Thought leader Emmett Carson, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, is keynote speaker
People from communities of color and other diverse populations have strong but often underrepresented philanthropic traditions. They are also underrepresented in the leadership and staff of nonprofit organizations and the philanthropic sector.
On March 2, a Diversity and Philanthropy Summit will be held by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to better understand and explore these issues and how they can be overcome. Nonprofit professionals and volunteers, scholars and the public will discuss diversity, leadership and philanthropy, including what is needed to increase diversity and what can be achieved through more deliberate research, education and outreach.
Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, visiting fellow at the school, and an international thought leader in the field of philanthropy, is the keynote speaker. Carson is an authority on issues of social justice, public accountability and African American giving who writes and speaks frequently about issues of diversity in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
“Nonprofit organizations and the sector as a whole need to attract more people of diverse backgrounds to work in and provide successful leadership for philanthropy. To do that, we need to better understand and address the obstacles and opportunities,” said Amir Pasic, Ph.D., the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the school. “Diversity brings a wealth of perspectives and practices that create stronger, more sustainable and more effective nonprofits. Diversity is also at the core of learning and discovering.”
The summit will be an open conversation on these topics and on broader issues of diversity in philanthropy. In addition to the keynote address, there will be panel discussions on research and scholarship about diversity and on leadership.
The research panel will discuss what is known and what research is needed, and explore current efforts to foster diversity in the humanities and higher education. The panelists are:
- Tyrone Freeman, Ph.D., assistant professor of philanthropic studies, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D., director of impact and research, Lumina Foundation
- Makeba Morgan Hill, Ed.D., deputy to the president and chief planner, Andrew Mellon Foundation
- Una Osili, Ph.D., director of research, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Leadership opportunities and challenges for diversity in philanthropy will be the focus of the second panel. The panelists are:
- Nelson Colon, Ed.D., president and CEO, Puerto Rico Community Foundation
- Ben Maulbeck, president, Funders for LGBTQ Issues
- Debra Mesch, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute and Eileen Lamb O’Gara Chair in Women’s Philanthropy, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The event will be held at the Madame Walker Theatre, 617 Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis. It is made possible by the generosity of USA Funds.
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter.