Eileen R. Heisman, ACFRE

Eileen Heisman is a long-time nonprofit leader, philanthropic professional and educator with a legacy of visionary leadership and innovation. She served as President/CEO of National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) for 26 years, retiring in 2024 after growing the organization into one of the largest and most respected donor-advised fund sponsors in the world. During her tenure, NPT raised over $63 billion in charitable contributions and distributed more than $31 billion in grants to over 778,000 nonprofit organizations globally.
Internationally recognized for her expertise in nonprofit governance, financial strategy, and philanthropic policy, Heisman led NPT’s global expansion in 2014, anticipating the international demand for donor-advised funds. She also pioneered industry-defining practices, including private-label DAF programs for leading financial institutions and concierge-level donor services. She launched the sector’s first national annual report on DAFs—now the definitive data source used by researchers, practitioners, and media alike.
Heisman has taught a graduate course on philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania since 2006 and now serves as a senior fellow at the University’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy. She also is an Honorary Member of the John Templeton Foundation. Her past and current board and advisory roles include NPT Board of Trustees in the US and UK, Arcadia University (Audit Committee), Social Impact Commons and its Philadelphia affiliate, Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College Board of Advisors, and the University of Michigan’s Schools of Social work alumni board.
Her select writing includes: “Donor-Advised Funds, (Elgar Encyclopedia of Nonprofit Management, Leadership and Governance); How Families Use Donor Advised Funds, (Family Philanthropy, edited by Barbara Hauser); “Notes at the Crossroads, Reflections at CEP’s Survey (Center for Effective Philanthropy) and “Philanthropic Leapfrog; Giving in China (Nonprofit Quarterly). She has been a frequent media commentator, with appearances and citations in CNN, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Eileen was honored with the 2024 DAF Giving Summit Trailblazer Award and was named to The NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50 for ten consecutive years
Heisman holds an MSW from the University of Michigan and a BA in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University, where she received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. She completed executive education at Stanford University and the Wharton School.
A passionate mentor to the next generation of nonprofit leaders, Heisman is also a proud relative of legendary football coach John Heisman, namesake of the Heisman Trophy.