Reconnecting with the Why behind Philanthropy

Editor's Note: Since 2018, The Patterson Foundation (TPF) has collaborated with Indiana University 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 have embraced the opportunity to continue learning and grow as philanthropic professionals, with Josephine Eisenberg and Stacy Sternberg recently completing their graduate studies.

Earning my Master’s in Philanthropic Studies is a milestone that means more to me now than I could have fully understood when I first began the program. Although I have more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy graduate program challenged me to think about philanthropy in a much deeper and more intentional way. What I did not realize when I started was how much more there was to understand about philanthropy.

One of my first homework assignments as a graduate student led to one of the most personally meaningful realizations of the program. We were asked to reflect on where our understanding of giving and volunteering began and how those early lessons still shape how we think about philanthropy today.

Writing my philanthropic autobiography was the first time I realized that my understanding of giving and generosity began long before I ever worked in the nonprofit sector. It began when I was a little girl, and my grandmother taught me about tzedakah, the Hebrew word for philanthropy. It began with my mother modeling generosity by consistently going above and beyond to support those who were in need or struggling. It was also shaped by my experience as a single mom, when I found myself on the receiving end of help for a while.

That assignment reminded me that philanthropy is deeply personal and is often shaped by our lived experiences, the people who influence us, and the values we carry with us. This realization changed how I understand generosity and, in turn, how I approach my work with nonprofits and donors. I now remind the nonprofit leaders I work with that behind every donor’s decision to give and every act of service, there is most likely a personal story that influences why they care and how they choose to help. That understanding has become an important part of the strategy I use when advising my clients. Fundraising is not just about asking for support, it is also about understanding and honoring why people choose to give in the first place.  

The graduate program allowed me to see philanthropy through a much broader lens. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to take a deep dive into the why behind the work I love so much. Each course challenged me to connect theory to practice and gave me a stronger foundation for understanding the work I’ve been doing for years. Whether I was studying ethics, economics, fundraising, nonprofit law, humanitarian aid, or the history of the sector, or learning about philanthropy in the United States or in Europe through the Study Abroad program, each experience helped me better understand the complexity and responsibility that comes along with the philanthropic sector.

I also had many “aha” moments during the program. I learned to look more critically at who gets invited into philanthropic decision-making and how communities are either included or left out. I have a much clearer understanding of how traditional, top-down models of giving can create power imbalances. I also have a stronger understanding of how funders, nonprofit leaders, and boards can either strengthen organizations or unintentionally limit the work they want to support. I am now more confident sharing with others that strong nonprofit work cannot be sustained by passion alone. It also requires effective infrastructure, thoughtful strategy, and ethical decision-making.

The LFSOP faculty had a big impact on my overall graduate experience. They brought unique perspectives and generously shared their incredible professional experiences with us. Each professor encouraged me to be curious and think more critically. They were also always willing to have additional conversations that helped me connect academic learning to my consulting work. I appreciated how they encouraged students to question their thinking, consider different perspectives, and become more comfortable asking difficult questions.

Now that I have graduated, I plan to continue my consulting work in the philanthropic sector and explore opportunities with private foundations and organizations with an international or global focus. I’m even more passionate now about helping organizations build capacity by strengthening their systems and infrastructure and advising executive leaders as they develop strategies for long-term sustainability.

The graduate program helped me reconnect with why this work is so important to me. And it helped me connect my years of practical nonprofit experience with the academic theories, research, history and a broader understanding of philanthropy. I am grateful to The Patterson Foundation for making this opportunity possible, to Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy for an incredible graduate experience that was a lifetime dream of mine, and to Stacy Sternberg – my study buddy, smarty-pants classmate - who was by my side throughout this remarkable four-year journey.