Eric Hessel, Vice President of Programs at the Hendricks County Community Foundation, has been selected as a member of the 2025 class of the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute.
Launched by Indiana Philanthropy Alliance in 2021, the Mutz Institute provides a leadership training experience to skill-up professionals serving in board and executive roles at foundations, corporations and social impact organizations across Indiana.
Hessel, a resident of Carmel, completed a competitive application process to gain one of 24 spots in this year’s class.
Born in Pittsboro, Hessel started working with the Community Foundation in 2003 as a youth grantmaker and has since served successively as Intern, Program Officer and Vice President of Programs since 2010. Prior to joining HCCF full time, Hessel worked in youth programming and with the US Census Bureau. Eric has worked diligently the past 15 years to build relationships in the local community that assist in strategic and effective grantmaking decisions.
Hessel commented, “I’m honored to join the 2025 Class of the Mutz Institute to expand my philanthropic leadership, learn from peers and community leaders from across the State, and share my 15 years of experience with the field.”
“It is imperative that Indiana cultivates a generation of sharp leaders ready to forge significant advancements in critical sectors such as education and economic development,” said IPA President and CEO Claudia Cummings. “Through this program, we celebrate the visionary legacy of John Mutz and his foundational role in establishing IPA, all while fostering a dynamic and diverse cohort of philanthropic pioneers for the future.”
The Mutz Institute is named for former Indiana Lieutenant Governor, past Lilly Endowment Inc. president, IPA founder, corporate CEO and Indiana visionary John M. Mutz.
“We want to imbue the individuals who graduate from our program with a lot of knowledge and wisdom,” shared John Mutz. “But more importantly, what we want to do is build a fire under philanthropy, and under government, and under business in this state so we can be better than we are.”
Go here for a full listing of those accepted into the class of 2025 Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute: https://www.inphilanthropy.org/MutzInstitute
About John M. Mutz
Born in Indianapolis, John M. Mutz is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in advertising and business management. He had a long career in business, including managing a chain of restaurants and serving as president of PSI Energy (now Duke Energy). Elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1967 and to the state Senate in 1970, he was instrumental in introducing the set of legislative reforms that came to be known as Unigov, the creation of IUPUI and the White River Park Commission, among others. From 1980-1988, he served as the 45th Lieutenant Governor, serving under Governor Robert D. Orr. Mutz later served as president of Lilly Endowment Inc. and chairman of the Lumina Foundation board of directors.
About Indiana Philanthropy Alliance
IPA is the largest association supporting effective philanthropy in Indiana and includes foundations, corporations and other social investors. Philanthropy in Indiana invests over $2 billion each year in support of causes that fuel success, like education, health, human services, arts and culture. Learn more at www.inphilanthropy.org.
The Mutz Institute is a program of the IPA. Classes begin in January and meet once a month until October. For more information, visit www.inphilanthropy.org/MutzInstitute.
