Biography
Frances G. Brooks, MAOL, CFRE, is a higher education fundraiser, mental health and arts advocate, and community volunteer.
As a leader of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I lead a team of professional fundraisers to initiate and sustain philanthropic relationships. Collaboratively, we steward alumni and investors to engage a global community advancing the understanding and practice of philanthropy.
Our institutes—The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, and the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative—are each dedicated to researching, educating, and advancing new conversations about crucial aspects of philanthropy.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Huntington University in Communications: Print Media and her master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Organizational Leadership. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a 2023 Tobias Fellow at IU Kelley School of Business. A graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne, 2020, she formerly served locally as the primary external relations officer at IU Fort Wayne.
She collaborates with community leaders and teams across the university and the IU Foundation to build upon existing strengths and identify new innovations necessary to maximize private support for students and philanthropic research. Her efforts showcase a deep commitment to Indiana and beyond with a focus on high-priority, community-identified needs to address critical issues, stimulate the region’s economic vitality, and support talent retention.
Her experience is built from work across health and education sectors, specifically through philanthropy at Parkview Health Foundation; Lasting Change, Inc; McMillen Health; and Fort Wayne Newspapers, as well as formerly working in communications and marketing, media relations, and operations.
Wife of Michael and mom of two college-aged daughters, her family attends Avalon Missionary Church. An avid reader and travel bug, she plans to see rest of the lower 48 states before retirement… 5 to go!
Publication
- Brooks, Frances; Leas, Heather. (2021) How Parkview Foundation Pivoted, and Succeeded, in Online Auction Fundraising. AHP Healthcare Philanthropy, 49(2), 51-57.
Education
- B.A., Journalism Huntington University
- M.A., Organizational Leadership Indiana Wesleyan University
- Tobias Leadership Fellow