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New Doctoral Degree Program for Practitioners Will Prepare Nonprofit, Philanthropy Professionals to Advance Careers, Increase Social Impact

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to Offer Online Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership

A new professional doctoral degree program for senior leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector will be offered by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IU Indianapolis beginning with the fall 2023 semester.

The Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership, believed to be a first-of-its-kind professional leadership degree for the sector, was approved today by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the final step in its approval. The Indiana University Board of Trustees approved the program at its October 2021 meeting.

Indiana University and IU Indianapolis pioneered the field of Philanthropic Studies and created the world’s first traditional Ph.D., master’s and bachelor’s degrees in that field. Building on that legacy, this new doctoral program will provide curious, veteran practitioners who want to advance their leadership with a top-quality educational experience tailored to help them become innovative senior executives and thought leaders in a wide range of philanthropic arenas.

A doctorate for practitioners

Different from a traditional Ph.D. degree, which typically prepares graduates for academic positions, the Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership focuses on applying new and existing knowledge, education and professional experience to produce actionable insights that advance the practice of philanthropy and deliver social impact.

“By combining the best of education, research and professional practice, students in this new doctoral degree will extend the educational legacy of IU Indianapolis as they strengthen their ability to raise awareness of crucial issues in our society, improve outcomes and build community at all levels,” said Nasser H. Paydar, chancellor of IU Indianapolis and executive vice president of Indiana University.

All courses will be online, and the format is designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals. The school anticipates beginning to accept student applications for the Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership in the fourth quarter of 2022. A director for the program is being recruited currently.

Addressing the leadership gap

“There is a real need for qualified senior executives in the philanthropic sector, which continues to face a significant leadership gap,” said Amir Pasic, the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “The degree will help accelerate talent development for the sector and strengthen the capabilities of a diverse range of exceptional, high-performing thinkers and doers to become adaptive, transformational leaders.”

The requirements for prospective students will include a completed master’s degree, at least five years of meaningful leadership experience, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing social good. The program will welcome people from the corporate world, government and other sectors in addition to those in the philanthropic sector.

Completion of the 48-credit-hour degree program is expected to take about three years, with two years of coursework and a year of project work. In lieu of a dissertation, students will develop a final applied project that translates research into actionable strategies to solve real, complex problems for an organization or an aspect of the sector.

Leaders helping leaders

“A particular benefit is that the same group of students will be together throughout the program, so they will be learning with and from their peers—other leaders with experience in various fields in the philanthropic sector and beyond,” said Patrick M. Rooney, executive associate dean for academic programs at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “The school is a true community, and this is an additional way in which students will have ongoing support inside and outside the classroom.”

“The Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership was developed with the leadership of our own faculty based on extensive consultation with leaders in the field of philanthropy, as well as the input of advisory boards and students,” Pasic continued. “We thank them, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the IU Indianapolis Graduate Office and IU Indianapolis and IU leadership for supporting this innovative degree program. We appreciate the initial expressions of interest we’ve received from many prospective students and we look forward to welcoming our first group of students.”

Indiana University established the world’s first school dedicated solely to teaching and research about philanthropy, and has been recognized internationally as a leading source of groundbreaking education and research for more than three decades.

More information about the Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership is available at https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/academics/PhilD.html.

About the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IU Indianapolis 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 undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional development programs, its research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram and “Like” us on Facebook.

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