Jerre and Mary Joy Stead are being honored with an Indiana University Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy award from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The couple received the honor at an April 9ceremony in Indianapolis.
Strong, long-time supporters of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the Steads are being recognized for their continued generous support for the school and Indiana University and their impact on the field of philanthropy. In 2014, they and their family established the Stead Family Chair in International Philanthropy, currently held by award-winning global philanthropy scholar Pamala Wiepking, Ph.D. (Befitting the chair’s global nature, Wiepking is also a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.) The Stead Family Chair conducts research and translates new knowledge into improvements in the practice of international philanthropy. It educates new philanthropic leaders in the international arena and leads to new opportunities for education and training in international philanthropy.
A generous gift from the Steads also created the Jerre Stead and Mary Joy Stead Policy Research and Outreach Fund, which enables the school’s scholars to uncover new insights that increase understanding of philanthropy and help nonprofits and donors strengthen the way they carry out their philanthropy. It supports the school’s research and allows the new knowledge generated to be shared widely within the philanthropic sector and among those who make decisions affecting the sector. The fund also supports the work of the Stead Policy Fellow, a role currently held by nationally noted philanthropy policy expert Cindy M. Lott, Esq.
A widely renowned, accomplished leader in both business and philanthropy, Jerre Stead has served on the school's Board of Visitors since 2011 and is a lifetime member of the board. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Indiana University in 2018.
“Jerre and Mary Joy Stead are visionary, engaged philanthropists who are especially thoughtful about the ways they make an enduring difference through their expertise and resources,” said Amir Pasic, Ph.D., the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “We are grateful for their altruism, their wise insights and their commitment to advancing the study and understanding of philanthropy, and we’re delighted to celebrate their generosity in all its many forms.”
The Steads have long been committed to sharing their time and talents with others. Mary Joy and Jerre founded the Stead Foundation, which partners with nonprofits poised to make societal impact and to date has granted more than $400 million to healthcare, education, and faith-based organizations. In 2023, Jerre founded Stead Impact Ventures as an extension of the foundation’s commitment with the mission to invest with responsibility and purpose in innovators whose ideas will positively change the course of health and wellbeing. Jerre serves as the board chair of Stead Impact Ventures, and together, the Stead Foundation and Stead Impact Ventures create a perpetual relationship between impactful philanthropy and successive profitability.
Jerre Stead has chaired 16 capital drives for nonprofit organizations and has served on 36 corporate and 27 nonprofit boards. He is chairman of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute as well as chairman of the board of Garret Evangelical Seminary and he sits on the boards of the America Writers Museum and Guideposts. Jerre is chair emeritus at Clarivate after serving as executive chair and chief executive officer for more than three years. Jerre was the CEO of Churchill Capital Corp until its merger with Clarivate in May 2019. Prior to that he served as chairman and CEO of IHS Markit, Ltd. Prior to his leadership at IHS Markit, he led other highly successful technology and information companies such as Ingram Micro, Legent Corporation, AT&T Global Business Communications Systems, AT&T Global Information Solutions (NCR Corporation), NCR Japan, Square D, and Honeywell-Phillips Medical Electronics. He has also invested in nearly 40 startup companies.
Mary Joy Stead is a dedicated volunteer who has devoted her life to family and charitable causes. She has served on the University of Iowa Foundation Board of Directors since 1999 and serves on the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation Board of Directors. The couple currently serve as honorary chairs of the “Together, Hawkeyes” $3 billion comprehensive campaign for the University of Iowa.
“It is a great pleasure to support the work of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and its experts,” Jerre and Mary Joy Stead said. “Its research and expertise have a meaningful impact on how people around the world understand and engage with philanthropy and provide philanthropic and policy leaders with top-quality data and analysis to inform their policy making.”
Following the award event, Jerre Stead presented a special guest lecture on the Indiana University Indianapolis campus, offering leadership insights and lessons drawn from his experience in the business and philanthropic sectors.
Through the Spirit of Philanthropy Award, the Indiana University Indianapolis campus comes together to honor individuals, corporations and foundations that have contributed to its programs through gifts and voluntary service. The recognition is a reminder of how important philanthropy and volunteerism are to the Indiana University Indianapolis campus, community, and civic lives.
About the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University 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 X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram and “Like” us on Facebook.