Director of Research

Location Indianapolis

The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy seeks an ambitious, collaborative, and externally oriented leader to serve as Director of Research
. The Director will hold a Research Scientist/Research Professor
appointment with open rank
, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and will serve as a member of the School’s senior leadership team
.

The Director will lead the School’s research enterprise and help shape its next era of intellectual leadership, strategic growth, partnership, and impact. Working with an accomplished research team, faculty, School institutes and programs, Indiana University colleagues, and partners around the world, the Director will strengthen the School’s position as a global leader in research on philanthropy and generosity.

The School has an exceptional foundation on which to build, including signature research endeavors such as Giving USA research, the Philanthropy Panel Study, and the Global Philanthropy Indices
, along with a broad portfolio examining giving, volunteering, fundraising, philanthropic behavior, institutions, and civil society.

The next Director will strengthen these assets while identifying important new questions, partnerships, resources, and opportunities for growth. Central to the role will be deepening existing relationships and developing new local, national, and global partnerships; connecting the School’s research with faculty and expertise across the field; and ensuring that research is not only rigorous and respected, but used and useful
.

Provide strategic and intellectual leadership for the School’s research portfolio and professional research team, fostering a culture of rigor, collaboration, innovation, and impact.

Steward and strengthen signature research endeavors, including Giving USA research, the Philanthropy Panel Study, and the Global Philanthropy Indices
, while identifying emerging questions and opportunities where the School can provide distinctive leadership.

Encourage innovation in research methods, data, technology, and partnerships while maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and independence.

As a member of the School’s senior leadership team, contribute to broader strategy, priority-setting, resource development, and institutional leadership.

Make external partnership development a central component of the School’s research strategy.

Deepen relationships with existing funders and research partners while developing new relationships with foundations, nonprofits, corporations, associations, government entities, universities, research institutions, and other partners locally, nationally, and globally.

Build a strong pipeline of collaborative and externally supported research opportunities, including ambitious multi-year and multi-partner initiatives.

Work closely with the School’s Advancement and Professional Development teams to cultivate funders and partners and create connections among research, philanthropic leadership, professional learning, and practice.

Build strong partnerships with faculty and create opportunities for faculty expertise and the School’s professional research capabilities to reinforce one another.

Collaborate with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Women’s Philanthropy Institute, and Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy to advance complementary research, partnerships, dissemination, and engagement.

Connect the School with expertise across field, creating and joining strategically beneficial interdisciplinary…