHY I am doing it. I hope that I am setting an example for him that knowledge is ever-expanding. There is so much to learn and we can dedicate ourselves to the practice at any time in our lives.

What advice do you have for current first-gen students?

Laurie Paarlberg, Ph.D.: (Charles Stewart Mott Chair on Community Foundations, professor of philanthropic studies): It isn’t the smartest student who succeeds in academia, but the one who puts in the effort and perseveres through the ups and downs.

Tim Seiler: Study what you are interested in and what you like. Study hard and ask lots of questions, challenge the faculty “experts.” Make your own contribution to the field or discipline by searching for the “why” as well as the “what.”

Coretta McAllister: My advice would be “You are here, now kill it.” Give it your all, stay on your grind and remember that no one can take what you don’t give them.

Bill Stanczykiewicz (assistant dean for external relations): Do not let anyone stand between you and your education. This is your education. Yours! Do not let anyone be a barrier. You are in charge of your own level of persistence. Why? Because no one stands between you and your education.

‘We must embrace donors from varied and diverse backgrounds’: one alum’s outlook on philanthropy, diversity, and social capital

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Ann Boyd-Stewart

Joshua Humbert is a 2015 graduate of the master’s degree program at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Here, he speaks with Ann Boyd-Stewart, assistant dean for fundraising and alumni relations, about his journey to philanthropy and what he’s doing now.

When did you receive your master’s degree, and how did you initially find out about the school?

Joshua Humbert: Very ambitious is a precise description for me, which is uniquely balanced with a genuine and selfless spirit. I received my master’s degree in philanthropic studies from the No. 1 nationally ranked school in philanthropy, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in May 2015. I’ve been told that I have a knack for finding my way to the source, thus my journey to Indianapolis, IN, only exemplifies this. During my time as Director of Emerging Markets at University of Maryland, Dr. Robert Grimm, M.A.’98, was recruited to launch the University of Maryland’s philanthropy program. With my interest in philanthropy heightening, I sought out in pursuit of a degree in philanthropy and understood that if the University of Maryland was in its infancy with aspirations of being a national leader, why not go where the person charged with establishing a prominent philanthropic program received his degree.

What did you like best?

JH: Honestly, it fused my love for both business and philanthropy in a symbiotic relationship. With Indiana University’s program, I didn’t have to choose between my purpose and making a great living. It was more than fundraising. Indiana University brought to life a multifaceted vision for a University Center that would serve the nonprofit sector and create a new academic field of study while examining philanthropy through teaching, research, and service.

What was your path in the philanthropic sector?

JH: My vision is to be a national thought leader within the philanthropic sector, and with an alias of Mr. Philanthropy, that’s @Mrphilanthropy (shameless plug), I was going to need to understand philanthropy in its entire scope and history versus my previous knowledge, but still limited capacity of fundraising. I would need to understand more than just how to raise a dollar, but know more importantly how philanthropy plays a role in the public sector, business and within the everyday lives of people I may never meet.

Now you’re a consultant. What made you take that jump? Do you see this career move best fits your style, skill set?

JH: While fundraising for various organizations, I realized many nonprofits simply didn’t concentrate on the individual, but instead their title and bank account status. So no, I didn’t foresee the consulting route, but instead was a part of the aforementioned system of fundraising of ‘what you can do for me,’ which is quite different from who I am at my core. My career is composed of various acts of making deposits in a person’s life before I considered a withdrawal. This moral compass spans from relationships with wealthy individuals to working professionals to those on the margins of society. The jump for me was an alignment with my core beliefs and relationships. I truly came to understand the value of social capital and how to exercise it.

What does a typical consulting week look like?

JH: The irony is that there isn’t a typical week. Connecting and building mutually beneficial relationships for my clients is core in every week’s work. I teach my clients across varied industries and sectors how to optimize and monetize their relationships that they spend a lifetime creating. This makes every week different by the sheer range of client backgrounds and needs; the common thread is that we help them grow as professionals and personally, so that they have no excuse why philanthropy isn’t part of their daily lives.

Tell us about your clients.

JH: Currently, I work with a networks of corporate leaders around the world—including philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, celebrities and civil society leaders—helping them connect to their philanthropic purpose, build social capital, and develop their personal and professional goals. The result: greatly increased capacity to be forces for change in their communities.

Do you see a need for diversity in consulting?

JH: As with most industries, a lack of diversity limits the ability to innovate and connect globally. Philanthropy is no different. However, I see a greater need to disrupt the mentality of how and why we give and serve. The need for new ways to solve problems amongst the philanthropic sector, practitioners and thought leaders is on par with recruiting the right minds across varied backgrounds to drive lasting change.

Did you have traditions of philanthropy within your family?

JH: Yes, I grew up in a church-based environment. My entire life was engulfed in service to others. I grew up using social capital long before I knew what is was, much less exhibiting mastery of the skill. Growing up for me was to grow up quite modestly, and often times without means and exposed to danger at certain points. However, the support of my community sheltered me and my family from the extreme impacts and sometimes life-altering manifestations that came from such circumstances. The act of reciprocity and the ability to sympathize are deeply ingrained in me as a lifetime recipient and giver of philanthropy.

What is the greatest challenge for historically underrepresented donors?

JH: Philanthropy has a way of seeing minorities as individuals who need to be saved or helped. I’ve noticed that many nonprofits and donors want to serve the less fortunate, rather than serve alongside them. Donors who have seen the problem up close need to be a part of the decision-making process of how resources are strategically distributed. Most programs are created in a vacuum; donors who understand the challenges or social ills can be of tremendous resource. To accomplish the aforementioned, we must embrace donors from varied and diverse backgrounds and most importantly, receive them as vehicles for change.

What is the greatest challenge for historically underrepresented fundraisers in the sector?

JH: Ironically, it’s not too different than the greatest challenges of for-profits, which is investing in human capital by recruiting qualified people who most accurately reflect the communities you impact and serve. Fundraisers need to create or contribute to diversity pipelines by being proactive in creating opportunities through fellowships, internships, and outreach efforts, so that talented individuals from diverse backgrounds can become competitive candidates and lend to an organization’s success.

Prepare and reserve a seat at the table for invested talent by opening doors that create strategies and develop innovative ways to meet donors and communities that have not been typically engaged.

What do you hope for 10 or 20 years from now in the nonprofit sector in terms of diversity?

JH: More than money, human capital will be the most vital treasure the nonprofit sector will have to increase and gather. I hope that the nonprofit sector is able to tap into a vast range of perspectives, ideas and experiences that keep pace with a truly modernized society, while also developing disruptive technology and models that harness collective engagement to solve problems and prevent them.

How we build relationships, as well as how we influence the hearts and minds of practitioners and donors, will be the key to solving real problems and advancing the nonprofit sector in diverse fashions decades from now.

Hendricks County Community Foundation + The Fund Raising School = capacity-building partnership

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Abby Rolland

Bill Stanczykiewicz leads the first day of training for various Hendricks County nonprofits.

Community foundations form an important piece of the nonprofit sector fabric in Indiana. We’ve explored the relationships between staff members at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the Johnson County Community Foundation, as well as the partnership between The Fund Raising School and the Community Foundation of Boone County.

Another recent partnership between the community foundation directly west of Indianapolis and The Fund Raising School has begun producing fruitful results. I interviewed Eric Hessel, program officer at the Hendricks County Community Foundation (HCCF) to learn more about the foundation’s programs and how it’s increasing nonprofit capacity through its grantmaking program.

Participants Peg McRoy Glover, President of Hendricks County Arts Council, and Michael McDonald of the Hendricks County Coalition for Tobacco Intervention and Prevention, also contributed to this post.

What does HCCF do?

Eric Hessel: Our mission is to partner with generous people to realize their charitable goals while addressing community needs in meaningful and lasting ways. Though we offer a variety of grantmaking options like donor advised funds or scholarships, I would say that our most recognizable grantmaking are our unrestricted grants. We’ve recently focused on supporting a capacity-building program, which comes in four parts.

We offer three different types of capacity-building grants. The first are professional development grants for nonprofit employees. We help subsidize costs for conferences, courses provided by The Fund Raising School or Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, or other training programs.

The second type of grants are functional capacity grants, which are capital purchases. We supported the local Humane Society when they wanted to build an ADA accessible ramp for volunteers and potential pet adopters; we provided funds for a water heater for a summer camp; and we paved an organization’s driveway so that it could remain in its current location and continue to provide critical services to homeless people in Hendricks County.

The third type of grants support organizational capacity, which focus mainly on planning or program evaluation. Whether that is strategic planning or building a marketing or development plan, these are focused on long-term proposals or developments.

Finally, we host a nonprofit learning series. That program includes a monthly opportunity for learning, completely free or for a very small price, for nonprofits serving Hendricks County. This year we focused on three different topics – development, governance, and evaluation.

As part of that program, we bring out a major speaker once a year. So, this year, we asked The Fund Raising School to provide their course Fundraising for Small Nonprofits to about 40 individuals working and volunteering at 25 different Hendricks County nonprofits.

What was the course like?

EH: It was incredible. These nonprofit professionals are hungry for information to better their organization. Fundraising for Small Nonprofits presents the course material in a very accessible and useful way. Bill (Stanczykiewicz, director of The Fund Raising School and assistant dean for external relations), was engaging. People really respond to him.

How has the foundation supported these nonprofits during the program?

EH: We understand that most nonprofits are focused on using their money for their mission. These nonprofits are small and don’t always have the financial capacity to attend courses like this. So we’ve offered the course at a discounted rate for every nonprofit organization here.

It’s important that nonprofit employees receive professional development training; it helps them and their respective organizations become more effective.

Representatives of various nonprofits listen keenly during the first day of the course

What were people’s reactions to the course?

EH: I had multiple people pull me aside and say, ‘This is the best course you’ve ever hosted.’ And I told them, ‘This is The Fund Raising School. This is the school’s expertise. If you want to learn about philanthropy and fundraising, this is where you go.’

Peg McRoy Glover: I can’t say enough good things about this course. The entire program is structured to provide a small nonprofit with proven and dependable fundraising principles and the tactics to implement them successfully. Bill Stanczykiewicz, the presenter at the workshop, is a master at relating the information in a memorable and entertaining format. It left me energized and excited for future nonprofit fundraising campaigns.

Michael McDonald: The training helped enhance both my assessment of what our organization needs and the tools to pursue additional funding streams.

What are your goals for the nonprofits who have received this material?

EH: This course provided an accessible step-by-step process to raise the money that they need, so I hope that the individuals become more confident and know the right steps to take in moving forward.

We can’t fund everyone, but if we can help you be a better fundraiser by providing these trainings at a reduced rate, then we can create nonprofits that raise more money.

It’s also building a common language and strong networks. There are 40 individuals who are meeting other nonprofit professionals in their community, some for the first time. They can reach out to one another for information, support, and advice.

We want to build a powerful fabric of nonprofits in our community in order to build a better sector for donors, providers, and clients. If one organization can help a client with one issue, and then connect that client with another organization, then that client is receiving a stronger support network, and our community will be better off in the long run.

INspired to Give: Women, Faith, and Philanthropy panel and interfaith collaboration

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Abby Rolland

Andrea Pactor, interim director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), and Rafia Khader, program manager at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, sat down recently to discuss their collaborative efforts for INspired to Give: Women, Faith, and Philanthropy, a special program in Indianapolis on Thursday, November 8.

What prompted the idea for this project?

RK: Research has shown that religion influences philanthropic behavior and gender influences philanthropic behavior as well, but there are few studies that look at the connection between faith and gender and giving. Furthermore, I have been interested in learning more about the ways in which faith is lived, especially in faith traditions that are perceived as patriarchal, and to explore how women navigate their faith traditions through philanthropy. Oh, and the chance to work with Andrea on a project, it just seemed like a natural collaboration!

AP: I am so excited to work with Rafia on this project. WPI has explored the intersection of women, faith, and philanthropy at its national symposia but never in our home community. When I learned that the 2018 Spirit & Place Festival theme is INTERSECTION, it seemed natural to develop a collaboration between Lake Institute and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute to explore this topic using personal stories to showcase the theme. Although Rafia and I come from different faith traditions and are from different generations, we share a love for our faiths and are committed to putting it into action.

How did Rafia’s Hajj experience (pilgrimage to Mecca) in August impact her thinking about this topic?

RK: I saw a lot of generosity during Hajj. One woman demonstrated her generosity by making sure everyone had access to the fans (it was 110 degrees in the desert at the time) and that everyone had food before she ate. While that generosity might not be recorded as “formal” philanthropy that can be measured, to me it was an expression of the philanthropic spirit. During this past week’s Symposium on Muslim Philanthropy and Civil Society, I heard conversations about informal philanthropy and realized how much of it is done by women. For example, cooking for bake sales, organizing community events, visits to the sick, and hosting travelers. This only reinforced the importance of the project Andrea and I have been working on.

AP: The definition of philanthropy we often use at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is “voluntary action for the public good.” This is a broad definition – it includes time, talent, and treasure. We want to explore all of these at the event on November 8.

What will happen at the event?

RK: Attendees will hear from an amazing panel of women from diverse faith traditions and ethnic and racial backgrounds and they will have an opportunity to join in song and small group discussions. This special evening is particularly timely in light of today’s contentious environment. We recognize the importance of having interfaith conversations and we hope the event will help move people from talk to action.

AP: This is a unique opportunity to build bridges and to participate in thoughtful conversations about topics we so rarely discuss.

Panelists and information about the event

Why are you so excited about this panel?

RK: The panelists are an extraordinary group of women who work in different fields and who come from different faith traditions. They are all passionate about being women of faith who give back to their communities in various ways. Rabbi Sandy Sasso, the Center for Interfaith Cooperation’s 2018 Interfaith Ambassador, will moderate the panel. Panelists are:

Kathy Cabello, Principal, Cabello Associates, Indianapolis, IN
Hope Hampton, Founder, Indescribable Gift
Dr. Anita Joshi, Pediatrician, Crawfordsville, IN
Rima Shahid, Director, Women4Change Indiana

AP: We can’t wait to learn from these talented and thoughtful women leaders in our community.

What is your vision for the program’s outcome?

RK: I want people to be inspired to act philanthropically in their own faith communities and also seek collaboration with other faith communities. I want to be inspired by how other women are acting out their faith through philanthropy. There is a lot of good you can learn from other people and we are putting that into practice at this event.

In thinking about turning talk into action, one of the ideas Andrea and I had was the creation of an interfaith giving circle that would support local causes. We hope to explore this and other ways to encourage understanding and collaboration among women of various faith traditions as a result of the conversations at the event.

This event is free and open to the public.

Learn more and RSVP here