Gene Tempel
Gene Tempel
Curtis R. Simic’s retirement as president of the Indiana University Foundation left Michael McRobbie with a challenge: how to find a successor with exceptional expertise in the field of fundraising. “There are only a handful of people in the country with the necessary credentials and experience to fill this key position,” said McRobbie, who as president of IU is also chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors. “We were very fortunate to find one of them in our own IU community.”
Sure enough, the new leader is an old friend. In 1987, Eugene R. Tempel helped found the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, with programs in Indianapolis and Bloomington. The internationally known center is dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice. He led the center’s renowned Fund Raising School for many years, and he’s been executive director since 1997.
The NonProfit Times names Gene as one of the country’s 50 most influential leaders in the nonprofit sector—and has done so for each of the past 10 years. When journalists need an expert to talk about philanthropy, they call Gene Tempel.
Before moving to the Center on Philanthropy, Gene served as vice chancellor for external relations for Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His IU roots run deep in Bloomington as well. He earned a master’s degree in English from the College of Arts and Sciences and his doctorate in higher education administration from the School of Education. He then served the College as a fundraiser before becoming a vice president at the IU Foundation.
Now he’s come full circle. The new president officially takes office September 1.
Welcome back, Gene.