Michael Moody, Ph.D.

Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy

Philanthropy affects all of our lives in profound ways, yet we don’t know nearly enough about it.” – Michael Moody

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Michael Moody joined the Johnson Center in 2010 as the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for family philanthropy. In this role, Michael pursues a comprehensive, international program of applied research, training, and other activities to lift up family philanthropy.

Trained as a cultural sociologist, Michael has served as an accessible guide to the rapidly evolving and complex world of philanthropy and social innovation for over 30 years, helping diverse audiences see the vital role that giving plays in society and in their own lives.

Michael is co-author of the books Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission, The Philanthropy Reader, and Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors Are Revolutionizing Giving, as well as a variety of other publications. Michael is a frequent speaker at venues across the U.S. and worldwide, and a sought-after commentator on philanthropic trends and research. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and elsewhere.

Previously, Michael was one of the first employees of Indiana University’s renowned Center on Philanthropy, held faculty positions at Boston University and the University of Southern California, and ran Moody Philanthropic Consulting. Michael holds degrees from Indiana University and the University of Chicago, and a doctorate in sociology from Princeton.

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Tue March 14
Voices from across sectors are questioning how useful or fair ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards are. The debate will likely affect the future of philanthropy.
Tue November 22
The number of U.S. households giving financially to charity dropped below 50% for the first time in 2018. The decrease has raised alarm bells across the sector and is prompting efforts to understand and reverse the trend.
Tue November 1
As part of the Johnson Center's 30th anniversary, Michael Moody reflects on what philanthropy looked like 30 years ago and highlights the remarkable transformation and growth of the sector since 1992. (Part 4 of 4)