Leslie J. Kidwell, CFRE was hired as the Director of Development for Vincennes University
Foundation in June 2020. As a fundraising professional, Kidwell has a passion for
philanthropy and ensuring student success. As the Director of Development, she develops
relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations in order to engage them
in the philanthropic process to support students and institutional priorities.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Kidwell earned an executive Master of Arts from
the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and holds a graduate certificate in Nonprofit
Management from the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs as well
as a certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Fundraising School at Indiana
University.
She earned her Bachelor of Science from Stephens College. Kidwell lives by the words
of Winston Churchill, “we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we
give.” She serves as the President of the IUPUI alumni council, is on the Board of
Dress For Success Indianapolis serving as the Strategic Fundraising Committee Chair,
and is on the Executive Committee of the Zeta Theta Chapter of Tri Kappa.
In addition, Kidwell is an Associate Faculty Member at Indiana University Kelley School
of Business. She and her husband, Michael, reside in Indianapolis and are proud parents
of a middle school age daughter and teenage son.
