301 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Biography
Genevieve G. Shaker, Ph.D., is a professor of philanthropic studies and the Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In her two decades as university fundraising and communications professional, she helped Indiana University connect with supporters and achieve significant goals.
Dr. Shaker’s research explores fundraising, the fundraising profession, donor-fundraiser relationships, workplace giving, and the philanthropic dimensions of higher education. Her work often bridges scholarship and practice, with books including Faculty Work and the Public Good, Fundraising Principles for Faculty and Academic Leaders, and the widely used textbook Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th edition). She is associate editor of the journal Philanthropy & Education.
In the classroom, she emphasizes experiential learning and inclusive pedagogy, developing courses such as Giving and Volunteering in America, Individual Donor Motivations, and Celebrity Philanthropy. As an instructor for The Fund Raising School, she is recognized for her excellence in professional education. Dr. Shaker is a frequent speaker and contributor to public scholarship through podcasts, workshops, and media commentary.
Professor Shaker has received national, community, and university accolades for teaching, research, and service. She serves on advisory and editorial boards and volunteers with several community organizations, including the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis.
Education
- Ph.D., Indiana University (Bloomington), Higher Education Administration
- M.A., Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Philanthropic Studies
- B.A. summa cum laude, Minnesota State University—Moorhead, History
Courses Taught
- Giving and Volunteering in America
- Celebrity philanthropy
- Donor motivation and engagement I
- Readings in philanthropic studies
- Learning by giving
- Introduction to philanthropic fundraising
Publications
- Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th edition). Wiley.
- Turnover intention and job tenure of US fundraisers. Journal of Philanthropy & Marketing.
- A grounded theory study of major gift fundraising relationships in US higher education. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
- Fundraising Principles for Faculty and Academic Leaders. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
- Analyzing three decades of philanthropic giving to U.S. higher education (1988-2018). Philanthropy & Education
- Professional identity and the determinants of fundraisers’ charitable behavior. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
- Teaching philanthropy: Developing critical and compassionate approaches to giving and receiving. In Teaching Nonprofit Management.
- I gave at the office: A review of workplace giving research, theory, and practice. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing.
- Teaching about celebrity and philanthropy: A case study of backwards course design. Journal of Nonprofit Education & Leadership
- Understanding higher education fundraisers in the United States. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing
- Faculty Work and the Public Good: Philanthropy, Engagement, and Academic Professionalism. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University
- What works at work? Towards an integrative model examining workplace campaign strategies. Nonprofit Management and Leadership
- The public good, productivity and faculty work: Individual effort and social value. TIAA Institute Higher Education Series: Understanding Academic Productivity
- Higher education, community engagement, and the global public good. Special 5th anniversary issue of Higher Learning Research Communications
- Workplace giving in universities: A U.S. case study at Indiana University. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
Research Interests
- Higher education advancement
- The fundraising profession
- Major gift fundraising
- Intersections of philanthropy, professionalism, and the public good
- Philanthropy education
Honors and Awards
- IU Indianapolis Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentor (2022)
- Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2013, 2015, 2022)
- Maynard K. Hine Award, IU Indianapolis Office of Alumni Relations (2021)
- Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Undergraduate Teaching Award (2019)
- Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Honorable Mention (for Faculty Work and the Public Good) (2017)
- Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Distinguished Alumnus (2015)
- IU Indianapolis Outstanding Woman Leader Award—Newcomer Faculty (2015)
- Indianapolis Business Journal, Forty Under 40 (2015)
- Emerging Scholar, Association for Fundraising Professionals (2015)
- Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award, Association for Institutional Research (2013)
- Bobby Wright Dissertation of the Year, Association for the Study of Higher Education (2009)
Other Activities
- Fellow, TIAA Institute
- Research Fellow, Tzedakah Lab (Columbia University)
- TRIP Scholar, IU Indianapolis Center for Translating Research to Practice
- Participant, AAC&U/Aspen Institute Wye Faculty Seminar
- Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals Research Council
- Faculty, The Fund Raising School
- Chair, Board of Directors; Chair, Governance Committee; Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis