Wilson named director of The Grantmaking School

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — E. Miles Wilson has been named as the new director of The Grantmaking School of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley State University. The Grantmaking School is the nation’s first university-based program for training charitable foundation program officers in techniques of advanced grantmaking.

“I am excited to join the world-class team of professionals at the Johnson Center and lead the efforts of The Grantmaking School,” said Wilson. “There is no question that American philanthropy must develop a new infrastructure to effectively address the 21st century challenges our communities face.”

Wilson has led an accomplished career as a community organizer and philanthropic leader for nearly 20 years. Most recently he served as an independent consultant supporting nonprofit capacity building, civic engagement and philanthropic efforts in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to consulting, Wilson was director of the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and Nonprofit Development at Northern Kentucky University and program director at The Omidyar Foundation in Redwood City, Calif.

“We are thrilled to have Miles join the Johnson Center leadership team,” said Kathy Agard, executive director of the Johnson Center. “He brings broad experience, energy and vision to launch grantmaker education to a new level of depth and relevance.”

Wilson, a native of Columbus, Ohio, holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in higher education policy and leadership from Ohio State University.

BACKGROUND:

Established in 1992 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership promotes effective philanthropy, community improvement, and excellence in nonprofit leadership through teaching, research and service. The Johnson Center is recognized for its applied research that benefits practitioners and nonprofits through its Community Research Institute, Nonprofit Good Practice Guide and The Grantmaking School.

Founded in 2004, The Grantmaking School brings intensive instruction in the art and science of grantmaking to foundation program officers through a series of multi-day traveling seminars taught by distinguished practitioners in the foundation field. The Grantmaking School seeks to advance foundation effectiveness, which in turn directly improves the ability of nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of people.

For more information, contact the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at (616) 331-7585.