Heather Templeton Dill, the granddaughter of investor John Templeton, ¹ has been the president of the John Templeton Foundation since 2015. ²

She was a high school teacher before working for the foundation and holds degrees from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame. ^{3 4}

Templeton Foundation

Heather Templeton Dill is the president of the John Templeton Foundation and took the leadership of the $4 billion organization in 2015. ⁵ Before becoming president of the group, she was the executive liaison to the president under her father, the late Jack Templeton. Dill is the granddaughter of the late John Templeton, who founded the organization. ⁶ Inside Philanthropy named Dill among its 2022 “Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” ⁷

The John Templeton Foundation’s primary focus is exploring the scientific basis for religion and spirituality. The foundation is a major donor to center-right advocacy organizations. ⁸ The organization also focuses on where paleontology and anthropology intersect. ⁹

Since Dill has become president, the Templeton Foundation awarded 1,150 grants totaling more than $743 million to fund research in sciences, philosophy, and theology. ¹⁰

In 2020, Dill announced the foundation awarded the 2020 Templeton Prize to Francis Collins, then-Director of the National Institutes of Health. ¹¹

Dill has been a member of the board of trustees for the John Templeton Foundation from 1997 through 2003 and from 2009 through 2015. She has also sat on the foundation’s executive, finance, and strategic planning committees. ¹²

Education and Early Career

Dill holds a master’s degree in American history from Villanova University. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has a bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in public policy. ¹³

Before joining the Templeton Foundation, Dill taught high school history, government, and economics at Delaware County Christian School in Pennsylvania. ¹⁴ She was previously a manuscript editor and research assistant at the University of Virginia. ¹⁵

Dill previously was on the Templeton Religion Trust steering committee. She also was on the board of the Templeton World Charity Foundation and a board member of the First Trust Bank Limited. ¹⁶

1. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill
2.  Callahan, David. “The Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. January 19, 2022. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022/1/19/the-most-powerful-heirs-in-philanthropy
3. Dukart, Lisa. “Heather Templeton Dill.” Power Women. Mainline Today. September 17. 2019. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://mainlinetoday.com/power-women/heather-templeton-dill/
4. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill
5. Callahan, David. “The Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. January 19, 2022. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022/1/19/the-most-powerful-heirs-in-philanthropy
6. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill[
7. Callahan, David. “The Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. January 19, 2022. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022/1/19/the-most-powerful-heirs-in-philanthropy
8. “Interview with Heather Templeton Dill & Jennifer Templeton Simpson.” Philanthropy Roundtable. Winter 2020. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/philanthropy-magazine/article/interview-with-heather-templeton-dill-jennifer-templeton-simpson
9. “Heather Templeton Dill.” Acton University. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://university.acton.org/faculty/heather-templeton-dill
10. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill
11. ^[1] Press Release. “Heather Templeton Dill Announces 2020 Templeton Prize.” May 20, 2020. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.templetonprize.org/laureate-sub/heather-templeton-dill-announces-the-2020-templeton-prize/
12.  “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill
13. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill
14. Dukart, Lisa. “Heather Templeton Dill.” Power Women. Mainline Today. September 17. 2019. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://mainlinetoday.com/power-women/heather-templeton-dill/
15. “Heather Templeton Dill.” Acton University. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://university.acton.org/faculty/heather-templeton-dill
16. “Heather Templeton Dill.” John Templeton Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.templeton.org/team-member/heather-dill