Una Osili is director of research and the Dean's Fellow for the Mays Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is also a professor of economics and philanthropic studies at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

An internationally recognized expert on philanthropy, Osili frequently speaks on issues related to national and international trends in philanthropy and has been quoted by national news media outlets such as the New York Times, the Chronicle of Philanthropy and National Public Radio. She has served as a member of several national and international advisory groups, including the Social Science Research Council, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Program.