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News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Patrick Rooney to lead IU Center on Philanthropy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- Patrick M. Rooney, Ph.D., has been selected as the next executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University following a nationwide search, Charles R. Bantz, chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), announced today (June 3).

"Patrick Rooney is the ideal person to lead the Center on Philanthropy into the future," Bantz said. "In this exciting era of new ideas and new directions in philanthropy, Patrick's leadership, research expertise and passion for improving philanthropy will enable the Center to play a leading international role in philanthropy's future."

Rooney is a nationally respected leader in the nonprofit sector, an accomplished scholar, educator and author, and one of the nation's foremost experts in philanthropy research. He has served as the Center's interim executive director since September 2008.

"Philanthropy is at the heart of meeting people's needs, enriching their lives and uniting communities. The Center on Philanthropy equips the people involved philanthropy to carry out those vital missions," Rooney said. "I am honored to have been chosen to lead this Center, which has made so many important contributions to philanthropy, and to have the opportunity to take it to new levels of leadership and service to nonprofits, donors and volunteers."

As the Center's first full-time director of research, Rooney created its formal in-house research program, building it into one of the premier philanthropy research organizations in the nation. He also served as the Center's chief operating officer for two years. A professor of Philanthropic Studies and Economics at IUPUI, Rooney formerly was special assistant to the Indiana University vice president for long-range planning and chancellor of IUPUI and simultaneously served as assistant dean for academic programs for Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus.

"These are challenging times in the nonprofit sector, and there is tremendous energy and excitement at the Center for helping philanthropy overcome those challenges to change lives and communities," Rooney said. "The unique synergy among the Center's education, research and training programs and professional practice equips nonprofits to operate more efficiently, effectively and transparently, generate engagement and trust, and build their capacity to make a difference. I am looking forward to working with the Center's outstanding board of visitors, donors, faculty, staff, alumni and students to advance this important work."

"From providing thought leadership on the nonprofit sector's biggest issues to educating and training individual nonprofit professionals, the Center simultaneously helps shape and serve philanthropy around the world and here in Indiana," Bantz said. "The Center brings top-level students and faculty to IUPUI and Indiana University, and contributes to Indianapolis' reputation for worldwide leadership in philanthropy. Patrick's leadership will take the Center to new heights of excellence."

Rooney said his vision for the Center's future includes: continuing and enhancing the Center's academic, training and research excellence; expanding those programs internationally to help meet rising global demand for knowledge about philanthropy and increase the Center's understanding of philanthropy in various cultures; and offering an undergraduate degree in Philanthropic Studies to attract the best and brightest students to study and work in philanthropy and supply the nonprofit sector with a new generation of thoughtful, well-prepared leaders.

Rooney has served on boards and committees for several nonprofit organizations, as well as on national advisory committees for the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service, the U.S. Bureau of the Census' Current Population Survey, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and INDEPENDENT SECTOR. He earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Notre Dame and a Certificate of Management Development at Harvard University. He also earned a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy.

Members of the news media may access a print-quality photo here: https://bit.ly/193OqM.

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide through research, teaching, training and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations. A part of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the Center operates programs on the IUPUI and IU Bloomington campuses.

More information is available at www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

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