Aaron Conley

Aaron Conley is an experienced fundraising practitioner, teacher, and award-winning author. In 2023, he and Dr. Genevieve Shaker of Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy were named recipients of the AFP/Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy for their book, Fundraising Principles for Faculty and Academic Leaders. This award, presented since 1990, represents the highest honor in this field for excellence in a published book or research article. Dr. Conley earned an Ed.D. in higher education and philanthropic studies from Indiana University in 1999. Since 2014, he has been a faculty member of The Fund Raising School in the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy teaching courses in major gifts and campaigns at various locations around the country. These courses and others lead to a Certificate in Fund Raising Management, which he completed in 1997. He is founder of Academic Advancement Partners, an educational fundraising consultancy based in Dallas, Texas. Prior to founding AAP, Dr. Conley was Sr. Vice President with Grenzebach Glier and Associates, a global philanthropic consultancy in Chicago and London, where he led the firm’s teaching and coaching practice. Before consulting, he served in senior roles including Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Colorado and Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations at the University of Texas at Dallas. Earlier in his career, he led development and alumni teams at the school and college level for the University of Pittsburgh, Florida State, and Purdue. A frequent speaker at academic and professional conferences, Dr. Conley has also authored research articles and book chapters, including the chapters on campaigns appearing the 4th and 5th editions of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising.