Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Founding Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy

During his 13 years at the Johnson Center, Dr. Moody pioneered new and relevant research on next-generation donors, convened five National Summits on Family Philanthropy, explored donor learning through the Donor Journeys Initiative, and advised the work of hundreds of graduate students from GVSU’s nonprofit- and community-focused degree programs.

The Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy was established in 2008 as the first chair of its kind in the nation. The Chair was made possible through the vision and generosity of the Frey Foundation, one of Michigan’s largest family foundations, established in 1974 in Grand Rapids by Edward J. and Frances T. Frey.

We are living in one of the most significant eras for family philanthropy in history. A new generation of eager donors with unprecedented resources are bursting on the scene. Innovation is happening at a torrid pace, and fundamental critiques of philanthropy have never been so widely debated. We live in interesting times for family philanthropy.”
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Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Inaugural Frey Chair, 2010–2023
Groundbreaking Work on Family Philanthropy
Dr. Michael Moody was appointed inaugural Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center in 2010. Across 13 years in this role, Moody pursued a comprehensive, international program of applied research, speaking and writing, professional education and teaching, and other activities to elevate the field and its impact. His work defined an area of study that did not previously exist in academia, and positioned GVSU as a global center of excellence in family philanthropy.
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SPECIAL REPORT

Philanthropy 1992–2022: What Difference Can 30 Years Make?

In this retrospective produced for the Johnson Center’s 30th Anniversary, Dr. Moody explores what the field of philanthropy looked like in 1992, as well as the remarkable transformation and growth of the sector in the decades since. The report reveals how the practices of giving, the makeup and number of institutions, both the intensity and breadth of research, and teaching about philanthropy have all expanded and changed in dramatic ways in the past 30 years.
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NEXT GEN DONORS

Book: Generation Impact

Michael Moody and research partner Sharna Goldseker of 21/64 published Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving in 2017. An Amazon bestseller in the Nonprofits & Philanthropy category, Generation Impact was awarded the AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy in 2019.
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Explore Resources from Michael Moody

During his tenure at the Johnson Center, Dr. Moody was an active writer, researcher, and presenter. Browse his articles, webinars, podcasts, and reports on a wide range of topics and projects below.