Biography
Anthony L. Heaven is an Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where he brings a wealth of experience from over a decade in the philanthropic sector. Before joining the Lilly Family School, Dr. Heaven held roles in donor relations, fundraising, and philanthropic consulting, culminating in his position as Vice President and Higher Education Practice Group Leader at Graham-Pelton. His career is marked by a commitment to advancing the discourse on philanthropy and justice, a commitment reflected in his extensive portfolio of conference presentations, panel discussions, and invited lectures.
Dr. Heaven has been a prominent voice at institutions and conferences nationwide, including CASE conferences—where he earned the designation of Faculty Star, the Advancement Lab, The University of Texas at Austin, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Florida, Arizona State University, and the University of Rochester, among others.
A proud graduate of Stillman College, a Historically Black College (HBCU), Dr. Heaven earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion/Theology. He went on to pursue advanced studies at The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned both a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership. His doctoral research, which received the Dissertation of the Year Award from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, offers a critical examination of the lived experiences of African American development officers at predominantly White institutions. Dr. Heaven’s scholarly contributions and leadership continue to influence the field of philanthropy, particularly in advancing equity and justice within the sector.
Education
- The University of Texas at Austin, Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership (Specialization: Public Affairs)
- The University of Texas at Austin, Master of Education
- Stillman College, Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion/Theology
Certificates:
- Cornell University, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate (2024)
Research Interests
- The Intersection of Philanthropy/Justice and its Impact on Society
- The Experiences of Underrepresented Philanthropy Workers through an Intersectional Lens
- Leveraging Philanthropy for Power (Political/Social/Personal) and the Impact on Fundraisers, Beneficiaries, and other Donors
- The Experiences of Underrepresented Donors in Historically White Philanthropic Spaces and Spaces that Mirror their Social Identities
Honors and Awards
- CASE District III Faculty Star (2020)
- AABHE Dissertation of the Year (2017)
Presentations
- Guest lecturer for UNC-Charlotte’s Fundamentals of Educational Leadership; Topic: The Experiences of African American Gift Officers and Ethical Issues in Philanthropy (March 2023, October 2023)
- Guest lecturer for the University of Mississippi’s Honors 101 and 102; Topic: Inclusive Philanthropy and Research Implications (September 2019, February 2020, September 2020)
- Panelist for the Association of American Universities’ Chief Diversity Officers Meeting: Best Practices for Creating an Inclusive Fundraising Operation. (2023)
- Panelist for the Planned Giving Roundtable of Arizona: Diversifying Planned Giving Efforts. (2022)
- Panelist for Johns Hopkins’ Advancement Team: Understanding Racism in Development. (2021)
- Keynote for UT Austin’s Development Town Hall Meeting: Supporting Diverse Gift Officers. (2020)
- Keynote for Tuskegee’s Alumni Association’s Regional Conference: Supporting Multi-generational Giving. (2017)