Indianapolis— Nationally recognized expert in philanthropy, planned giving and the law of nonprofit organizations, Philip M. “Phil” Purcell has been named to the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) Hall of Fame. He will be inducted Oct. 15 during the CGP Conference 2025 in Indianapolis.
Purcell, an adjunct faculty member of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School (TFRS) at the school, is also an IU alumnus. CGP is recognizing Purcell for elevating professional standards through mentorship, advocacy and knowledge sharing across the gift planning community.
"I am deeply humbled by this honor. I have been truly inspired by all the donors, colleagues and charities that have I have served with or for,” said Purcell. “The work of planned giving to provide long-term support for charitable missions has been a most fulfilling career. My sincere thanks to all from whom I have learned!"
Purcell has been involved with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and TFRS for more than 25 years and teaches TFRS’s planned giving courses across the country. He has also been instrumental in shaping the development of its new Certificate in Planned Giving Management. He has designed and teaches a course on the law of nonprofit organizations for the master’s degree program of the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy, and he created the first online version for the course. He has taught the planned gift fundraising course for TFRS for 26 years and created the first online planned giving course for TFRS.
Purcell also has designed and teaches separate courses on the law of nonprofit organizations and the law of philanthropy for 21 years at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He teaches for the American Institute of Philanthropic Studies Certified Specialist in Planned Giving at California State University Long Beach.
“Phil is highly deserving of this honor recognizing the significant impact he has made, and continues to make, in the field of philanthropy,” said Amir Pasic, Ph.D., the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “I congratulate him on both the honor and his numerous contributions to philanthropy. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of planned giving professionals.”
The CGP honor recognizes Purcell’s 40-year career in planned giving and as counsel to nonprofits. He currently serves as the Director of Planned Giving for the Central Territory of The Salvation Army. In this role, he is the directional leader of over 30 planned giving officers in 11 states who close $80-90 million in planned gifts each year. He has held leadership planned giving roles in public and private higher education, a hospital foundation, an international Catholic ministry, and a leading community foundation.
Purcell has served as counsel on legal and fundraising matters to community foundations and all types of nonprofits throughout the U.S. He has been a Senior Consultant for the Heaton Smith Group, a national legacy planning firm, for 15 years. The editor of Planned Giving Today, a monthly national publication, Purcell also is on the editorial review board for Giving USA.
He has written chapters and articles, and been interviewed for articles, appearing in the Planned Giving Design Center, The Journal of Gift Planning, CASE Currents, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, Charitable Gifts of Noncash Assets, and other publications. He has spoken at hundreds of national, local, and organizational conferences, seminars, and webinars over his career, including professional continuing education programs. Purcell has served as counsel and expert witness in court cases involving nonprofit organizations and philanthropy.
A B.A. graduate of Wabash College, Purcell earned his M.P.A. degree from the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and his J.D. degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He was a Truman Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Alpha Alpha.
About the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy and 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, Ph.D., PhilD, certificate and professional development programs, its research and international programs, and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, Women’s Philanthropy Institute, and the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook.