Lilya Wagner is director of Philanthropic Service for Institutions, an internal consulting group for a system of North American church-related organizations ranging from health care, educational, and community service providers. In addition to her extensive experience in fundraising, Lilya Wagner is a long-time faculty member of The Fund Raising School, is on the philanthropic studies faculty of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, and teaches graduate courses for the University in Minnesota.
From 2005-2008, Lilya Wagner was Vice President for Philanthropy at Counterpart International in Washington, D.C., an international development organization which provides a variety of services and projects in many countries. Prior to joining Counterpart, Lilya Wagner completed fourteen years of association with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University serving as associate director for public service and director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Her responsibilities included developing and managing projects and programs, such as the Philanthropic Ambassadors and the Hispanic Stewardship Development Partnership. Lilya Wagner was in charge of curriculum preparation and revision for The Fund Raising School (TFRS) and was a frequent speaker and workshop presenter.
Her published writings include articles and book chapters on philanthropy, fundraising and the nonprofit sector, along with books and numerous articles on a variety of general interest and professional topics. Careers in Fundraising is a comprehensive volume on fundraising as a profession. It was the winner of the 2002 Skystone Ryan Research Prize presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Another significant publication in her field is Leading Up: Transformational Leadership for Fundraisers, published in 2005. Lilya Wagner was also co-editor of New Directions in Philanthropic Fundraising and she regularly writes for an on-line newsletter published by Changing Our world, www.onphilanthropy.com.
From 1993 until 1996 Lilya Wagner worked as vice president for development at the National Association for Community Leadership but continued her affiliation with the Center on Philanthropy as a faculty member for The Fund Raising School and trainer for Leadership Works. Prior to joining the Center on Philanthropy, Lilya served as vice president for institutional advancement at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska and received several national awards for her fundraising and advertising programs. Lilya Wagner began her fundraising career by working in health care, and has served as a volunteer and board member for human service, arts and community organizations.
Lilya Wagner holds a doctorate in education from the University of Florida in Gainesville and has two masters degrees in journalism and music. She has taught at the university, college and high school levels, and has been employed as a public relations specialist. She is a musician by training and avocation.
Categories: Philanthropy
