Tyrone Freeman

Tyrone McKinley Freeman, an award-winning scholar, is an assistant professor of philanthropic studies and director of undergraduate programs at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Previously, he was a professional fundraiser. He was also associate director of The Fund Raising School and trained fundraisers around the world.

He researches the history of African American philanthropy, philanthropy in communities of color, and the history of philanthropy and fundraising. His book, “Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow” (University of Illinois Press, 2020), examines Black women’s history of charitable giving, activism, education and social service provision through the life of Madam C.J. Walker, the early-20th-century Black philanthropist and entrepreneur.

Freeman’s work has appeared or been cited in O: The Oprah Magazine, TIME, BBC News, Newsweek, NewsOne, The Conversation, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. He is co-author of “Race, Gender and Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations” (2011 Palgrave MacMillan).

He earned a B.A. in English from Lincoln University, a M.S. in adult education from Indiana University, a master’s in urban and regional planning from Ball State University, and a Ph.D. in philanthropic studies from Indiana University.

Areas of Expertise

African American philanthropy; philanthropy in communities of color; history of philanthropy; diversity, equity and inclusion in philanthropy; racial and economic justice in philanthropy; fundraising and higher education; student success in undergraduate education.

Other Information