O’Neill students make an impact at the IU Foundation
When passion for public service meets the power of philanthropy, the results can be transformative. This summer, that impact was driven entirely by O’Neill School students, who made up the full Indiana University Foundation intern cohort. IUF works to maximize private support for Indiana University by fostering lifelong relationships with key stakeholders and providing advancement leadership and fundraising services.
Placed in departments such as planned giving, stewardship, prospect research, museum development, and regional campus advancement, the interns put their education into action on projects that strengthened IU’s fundraising efforts and deepened connections with donors. Guided by O’Neill’s value of leading for the greater good, they brought that vision to life and showcased the real-world power of their education.
A cohort experience
From the start, the interns found an instant connection with one another. Their shared O’Neill background made collaboration seamless, allowing them to share insights, compare strategies, and offer encouragement throughout the summer.
“Being in a cohort with other O’Neill students has truly shown the impact of an O’Neill education and the diverse knowledge and experiences that can be brought from the classroom into the professional setting,” said Shelby Dolley, MPA’26.
That foundation fostered both trust and camaraderie. “When we discovered that we were all O’Neill students, it instantly bonded us as a group,” said Anna Erdosy, BSPA’26.
Projects with lasting impact
The interns took on projects with tangible outcomes. They developed a fundraising plan for the IU School of Nursing Student Outreach Clinic, created systems to help non-technical staff run data queries, designed stewardship strategies for top donors, and researched ways to engage visitors at the Eskenazi Museum of Art.
For Lillian Rogers, MPA’26, this meant building a data process from scratch.
“I became an expert at querying and using IU’s CRM and ultimately produced a procedural document so that non-technical people can run my script, gather data, and be able to interpret and use it easily,” Rogers said.
At the Eskenazi Museum of Art, Lucia Walker, BSAM’25, worked to strengthen audience engagement.
“This internship has been the perfect complement to my academic degree and career goals. Not only have I expanded my skillset as a fundraiser, but I’ve also gained hands-on experience in an art museum setting,” Walker said.
Chelsie Lindauer, BSPA’25, worked on a key stewardship project capturing decades of generosity from one of IU’s top donors, creating a commemorative book to honor their impact.
“A book showcasing the lifetime of giving and philanthropic partnership between IU and one of its top donors was incredible to work on. It was amazing to see why philanthropists make their gifts and what fuels their desire to make a change,” Lindauer said.
For Erdosy, contributing to the Student Outreach Clinic plan was especially meaningful.
“Knowing that the work we created will soon be implemented by the School of Nursing excites and motivates me to continue my work in the nonprofit sector,” she said.
O’Neill learning in action
The skills that made these projects possible were sharpened in O’Neill classrooms. Courses in nonprofit management, fund development, information systems, and policy analysis equipped them to manage projects, think strategically, and communicate effectively.
For Walker, lessons from Fund Development with Professor of Practice Karen Gahl-Mills were immediately applicable.
“The course shaped my perspective on philanthropy and taught me that we can all have active roles in advancing the common good. The skills I learned in that course—creating gift tables, developing capital campaigns, writing solicitation material, composing professional thank you notes, formatting gift acknowledgments, and preparing memos—have all been highly useful in my work at the IU Foundation,” she said.
Rogers drew on problem-solving approaches from the Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs course in the information systems concentration.
“It helped me think about how to approach problems and solve them,” she said.
In Management in the Nonprofit Sector, Dolley gained both foundational knowledge and professional connections.
“It laid the foundations of nonprofit management and connected me with professionals in the field,” Dolley said.
Lindauer applied the strategic thinking she developed in the O’Neill Honors Program to donor engagement work.
“My participation in the O’Neill Honors Program, specifically the thesis component, made me feel confident in my ability to strategically think through various ideas and opportunities that may arise and apply the best solution. This has proven to be valuable while here at IUF as we are constantly exploring new ways to engage and passionately steward donors, without creating carbon copy stewardship plans for each,” she said.
Advice for future interns
The interns encouraged future participants to view an IUF placement as more than a summer job—it’s a chance to grow professionally and see the power of philanthropy in action.
“Consider how higher-ed fundraising has impacted your own life. Being able to work and give back to a school that has provided me financial support and academic opportunity has been incredibly rewarding,” Dolley said.
“Trust that your experience is valuable in one way or another and make the absolute most of it. Network. Shadow. Ask questions. Be who you would want future interns to look up to.” Lindauer said.
“Having the opportunity to meet and hear from those directly involved in community work is always deeply inspiring and meaningful,” Erdosy said.
As the summer wraps up, the interns have strengthened IU’s mission and their own professional skills. They leave prepared to step into careers where they can continue leading for the greater good and creating positive change in the communities they serve.
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