Keynote Speaker · STRATEGIC ADVISOR · teacher & coach
Governance built on curiosity, strategy, and collaboration.
Eileen R. Heisman is a strategic nonprofit leader who scaled a single organization into one of the largest donor-advised fund providers in the world, and now brings that governance depth to the board table.
$63B
Charitable assets RAISED AT npt
10 Times
named to NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50 in us
$29B
Grants distributed worldwide
ABOUT ME
A leader driven to build.
I joined National Philanthropic Trust as Vice President in 1996 and was named President and CEO in 1998. Over the course of my tenure, I directed NPT's growth from a start-up public charity into the largest independent sponsor of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) in the United States, placing me at the center of relationships with the financial institutions, family offices, and advisors that shape charitable giving nationally.
What I am doing now.
Advisory
Governance, strategy, and institutional expertise.
As CEO, I was the driving force behind NPT's introduction of the first national private-label Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) programs for large financial firms and its concierge donor services, both later adopted as standards across the sector. I also launched the first annual industry report on donor-advised funds, which continues to draw data from more than 1,000 entities and is recognized as the definitive resource on DAF activity. As a qualified financial expert responsible for investment oversight, risk management, and regulatory compliance, including anti-money laundering matters, I built the governance infrastructure required to steward tens of billions of dollars in charitable assets through a period of rapid scaling.
Awards & recognition

DAF Trailblazer Award
DAF Giving Summit · 2024

Power & Influence Top 50
NonProfit Times · 10 consecutive years

Outstanding Fundraising Professional
AFP · 2014

Woman of Distinction
Philadelphia Business Journal · 2003

Fundraiser of the Year
AFP Greater Philadelphia Chapter 2003
KEYNOTE & CONFERENCE SPEAKER
Experienced speaker, teacher and coach.
"I love inspiring others. And I love traveling and meeting new people in places I've never been before. I am engaging and real when I speak."
— Eileen R. Heisman
BUILDING FROM ZERO
GLOBAL GROWTH
International Expansion
CEO Transitions
WOMEN & LEADERSHIP
DONOR-ADVISED FOUNDS
MENTAL HEALTH & FAMILY
PHILANTHROPIC STRATEGY

Recurring
Association of Fundraising Professionals · National Conferences
University of Michigan School of Social Work

2025
CGP Conference · Opening Dinner Keynote
National Association of Charitable Gift Planners

Ask the Experts · Keynote Speaker
AFP Greater Houston Chapter

2013
Emerging Nonprofit Leaders · Keynote Speaker
Invited by the Chinese Government · Beijing
featured in.
TEACHING & COACHING
Nearly twenty years
bringing the real world
into the classroom.
I’ve taught graduate philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania since 2006. My former students work across the country and around the world.
Courses.
GRADUATE SEMINAR
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Advanced Topics
in Philanthropy
GRADUATE COURSE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Philanthropy & Fundraising
for Nonprofit Leaders
Current academic roles.
Senior Fellow
2025–Present
Center for High Impact Philanthropy · University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Lecturer
2006–Present
School of Social Policy & Practice · University of Pennsylvania
Dean-Appointed Governance Committee
2014–Present
Nonprofit Leadership Master’s Program · University of Pennsylvania
Periodic Lecturer
2007–Present
School of Social Work · University of Michigan



