INDIANAPOLIS—The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University will honor the Kresge Foundation at the annual Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) Spirit of Philanthropy Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 26th in Indianapolis. The Indiana University Foundation, IU Indianapolis and the Center will sponsor the event.
The Spirit of Philanthropy awards recognize individuals, corporations, and foundations that have supported and contributed to university programs and departments through their gifts and voluntary service.
Caroline Altman Smith, program officer for education and an alumna of the Center on Philanthropy, will accept the award on behalf of the Kresge Foundation.
“The Center on Philanthropy is delighted to honor the Kresge Foundation for its invaluable support of our work,” said Patrick M. Rooney, executive director of the Center. “Because of the Kresge Foundation, more students will be able to pursue an education that makes a difference and more nonprofit professionals will receive training to strengthen their organizations. Additionally, new researchers will be able to develop insights to help human services nonprofits serve their constituents more effectively.”
With grants from the Kresge Foundation, the Center is expanding access to philanthropy education and training through scholarships, making curriculum more accessible by moving it online, advancing and disseminating new knowledge on human services philanthropy and nonprofits, and developing a group of emerging scholars who have the ability to conduct translational research in human services philanthropy.
“We are quite proud to have two IU Indianapolis graduates at the Kresge Foundation,” said Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson. “Through them, all of us at the foundation have firsthand exposure to the excellence of the Center on Philanthropy’s graduate and certificate programs. We are pleased to be able to support this essential area of study.”
Two Center on Philanthropy alumnae are employed by the Kresge Foundation. Caroline Altman Smith holds a master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University. She oversees domestic grantmaking for the foundation’s education team, which awards funding to higher education institutions and national nonprofit organizations working to improve access and success for underserved students in undergraduate education.
Mandy J. Valentine earned a master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University. She is program associate for the environment program at the Kresge Foundation. Valentine maintains a grant portfolio, conducts research and contributes to special projects for the environment team.
About the Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation is a $3.1 billion private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations by creating access and opportunity in underserved communities, improving the health of low-income people, supporting artistic expression, increasing college achievement, assisting in the revitalization of Detroit, and advancing methods for dealing with global climate change. The foundation works in six program areas: arts and culture, community development, education, the environment, health, and human services. In 2010, the Board of Trustees approved 481 awards totaling $158 million; $134 million was paid out to grantees over the course of the year. For more information, visit www.kresge.org.
About the Center on Philanthropy
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, a part of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis, is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide through research, teaching, training and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu
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