Biography
Dr. Allison Grayson is Visiting Clinical Professor at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is known for demystifying complex policy ideas for diverse audiences. Her research, convenings, and resources often bridge the gap between existing academic knowledge and the emerging needs of nonprofit and government professionals – with a particular focus on actionable strategies. Allison’s areas of expertise span nonprofit management, public policy, governance, advocacy, civic engagement, public trust, and ethics. Since 2004, she has researched a wide range of nonprofit policy and advocacy practices, established multi-sector coalitions, and developed series of trainings and convenings to build the capacity of nonprofit leaders to solve complex problems. Allison also consults with universities, national associations, and local nonprofits on responding to trends impacting civil society and engaging in advocacy and the policy process.
Prior to joining the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Allison spent ten years leading research, policy analysis, and advocacy initiatives on behalf Independent Sector, the first national association of philanthropy and nonprofits. She spearheaded the organization’s research strategy, including projects focused on the “health” of the nonprofit sector, charitable giving policy, public trust, advocacy, and implications of tax, labor, and technology policies on nonprofit organizations. She also oversaw the organization’s visiting scholar program that collaborated with academics specializing in a range of nonprofit research areas, resulting in National Science Foundation support and three longitudinal research projects. In addition to research, Allison developed and analyzed public policies impacting nonprofits, which filled a critical sector need leading up to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in her analytical role, she served on advisory groups for the White House and Generosity Commission as well as developed an ethical policy analysis protocol that became a national model for other nonprofits. Allison regularly created educational materials and programming to help students, nonprofit professionals and policymakers better understand emerging nonprofit trends or build public policy skills. Examples of this programming include planning over 50 conferences/trainings and hosting regular briefings with international NGO delegates visiting with the U.S. Department of State. She also served as a regular guest lecturer for graduate students at Georgetown University, George Washington University, Harvard University, and University of Buffalo.
Earlier in her career, Allison analyzed policy and managed Congressional relationships on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Service’s Administration for Children and Families. Annual appropriations for her portfolio of programs totaled of $24 billion, including Temporary Assistance of Needy Families, Social Security Block Grant, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and six federal grant programs directly supporting nonprofit organizations. Allison also worked at state and local levels in Alabama, Minnesota and Washington through United Ways and state nonprofit associations. In these roles, she focused on a range of issues, such as disaster response, housing, and public health. Through this work, she secured a $10 million federal grant to support a local children’s health initiative; established multiple new chapters of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD); and created a city’s first annual Project Homeless Connect that served thousands of people in a single day. During this time, Allison also engaged in research on the advocacy participation of nonprofit board members, messaging to build public support to end homelessness, and the economic impact of nonprofit organizations at the state level.
Allison earned a Ph.D. in public policy from George Mason University and a Master of Public Policy from University of Minnesota. When she is not crusading on behalf of civil society, Allison is rediscovering her love of photography, attending concerts with her husband, and enlightening her daughters on the merits of 60’s music and Anne of Green Gables.
Education
- Ph.D., Public Policy, George Mason University
- M.P.P., Public Policy, University of Minnesota (Concentration: Nonprofit Management)
- B.S., Psychology, Birmingham-Southern College
Publications
- Abramson, Alan J., Allison L. Grayson and Jeffrey G. Moore. (2018, November 7). “Assessing the Vitality of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector: Toward a Nonprofit Health Index.” Nonprofit Policy Forum.
- Independent Sector. (2020, 2021, 2023). “Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector: Annual Report.”
- Independent Sector. (2021, 2022, 2023). “Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector: Quarterly Reports.”
- Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama. (2007). “Alabama Nonprofit Sector Economic Impact Report.”
Research Interests
- Health of the nonprofit sector
- Public policy process
- Advocacy, coalitions & collective action
- Ethics & values in public policy
- Nonprofit management
- Philanthropic practice
- Social capital & public trust
- Democracy & civic engagement
- Health, human service and cultural policy
Presentations
- “From Defense to Offense: Broadening Support for Nonprofit Sector Policy through Targeted Emotional Language.” ARNOVA/Independent Sector 14th Annual Symposium on Public Policy for Nonprofits, 2025
- “Reframing Equity in a New Political Environment,” CEO Circle of Color, 2024
- “Exploring the Decline of Advocacy and Public Engagement,” Independent Sector, 2023
- “Leave No Power on the Table: Connecting Civic Engagement to Mission,” Independent Sector, 2023
- “Emerging Strategies to Support Coalition Advocacy,” Independent Sector, 2023
- “What Does Rising Populism Mean for Philanthropy?,” United Philanthropy Forum, 2023
- “Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector,” Alabama Nonprofit Association, 2022
- “Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector,” National Health Council, 2018, 2019, 2022
- “Philanthropy’s Evolving Conversation on DAFs,” United Philanthropy Forum, 2022
- Public Policy Colloquium, Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Associations, 2022
- “Donor Privacy: What Does it Mean and What is at Stake?,” United Philanthropy Forum, “Strengthening our Democracy,” United Philanthropy Forum, 2021
- “Was the Fear Warranted? A Glimpse into the Early Effects of the Tax Policy Changes, “Association for Fundraising Professionals, 2019
- “Targeted Policy Messages on Charitable Giving,” United Way Worldwide, 2018