Frey Foundation Chair for Family Foundations and Philanthropy
In July 2010, Michael Moody, Ph.D., joined the Johnson Center as the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Foundations and Philanthropy, the nation’s first endowed chair focusing on family philanthropy.
As the Frey Chair, Dr. Moody works with a network of national advisors and partners to establish a comprehensive program of applied research, teaching, professional development, and public service, all designed to advance and promote the field of family philanthropy in the United States.
Family foundations and other family donors play an essential and expanding, yet often unheralded, role in enhancing the quality of human life in communities nationwide. More than 37,000 family foundations provide critical assistance to America’s 1.5 million nonprofit organizations, supporting their programs in health care, education, human services, religion, arts and culture, the environment, and other areas.
Before coming to the Johnson Center, Moody was president of Moody Philanthropic Consulting based in Richmond, Va., providing research and writing, project development, advising, and related services. His clients have included the Council on Foundations, The Philanthropic Initiative (Boston), Social Venture Partners International, The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California, and various local nonprofits and donors.
Moody has been working to understand and improve philanthropy for over 20 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University, he was one of the first employees of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University where he helped develop the Jane Addams Fellows program. He went on to receive a master’s degree in social science from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in sociology from Princeton University, with a research focus on philanthropic giving and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Moody has held previous faculty positions at Boston University and the University of Southern California, and has taught in diverse formats for over a decade. He is co-author (with Robert L. Payton) of the book, Understanding Philanthropy: Its Meaning and Mission, and has published numerous articles on topics such as venture philanthropy, donor education, the challenge of ethical giving, diversity among foundation executives, “giving back” as an explanation for philanthropy, and how nonprofits advocate for the public good.
The Frey Foundation, based in Grand Rapids, is one of Michigan's largest family foundations. Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations primarily in western Michigan for programs and initiatives to enhance children's development, protect natural resources, promote the arts and expand philanthropic civic action. The Frey Foundation was established in 1974 by Edward J. and Frances T. Frey.
Page last modified April 18, 2013
