Maureen Hackett, an innovator in Houston and U.S. philanthropy for more than 30 years, has been named the 2014 Outstanding Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Maureen will receive her honor at the National Philanthropy Day® Honors: A Celebration of People and Impact event on Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
For Maureen, philanthropy has been an opportunity and an obligation to create impact for organizations committed to a more just and caring world. She has given to a variety of causes—both through personal funds and her family foundation—but she is best known for her unique blend of innovative partnerships and dynamic personal leadership style.
Maureen is convinced that current challenges will demand new ideas and an expanded pool of creative talent. While chair of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, she helped to establish the first-ever Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and created the first-ever endowed chair in Women’s Philanthropy in the world (named after her mother).
Closer to home, Maureen served as chair of the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), an organization dedicated to leveraging the impact of Houston’s leading philanthropists. During a period of critical growth, she guided the organization through a strategic re-visioning that increased funding, participation and community impact.
“Philanthropy is never about the size of the gift,” said Maureen. “It’s about the commitment to changing the world around us for the better any way we can. Effective philanthropy means knowing that sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow, but you always commit to the greater good of the cause. The causes we serve demand nothing less.”
