Celebrating the Completion of My Philanthropic Studies Certificate

Editor's Note: Since 2018, The Patterson Foundation has collaborated with Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (LFSOP) through its Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative. Recognizing the value of academic and professional educational experiences offered by LFSOP, the Foundation is providing opportunities for its staff and consultants to enroll in LFSOP graduate and professional development courses through its Tuition/Fees Reimbursement Program. TPFers, including Lyndsey Smith, Carrie Miley, Alicia Exantus, Josephine Eisenberg, and Stacy Sternberg, are pushing beyond their respective professional and personal comfort levels and are successfully completing challenging LFSOP courses.

This semester marks an important milestone in my education journey. I officially completed my Philanthropic Studies Certificate Program at the Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. What started as a personal and professional commitment to deepen my understanding of philanthropy has turned into a transformative experience that has shaped the way I see giving, fundraising, and the broader impact of generosity in our communities.

When I first started this journey a little over a year ago, I wasn’t sure where it would take me. I carried a little bit of impostor syndrome at the start of each class, wondering if I truly belonged in a program filled with classmates who had such experience. Each new course felt overwhelming at first, but slowly, I began to see that while my experiences may not look the same as those around me, my drive and yearning to build stronger communities are just as valuable. That realization has been one of the most powerful lessons of all.

There were also challenges along the way, adapting to new teaching styles, balancing different expectations, and learning to be flexible in my approach. Each challenge, however, became a lesson in resilience and growth, reminding me that true learning often happens when we step outside our comfort zones.

My final semester before earning my certificate was both challenging and inspiring. I enrolled in three courses, totaling five credits, that opened my world into fundraising and the impacts of giving:

• Behind the Scenes of Giving USA
  This course offered a deep dive into one of the most trusted annual reports on charitable giving in the United States. It was eye-opening to see how data and trends tell a larger story about who gives, how they give, and why it matters. The opportunity to work closely with the research behind Giving USA helped me better appreciate the importance of transparency, accuracy, and storytelling in philanthropy. It also gave us the opportunity to examine the current year’s trends and even build our own mini dataset, which brought the research process to life in a hands-on, practical way.
  
  
• Principles and Practices of Fundraising
  This course provided practical tools, strategies, and real-world examples. From understanding donor motivations to building authentic relationships, I walked away with not just theory, but applicable knowledge that will make me a stronger, equity-minded fundraiser.
  
  We talked often about the power of a story, but also about the importance of people being given the space to share their own stories. This lesson kept coming back to me throughout the course and ultimately shaped the direction of my final project. For our assignment, we were asked to analyze a current organization’s fundraising model and provide constructive, data-driven suggestions to help it grow. For me, grounding those recommendations in the authentic voices and lived experiences of the people they serve felt essential.
  
  
• Athletics and Their Giving
  This course gave me a unique perspective on the intersection of sports and philanthropy. Exploring how athletics inspire charitable giving and community engagement broadened my understanding of how philanthropy weaves through different parts of society. Whether through alumni giving, fan support, or athlete-led initiatives, athletics continues to be a powerful force of influence.

Completing this certificate is more than an academic accomplishment, it’s a step forward in my ongoing commitment to understand philanthropy and practice it in my everyday life. I’m grateful to those who have pushed me to think critically and act with intention. Most importantly, I’m excited to carry this knowledge into my daily work and life, strengthening connections, inspiring others, and contributing to lasting change.

What’s next? This fall, I’ll continue on to the master’s program at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. This feels both like a continuation and an expansion of the passion and purpose that began with the certificate program, and I can’t wait to keep learning and growing in this field.

I am especially thankful to The Patterson Foundation for making this opportunity possible and for their support throughout the journey. Their belief in the power of education and investment in people is truly encouraging. This is just the beginning, and I look forward to discovering where this path in philanthropy will lead.