Eugene R. (Gene) Tempel became executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University on August 1, 1997. He has been closely involved with the Center since its inception in 1987, first helping to develop the concept for the Center and later chairing its organizing and policy committees. He serves on the Center's Board of Governors.

Dr. Tempel is a nationally recognized expert in the study and practice of philanthropy and nonprofit management. Since 1988 he has held numerous leadership positions in the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The NonProfit Times has named him to its list of the country's 50 most influential leaders in the nonprofit sector each year since the list was created. In 2007, he received the prestigious James L. Fisher Award for distinguished service to education from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

A professor of philanthropic studies, higher education, and public administration, Dr. Tempel's career as a nonprofit professional also includes more than two decades of administration, fundraising, and teaching in higher education. He previously served as vice chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and as vice president of the Indiana University Foundation. His professional experience includes teaching, training and consulting internationally. He is a member of several nonprofit and for-profit boards of directors, and is a past chair of the Indiana Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism.

Dr. Tempel is the author and co-author of several works in the field. He is the editor of the book Hank Rosso's Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising, 2nd edition (Jossey Bass, 2003), and co-authored the book Fund Raisers: Their Careers, Stories, Concerns and Accomplishments (Jossey Bass, 1996) with Margaret A. Duronio.

The late Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon recognized Dr. Tempel's service to Indiana by naming him a Sagamore of the Wabash, and he was awarded the IUPUI Alumni Association's Maynard K. Hine Medal, which honors distinguished alumni for continuous support and service to IUPUI and Indiana University. He earned a B.A. degree in English and philosophy from St. Benedict College, an M.A. in English and a doctoral degree in higher education administration from Indiana University, and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive professional designation.

The Center on Philanthropy is headquartered on the campus of Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and operates programs on the IUPUI and Indiana University Bloomington campuses.