Genevieve Shaker

Contributing to Fundraising Practice through Multi-Dimensional Research

Professor Genevieve Shaker's research focus has been on developing and disseminating new research about fundraising and about the fundraising profession. She has conducted several studies, including two about fundraiser job tenure and turnover that have generated knowledge about fundraisers themselves. This work is in alignment with growing attention in the nonprofit scholarly community to the role that fundraisers play in the giving process. Most often, scholars and the public alike focus on donors and the amount of money given to particular nonprofits without adequate consideration of the intermediary. Professor Shaker has a special interest in higher education giving and fundraising. She has conducted several studies in this setting, including a large longitudinal study of giving across 30 years and 400+ institutions, as well as an examination of the philanthropic relationships of fundraisers and major donors in university settings.

Professor Shaker's goal is to strategically share what she has learned through her research -- as well as the insights of other scholars. She does this in a variety of ways including presenting at conferences, teaching for The Fund Raising School, and writing books/articles. In 2021 and 2022, she published two books which translate research into practice. The first, Fundraising for Faculty and Academic Leaders (Palgrave), was co-authored with Aaron Conley and provides a research-based approach for leading advancement teams within the university. The second, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (5th edition, Wiley), features 39 chapters written by Lilly Family School of Philanthropy faculty, alumni, and affiliates and is the most recent edition of the best selling fundraising textbook. Professor Shaker was the lead editor for the volume.