LGBTQ+ donors are a distinct and emerging philanthropic constituency in higher education. This chapter explores how LGBTQ+ donors engage with higher education institutions and how these institutions have adapted their advancement strategies to cultivate them. Drawing on existing research and interviews with advancement professionals, the authors explore who LGBTQ+ donors are, their motivations for giving, and how their philanthropy manifests in the higher education context. Key findings indicate that LGBTQ+ donors are influenced by both identity-based factors and broader philanthropic motivations, and campus climate and student experiences play a significant role in LGBTQ+ alumni giving. This research contributes to the growing scholarship on LGBTQ+ philanthropy in higher education and offers valuable insights for advancement professionals, including the importance of recognizing intersectionality, aligning institutional values with LGBTQ+ equality, and refining data collection practices to better engage LGBTQ+ donors.

Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D., joined the Johnson Center in September 2024 as the second holder of the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for family philanthropy. She previously held a faculty position and directed the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University and was the Visiting Eileen Lamb O’Gara Fellow in Women’s Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dr. Dale has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications and reports for both scholarly and practitioner audiences, which have been published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, Voluntary Sector Review, The Foundation Review, Philanthropy and Education, and several prominent edited volumes. Her scholarship has focused on social justice philanthropy, women’s giving and giving to women’s and girls’ causes, LGBTQ+ philanthropy, and couples’ charitable giving, as well as gender and the fundraising profession. Ultimately, Dr. Dale seeks to understand the power and potential of philanthropy, the role of identity in giving, and the role of philanthropy in contributing to a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

Elizabeth J. Dale’s contributions to the Johnson Center for Philanthropy’s 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2025 provide timely insights into the evolving landscape of philanthropy.

Her first chapter, “More Foundations Opt for Planned Lifespans and Spend-Down Strategies” explores the growing trend of foundations deciding on a strategic spend down, highlighting how prominent figures like Warren Buffett are reshaping the norms of perpetual giving. By examining both limited-life and spend-down foundations, Dale discusses the implications of accelerated grantmaking on philanthropic impact and strategy, noting how these approaches challenge traditional endowment models.

In her second chapter, “The Movement to Fund Democracy is Learning Important Lessons,” Dale analyzes the rising investments in democracy-related funding, particularly in response to increasing concerns about election integrity and polarization in the United States. She traces the surge in grants supporting voting rights, informed citizenry, and civil discourse since the 2016 election cycle, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities facing funders in this critical area. Dale’s analysis not only addresses the complexities of funding democracy efforts but also raises essential questions about philanthropy’s role in safeguarding civil society.

Together, these chapters reflect the overarching themes of 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2025, which examines the sector’s response to societal challenges, the evolving role of funders, and the strategies shaping the future of philanthropy. Dale’s contributions add depth to the volume’s exploration of how philanthropic practices can adapt to meet urgent demands for equity and democratic integrity.

Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D., joined the Johnson Center in September 2024 as the second holder of the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for family philanthropy. She previously held a faculty position and directed the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University and was the Visiting Eileen Lamb O’Gara Fellow in Women’s Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dr. Dale has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications and reports for both scholarly and practitioner audiences, which have been published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, Voluntary Sector Review, The Foundation Review, Philanthropy and Education, and several prominent edited volumes. Her scholarship has focused on social justice philanthropy, women’s giving and giving to women’s and girls’ causes, LGBTQ+ philanthropy, and couples’ charitable giving, as well as gender and the fundraising profession. Ultimately, Dr. Dale seeks to understand the power and potential of philanthropy, the role of identity in giving, and the role of philanthropy in contributing to a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

Maya Hemachandra, M.P.A.
Adjunct Faculty
Nonprofit Leadership
Seattle University

This national study examines the adoption of Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) practices across U.S. nonprofit organizations. Proposed in 2019, CCF is a set of principles developed by people of color to align fundraising with movements for race, equity, and social justice. Based on survey responses from 283 organizations and in-depth interviews with 14 fundraising professionals, the research revealed both promising developments and persistent challenges in transforming established fundraising approaches.

Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D., joined the Johnson Center in September 2024 as the second holder of the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for family philanthropy. She previously held a faculty position and directed the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University and was the Visiting Eileen Lamb O’Gara Fellow in Women’s Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dr. Dale has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications and reports for both scholarly and practitioner audiences, which have been published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, Voluntary Sector Review, The Foundation Review, Philanthropy and Education, and several prominent edited volumes. Her scholarship has focused on social justice philanthropy, women’s giving and giving to women’s and girls’ causes, LGBTQ+ philanthropy, and couples’ charitable giving, as well as gender and the fundraising profession. Ultimately, Dr. Dale seeks to understand the power and potential of philanthropy, the role of identity in giving, and the role of philanthropy in contributing to a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

Maya Hemachandra’s mission is to create champions for social change. Her approach blends philanthropy, strategy, and compassion to engage individuals and organizations in addressing poverty and oppression in the Pacific Northwest. Over her 20-year career, she has raised millions of dollars in philanthropic and volunteer support for human service and social justice organizations. She is the owner of Sambar Nonprofit Solutions where she helps nonprofit organizations align policies and practices with their anti-racist values. She holds an M.P.A. from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation.

Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D.
Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy
Grand Valley State University

This chapter, featured in Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy: How Democratizing Decision-Making Shifts Power to Communities, discusses how Pride Foundation, a public foundation serving the LGBTQ+ community, rethought its Community Grants Program as part of a broader institutional commitment to racial equity. It details what the transition away from a traditional, application-based grantmaking model looked like in real time during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and raises important questions for other foundations to answer when aligning their grantmaking with an equity lens. One of those questions is: Under what circumstances should established foundations explore and adopt alternative approaches to grantmaking such as participatory grantmaking and trust-based philanthropy? This chapter discusses how Pride Foundation ultimately adopted a trust-based philanthropy approach, which centers mutually accountable relationships between funders and grantees and shifts power away from funders to consider grantees’ needs.

Elizabeth J. Dale, Ph.D., joined the Johnson Center in September 2024 as the second holder of the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for family philanthropy. She previously held a faculty position and directed the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University and was the Visiting Eileen Lamb O’Gara Fellow in Women’s Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dr. Dale has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications and reports for both scholarly and practitioner audiences, which have been published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, Voluntary Sector Review, The Foundation Review, Philanthropy and Education, and several prominent edited volumes. Her scholarship has focused on social justice philanthropy, women’s giving and giving to women’s and girls’ causes, LGBTQ+ philanthropy, and couples’ charitable giving, as well as gender and the fundraising profession. Ultimately, Dr. Dale seeks to understand the power and potential of philanthropy, the role of identity in giving, and the role of philanthropy in contributing to a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.