New Board Member Feature: Genevieve Shaker
Dr. Genevieve Shaker, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Dr. Genevieve Shaker
Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies
Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
New Board Member Feature: Genevieve Shaker
Dr. Gen Shaker, an Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, holds the prestigious Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership. Her journey in academia is deeply rooted in her passion for understanding and enhancing the philanthropic landscape. As reflected by several awards for mentoring others, Dr. Shaker also has a well-known personal reputation for the professional development of aspiring scholars and fundraisers.
Dr. Shaker’s research primarily focuses on donor behavior, fundraising practices, the role of philanthropy in higher education, and the role of higher education in advancing the common good. She is known for studies on how academic professionals contribute to philanthropic activities, bridging a unique connection between education and philanthropy. Her many publications benefit from her commitment to research-based practices and are a testament to her dedication in bringing the best academe has to offer to bear on society. Through scholarship and public presentations, she has contributed to the understanding of fundraising strategies and donor relations in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Shaker seeks to apply the best insights from research and practice to policy insights and development.
Dr. Shaker’s academic work is grounded in 20 years of work as an advancement officer for the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts, where she oversaw the school’s $20 million-dollar contribution to an overall $3.9 billion university-wide campaign. This experience has informed Dr. Shaker’s contributions to translating research into practice, drawn from practitioners’ interests, concerns, and challenges. In alignment with the goals expressed through the creation of the Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership, she is contributing to the development of fundraising leaders is as an active teacher, collaborator, and research advisor for The Fund Raising School, the Lilly Family School’s professional education program. Professor Shaker has reaffirmed the importance of collaborations between academics and practitioners as a lasting legacy of Campbell’s interest in encouraging research-based practice.
Apart from her academic pursuits, Dr. Shaker is actively involved in community service and volunteer work, embodying the principles she advocates through her research and teaching. She is involved with various nonprofit organizations, where she often lends her expertise in fundraising and philanthropic strategy. She is the current chair of the Greater Indianapolis Board of the American Red Cross, where she has led both the philanthropy and governance committees, a member of the community advisory committee of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, a frequent advisor to nonprofits in the city, and an anonymous volunteer with several community service organizations. This hands-on experience enriches her teaching, allowing her to provide her students with a blend of academic theory and practical insights.
Through her combined roles as an educator, researcher, and volunteer, Dr. Shaker is helping to shape the future of philanthropic studies and inspiring a new generation of leaders in the nonprofit sector to approach their work with knowledge, innovation, and compassion.