Virginia Vought Named to Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute
Virginia Vought, senior executive director of community engagement for the Office of Engagement at Purdue University, has been selected as a member of the 2026 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.
Vought successfully completed a competitive application process to gain one of 22 spots in this year’s class.
As senior executive director of community engagement, Vought advances Purdue University’s land‑grant mission by building community relationships and translating institutional goals into impactful programs. She connects public, corporate, foundation, and nonprofit leaders with Purdue’s renowned efforts to strengthen communities. Prior to joining Purdue, Vought spent nearly a decade as a program officer directing multimillion-dollar capital and programmatic grantmaking portfolios disbursing federal, state, and corporate grant funding related to public libraries, behavioral health care, and the development of healthy communities.
“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 Vice President and Mutz Institute Director Maddison Miller. “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,” said 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.”
For a full listing of those accepted into the class of 2026 Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute, read their announcement here.
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
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) is a nonprofit membership organization that serves as a collective voice and resource for Indiana’s philanthropic sector. IPA supports effective philanthropy through high-impact professional development opportunities, robust networking-building events, proactive advocacy efforts, and insightful research. Learn more about their mission and impact at www.inphilanthropy.org.
The Mutz Institute is an IPA program. Classes begin in January and meet once a month until October. For more information, visit www.inphilanthropy.org/Mutz.