Advancing Philanthropic Leadership

July 2018 – Present

Advancing Philanthropic Leadership

The Purpose

Aspiring philanthropic leaders have the opportunity to catalyze innovations to strengthen people, organizations, and communities around the world. While the potential for these innovations is vast, harnessing it takes leaders who have the willingness, capacity, and foresight to drive long-term change — ones able to create a shared vision within their organization while engaging and collaborating across sectors to achieve our shared aspirations. Investing in nonprofit leadership development is an effective way to equip the next generation at the helm of our vital nonprofits and foundations with the experience, approach, and skills necessary to guide their organizations toward positive outcomes.

Strengthening the Impact

In collaboration with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — the world’s first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy — The Patterson Foundation’s Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative encompasses a series of creative efforts to strengthen the capabilities of emerging philanthropic leaders. Within each of the endeavors, aspiring leaders have the opportunity to build their willingness, capacity, and foresight to incorporate innovative strategies for long-term change.

ENDEAVORS

Select any of the endeavors below to learn more about the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative’s work:

Fellows Program
TPF Beyond Alumni Network
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Elective: "Beyond the Check: The Patterson Foundation’s Approach to Innovative Philanthropy"
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Elective: "The Future of the Philanthropic Sector: Experiential Learning with The Patterson Foundation"
Nonprofit Internship Program

FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this program...

Why is The Patterson Foundation collaborating with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy on Advancing Philanthropic Leadership?

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is the world’s first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy. Since its inception, it has demonstrated a commitment to training and empowering students and practitioners to innovate and lead to create positive and lasting change in the world. This includes its growing bachelor’s, certificate, and master’s programs offering students a mix of theory and practice.

Who can strengthen their potential through the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative’s programming?

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy graduates seeking a year-long career-building opportunity to learn innovative philanthropic principles and share their expertise through engaging initiatives. Learn more about the Fellows Program.
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy students who aspire to learn about the future of the philanthropic sector through professional growth opportunities using The Patterson Foundation's initiatives. Learn more about "The Future of the Philanthropic Sector: Experiential Learning with The Patterson Foundation" course.
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy students who aspire to learn about The Patterson Foundation’s innovative approach to philanthropy. Learn more about the "Beyond the Check: The Patterson Foundation’s Approach to Innovative Philanthropy" course.
Early to mid-career professionals and others dedicated to investing in their own education through graduate programs offered in distance and executive formats that accommodate their work and geographic constraints. Learn about the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy's graduate programs.

What does The Patterson Foundation Fellows Program offer?

A one-year experience for talented early-career professionals interested in working in community, corporate, or private foundations
A career-building opportunity to learn from The Patterson Foundation while sharing the fellows’ expertise and ideas toward work creating long-term impact for people, organizations, and communities
A structured engagement with initiatives and operations through a mix of learning, action objectives, and managing strategic projects harnessing research, community engagement, and networks of cross-sector partnerships
One-to-one mentoring
Access to a network of innovative philanthropic leaders
Continued connection to TPF Fellows through the TPF Beyond alumni network

Why does The Patterson Foundation offer the Fellows Program?

The Patterson Foundation strengthens the efforts of people, organizations, and communities by focusing on issues that address mutual aspirations, foster wide participation, and encourage learning and sharing. The Patterson Foundation believes that creating a network of future philanthropic leaders who have the willingness, capacity, and foresight to incorporate innovative strategies for long-term change is both an opportunity and a responsibility with considerable impact. Furthermore, working with philanthropic leaders versed in leading-edge innovations facilitates The Patterson Foundation’s continued learning and sharing of best practices in philanthropy.

Why does The Patterson Foundation support jointly-offered courses at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy?

Through The Patterson Foundation’s unique position of having an unfettered charter, it can undertake work in ways others are not doing, cannot do, or will not do. In that spirit, supporting courses “Beyond the Check: The Patterson Foundation’s Approach to Innovative Philanthropy” and “The Future of the Philanthropic Sector: Experiential Learning with The Patterson Foundation” provide a lens on The Patterson Foundation’s initiatives, opening up possibilities for a new generation of leadership.

What graduate programs are offered by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and what are their requirements?

The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s graduate certificate and master’s programs include virtual/distance and executive formats that accommodate the work and geographic constraints of dedicated professionals.
These graduate program offerings currently include:

Learn more about these graduate program offerings, program requirements, and scholarship opportunities here.

Why does The Patterson Foundation connect early to mid-career professionals to graduate program opportunities at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy?

The Patterson Foundation understands that investing in nonprofit leadership development is an effective way to develop strong philanthropic leaders and strengthen the sector's capacity for driving lasting impact. To support aspiring nonprofit leaders in its home region, The Patterson Foundation is connecting them with graduate programs and learning opportunities from the world's first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy. Previous collaborations between The Patterson Foundation and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy have demonstrated the school's programs, faculty, and students' excellence.