Priya Shanker

Priya Shanker is Executive Director of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS), where she leads the center’s strategy and institutional vision. At PACS, she works to position Stanford as a leading forum for engaging scholars, practitioners, and policymakers in advancing how philanthropic resources and civil society institutions respond to complex societal challenges.

 

Her work focuses on how philanthropy and civil society can adapt to periods of rapid technological, economic, and political change. She has built and led programs and cross-sector partnerships that translate research into actionable strategies, mobilize resources, and strengthen long-term institutional capacity.

 

Prior to Stanford, Priya spent over a decade working across the U.S., India, Ghana, and China with a range of private-sector and social impact organizations, focusing on the policy and operational infrastructure required to support inclusive growth and social innovation.

 

She is a frequent speaker on the evolving role of philanthropy and civil society, and contributes to leading convenings of philanthropic, business, and policy leaders. Priya holds an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.