May 2025 - Nonprofit Academic Centers Council

A Message from Your Board President: May 2025

Angela R. Logan, PhD
St. Andre Bessette Academic Director
Master of Nonprofit Administration
Teaching Professor of Management & Organization
Mendoza College of Business
University of Notre Dame

Remembering Your Telos

Five years ago this week, sequestered in our homes due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the world watched in horror, as for nine minutes and 29 seconds, Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. In the days and weeks after this senseless act, calls for racial justice and equity sprang up. Protest marches took place, social media avatars turned black, and organizations, including our own, issued statements, calling for a new way.

If you were like me, after the grief, shock, and rage settled, you started thinking about ways to double down on centering the work of justice for your students come Fall semester. I mean: isn’t that why we decided to get in the work of preparing the next generation of nonprofit practitioners, scholars, and leaders? It certainly wasn’t for the money or the fame! (LOL) And yet, even as I began reading King and Giovanni, Morrison and Thurman, I kept wondering: is this the renewal of the movement that my parents participated in during their formative years, or will this be a moment as short-lived as New Coke and BetaMax?

And of course, as predictably as Spring weather in the Midwestern, the resulting movement/moment had its ups and downs, complete with hail, snow, pollen, and tornadoes. The attempts at progress made in Summer 2020 were quickly forgotten by Fall 2020. Interest in transforming systems of oppression quickly faded, amidst the backdrop of a US presidential election, one that was either the most secure election in US history or stolen, depending upon your ideology. The cries of George Floyd for his mother with his last breath were replaced with shouts to hang the sitting vice president as he did his constitutional duty. And I went from being celebrated by students for teaching them the importance of centering belonging and justice in their work, to being called a Marxist Indoctrinator (thinking that may be the next tattoo)!

After untold hours of sweat, tears, primal screams, and cursing, wondering if any of this work was worth it, I was reminded of the ancient Greek word, τέλος. Often used by Aristotle, “telos” loosely translates to “the end, fulfillment, goal, or aim.” In other words, “What is your Why?” When the temps are below zero as I head to campus to lecture, or the pile of grading feels never-ending, those are the moments when I have to remember my telos.

Five years ago, along with our institutions, we were called to remember our τέλος: to prepare the next generation of nonprofit practitioners, scholars, and leaders to, in the words of the prophet Micah, “act justly and love mercy.” Today, in the midst of attacks on our work, our institutions, and the work of our nonprofit partners, through the elimination on diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the name of “merit, excellence, and innovation,” (as though the former does not include the latter), we are once again called to remember our telos. So whether this Summer, you are at the beach, with us at the University of Maryland for the NACC Conference, or anywhere in between, my hope for you is that you are filled to that which you have poured out this year, so that you are able to return to campus in the Fall, refreshed, renewed, and focused on your telos!

The fight continues!

Grace and peace, Friends!

Angela R. Logan
Board President, NACC

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-28T13:06:14-04:00May 27th, 2025|President's Message|

NACC Welcomes New Members: Kean University and MSU Texas

Roseanne M. Mirabella, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
College of Business and Public Management
Department of Criminal Justice and Public Affairs
Kean University

Sonia White, Ph.D.
Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant
Director of Center for Nonprofit Management
& Leadership at MSU Texas
Dillard College of Business Administration

The Nonprofit Academic Centers Council is pleased to welcome two new member institutions: Kean University and Midwestern State University (MSU Texas). These institutions join NACC’s international network of academic centers committed to advancing research, education, and leadership in nonprofit and philanthropic studies. We congratulate both on their commitment to strengthening the field and are delighted to include them in our growing community.

Kean University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Public Affairs, housed in the College of Business and Public Management, offers a robust interdisciplinary curriculum with strong connections to public service, healthcare, and nonprofit work. The department’s undergraduate and graduate programs, including a combined BA/MPA option and an MPA with a nonprofit management concentration, prepare students to meet the evolving needs of public and nonprofit organizations through mentorship, internships, and hands-on experience. Kean’s commitment to public impact is rooted in both theory and practice, reflecting the university’s broader mission to develop socially responsible leaders.

We also welcome Dr. Roseanne M. Mirabella as Kean’s NACC Member Representative. A leading scholar in nonprofit education, philanthropy, and critical perspectives on nonprofit organizing, Dr. Mirabella is co-editor of two field-defining volumes and a recipient of ARNOVA’s 2024 Distinguished Achievement and Leadership in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research Award. She co-edits the Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership alongside her Kean University colleague Dr. Bok Gyo Jeong, and has held long-standing leadership roles in ARNOVA and ASPA. In addition, Kean is now home to Dr. Greg Witkowski, who edits the new Georgetown Studies in Philanthropy, Nonprofit, and Nongovernmental Organizations book series, which is focused on bridging scholarship and practice in the nonprofit sector. Their combined editorial and scholarly leadership further strengthen Kean’s dedication to advancing scholarship and practice in public administration and nonprofit studies.

MSU Texas joins NACC through its Center for Nonprofit Management & Leadership in the Dillard College of Business Administration. Since its founding in 2019, the Center has become a hub of nonprofit capacity-building for Wichita Falls and surrounding communities. Offering resources, consulting, and a newly launched Nonprofit Management Minor, the Center is committed to fostering sustainability and leadership across the social sector. Its programming and credentials, including certifications from BoardSource and the Standards for Excellence Institute, demonstrate a deep investment in both academic and practitioner development.

Dr. Sonia White, Director of the Center, will serve as MSU Texas’s NACC Member Representative. With over two decades of nonprofit leadership experience in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Sonia has overseen multimillion-dollar programs, secured more than $30 million in federal grants, and developed comprehensive undergraduate curricula in nonprofit management. She brings a wealth of practitioner expertise, academic rigor, and entrepreneurial spirit to her role, reflecting NACC’s values of collaboration and excellence.

We extend our warmest congratulations to both Kean University and MSU Texas and look forward to their contributions as valued members of the NACC community.

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-15T11:47:18-04:00May 15th, 2025|NACC Announcement|

Congratulations to our Spring 2025 NLM Inductees!

We are proud to congratulate the Spring 2025 inductees into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society recognizing exceptional students in nonprofit and philanthropic studies. Since its founding in 2012, Nu Lambda Mu has inducted more than 2,018 students from 53 universities and programs around the world. This spring, we welcomed 112 new inductees from 22 NACC member institutions, each demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to the public good.

We invite you to view the full list of Spring 2025 inductees by clicking the button below.

View Spring 2025 NLM Inductees

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T17:18:46-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Announcement|

Case Studies on Nonprofit Resilience Management

Elizabeth A.M. Searing, PhD, CNP
Fellow, Venise Stuart Professorship
in Nonprofit Management & Leadership
Associate Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
Adjunct Research Professor, Carleton University

Dennis R. Young, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Case Western Reserve University
& Georgia State University

Case Studies on Nonprofit Resilience Management
Elizabeth A.M. Searing and Dennis R. Young (Eds.)
Elgar Cases in Business and Management, May 2025

This book, edited by Elizabeth A.M. Searing, Associate Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Dennis R. Young, Emeritus Professor at Case Western Reserve University and Georgia State University, comprises original case studies from a broad cross-section of nonprofits across the arts, social services, education, advocacy, and philanthropy. Numerous NACC members contributed to the volume, making it a particularly meaningful resource for our community of educators and researchers.

Demonstrating how nonprofits can cope with crises, the book provides readers with real-world examples of decisions and actions taken to adapt and respond to existential challenges. It features 31 original cases that explore financial, organizational, and leadership themes, candidly highlighting the struggles and survival strategies of nonprofit organizations. Each chapter includes discussion questions, making this volume an invaluable teaching tool.

Teachers of nonprofit management and leadership will gain valuable insights from the original material and ideas featured within each case study. Students focusing on business, leadership, entrepreneurship, nonprofits, and strategic management will additionally find this book to be an important resource for their professional and scholarly development.

Dr. Elizabeth A. M. Searing is an Associate Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Searing’s primary research focus is the financial management of nonprofit and social enterprise organizations, but she also conducts work on comparative social economy more broadly. She is an Associate Editor and editorial board member of Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and an editorial advisory board member at VOLUNTAS and the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management (JPBAFM). Her articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.

Dennis R. Young is Professor Emeritus at Georgia State University and Visiting Professor at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. In 2016-2017 he was Executive in Residence in the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Previously he was Professor of Public Management and Policy in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies where he directed GSU’s Nonprofit Studies Program and held the Bernard B. and Eugenia A. Ramsey Chair in Private Enterprise. From 1988 to 1996 he was Director of the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Mandel Professor of Nonprofit Management at Case Western Reserve University. He was the founding editor of the journal Nonprofit Management and Leadership and is founding and current editor of Nonprofit Policy Forum, and past president of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA).

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T17:09:41-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Member Research|

Resiliency Strategies for Nonprofits in Times of Political and Financial Instability

Sarah L. Young
Professor of Public Administration
Director of Research, KSU CARES
Kennesaw State University

Elizabeth A.M. Searing, PhD, CNP
Fellow, Venise Stuart Professorship
in Nonprofit Management & Leadership
Associate Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
Adjunct Research Professor, Carleton University

Kimberly K. Wiley
Assistant Professor
University of Florida

Resiliency Strategies for Nonprofits in Times of Political and Financial Instability
Sarah Young, Elizabeth Searing, and Kimberley Wiley
Nonprofit Quarterly, March 2025

On January 22, 2025, 21 minutes before the scheduled start of a two-day federal grant orientation for 50 nonprofits who had just received the Specialized Services for Abused Parents and Their Children Demonstration Grant, the recipients received an email from the director of the US Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, under the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

The email informed the nonprofits, which provide critical intervention services for family, domestic, and dating violence, that the grant orientation was canceled, effective immediately with no reason given, and that the government office had been instructed to “refrain from public speaking engagements,” including communication with the nonprofits.

The nonprofits, many of which were already starting to draw down these critical funds, were stunned: While the letter did not address the recent attempted freeze in federal funding by executive order of the president, the nonprofits worried their federal grant funds were at risk—and what the cryptic messaging meant.

The bizarre incident was one of hundreds of similar scenes of confusion, fear, and uncertainty across the nonprofit world after the attempted federal funding freeze. The nonprofit world must prepare for seismic events like this, as more are sure to come.

This moment presents a crucible for the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits and the communities they serve cannot afford to be passive casualties of political shifts. They must prepare to wield their strongest weapons—advocacy, strategic planning, and collaboration—to fight back and defend their missions.

Dr. Sarah L. Young, Professor of Public Administration at Kennesaw State University, serves as the Director of Research for CARE Services, a campus support program for students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness. Her research uses systems-based approaches to study the intersection of nonprofit, public management, and equity, especially during periods of crisis. Dr. Young earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University’s Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and her M.B.A. in nonprofit management from the University of Tampa Sykes College of Business. She is the co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Public Affairs Education and serves on the editorial board of Teaching Public Administration.

Dr. Elizabeth A. M. Searing is an Associate Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Searing’s primary research focus is the financial management of nonprofit and social enterprise organizations, but she also conducts work on comparative social economy more broadly. She is an Associate Editor and editorial board member of Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and an editorial advisory board member at VOLUNTAS and the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management (JPBAFM). Her articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Nonprofit Management & Leadership, and Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.

Dr. Kimberly Wiley researches the relationship between nonprofit organizations and their public funders as well as qualitative methodology. She is particularly interested in domestic violence advocacy organizations serving families and youth. Though, she also enjoys testing new qualitative methods on data like social media and television. She won several awards for her work on faculty sexual misconduct and nonprofits in crisis. Her scholarship has been published in Nonprofit Management & Leadership, Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Public Administration, Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, and Public Policy & Administration.

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T17:00:26-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Member Research|

What Influence Do Death, Dying and Bereavement Have on Philanthropic Giving Within Hospice Care?

Dr. Beth Breeze
Director of the Centre for Philanthropy
Professor of Philanthropic Studies
University of Kent

What Influence Do Death, Dying and Bereavement Have on Philanthropic Giving Within Hospice Care?
Jo Bacon, Claire Routley, Beth Breeze
Journal of Philanthropy, April 2025

We extend our warm congratulations to Dr. Beth Breeze, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy and Professor of Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent, who has recently been named the next Principal of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford. She will begin this exciting new role in October 2025.

Hospice care, for people with life-limiting or terminal illnesses, is increasingly in demand due to rising death rates and is increasingly reliant on voluntary income due to rising costs. Lack of understanding of the specific drivers and needs of donors to hospices, and widespread misconceptions about hospice services are combined with cultural difficulties in discussing death, dying and bereavement to result in a particularly complex environment for hospice fundraisers.

To help navigate that complexity, this paper presents insights on hospice donor motivation and stewardship expectations, based on data from semi-structured interviews with 10 donors who have experienced a bereavement at one hospice in the UK. It generates three key findings: (1) In memory giving plays a developing role throughout the bereavement journey, providing a distraction for people in the immediate aftermath of their loss, enabling them to maintain a connection with the deceased, but, for some, eventually diminishing as they move on with their lives; (2) Awareness of need, gratitude, reciprocity, and future benefit are key drivers of giving to hospices, such that donors become newly aware of needs met by hospices, appreciative of the care received by departed loved ones, and committed to ensuring that they and others will have future access to hospice services; (3) Affinity and bonds with the hospice, including positive experiences with both frontline care staff and the fundraising team, build and sustain donor loyalty.

We conclude that donations by those who have direct experience of the hospice are often a function of the ‘bereavement journey’ and that the extent to which this factor influences giving changes over time and between donors, leading to the recommendation that more bespoke stewardship is needed to best understand and meet the needs of these donors and to maximise the amounts given.

Beth Breeze is Director of the Centre for Philanthropy, which she co-founded in 2008. Beth began her career as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity, and spent a decade working in a variety of fundraising, research and charity management roles, including as deputy director at the Institute for Philanthropy. Motivated by the lack of substantive research underpinning practice, Beth completed a PhD on contemporary philanthropy at Kent in 2011, and has been working here ever since. Beth has written and edited seven books, two of which have won the AFP Skystone Research Partners book prize.

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T16:49:39-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Member Research|

Federal Impacts on Nonprofits: San Diego County Survey of Nonprofit Leaders

Laura Deitrick
Executive Director, The Nonprofit Institute
Director, Nonprofit Leadership and Management Graduate Program
University of San Diego

Federal Impacts on Nonprofits: San Diego County Survey of Nonprofit Leaders
Laura Deitrick, et. al.
University of San Diego, Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends, March 2025

Deitrick, Laura; Tinkler, Tessa; Cardenas, Bryan; Hurt, Richard; Manriques, Nallely; and Nelson, Timothy, “Federal Impacts on Nonprofits: San Diego County Survey of Nonprofit Leaders” (2025). Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends. 7. https://digital.sandiego.edu/npi-npissues/7

For decades, nonprofits have been key partners to the government, delivering vital services on its behalf. Beyond their social impact, San Diego nonprofits are integral to the local economy—not only as major employers but also through their contributions to health and welfare, arts and culture, education, and research and innovation, among other sectors.

Research estimates that government funding accounts for 30% of nonprofit revenue. Our findings show that executive orders and other federal policy changes have a significant impact on nonprofits in our region, affecting a wide range of causes and missions, including:

Performing arts and museums
Education and in-and after-school programs
Health care
Independent/nonprofit media
Basic needs such as housing and food
Medical research
Local parks and outdoor spaces
Care and protection for the elderly, children, and other vulnerable populations

In February, The Nonprofit Institute (NPI) conducted research to understand the immediate impact of executive orders and other federal policy changes.

Continuing that research, NPI launched the Bi-Weekly Pulse-a snapshot capturing shifts and identifying emerging trends in San Diego’s nonprofit landscape. Informed by a nonprofit panel, it gathers a quick sector “pulse” through a single-question survey. In order to identify the most critical needs, we asked a panel of nonprofit leaders for their input. View results from the first four questions here.

Dr. Deitrick serves as the Executive Director of The Nonprofit Institute and as the Director of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate program at the University of San Diego. She has been a nonprofit executive director, board member, management consultant, and researcher on major nonprofit trends. Her research has led to important reports on nonprofit ethics, nonprofits and public education, nonprofit human resource practices, executive transition, the economics of San Diego and California’s nonprofit sector, nonprofit public confidence, and regional grantmaking. She served as the principal investigator for Nonprofit Academy, an award-winning capacity-building project co-created by The Nonprofit Institute and the City of San Diego.

Dr. Deitrick is a faculty member in the Department of Leadership Studies, where she teaches nonprofit management, organizational theory, program design, and evaluation. In 2021, she was recognized as the department’s outstanding faculty member.

Since 2019, Dr. Deitrick has served on the board of directors for Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI). She is also the co-author of Cases in Nonprofit Management: A Hands-On Approach to Problem Solving, published by Sage Publications.

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T16:40:58-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Member Research|

Nonprofit Works: An Important New Tool for Understanding the Nonprofit Workforce

Dr. Alan J. Abramson
Professor and Director
Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise
Schar School of Policy and Government
George Mason University

Nonprofit Works: An Important New Tool for Understanding the Nonprofit Workforce
The announcement below was authored by Buzz McClain
George Mason University – Nonprofit Employment Data (GMU-NED) Project
With support from the C.S. Mott Foundation

“In these times of great stress for nonprofits, their employees, and the people they serve, we believe this information will be an important resource. The new site comes at a critical time for the nonprofit sector, as it faces unprecedented challenges to its funding—including threats to government grants and other payments and declines in inflation-adjusted individual giving.”
—Alan J. Abramson

GMU-Nonprofit Works Data Explorer, an innovative online tool launched this March, provides access to the latest official data on nonprofit employment and establishments from 1990 to 2022. Sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys, the user-friendly platform enables users to compare nonprofit employment and wages with those in the for-profit and government sectors.

Nonprofit Works: An Interactive Database on Nonprofit Employment and Wages was previously housed at Johns Hopkins University and has been revamped and updated in its shift to George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

At a time when nonprofits, their employees, and the communities they serve are facing significant challenges, Nonprofit Works offers crucial, data-driven insights at the national, state, county, and city levels. This initiative, developed by the George Mason University-Nonprofit Employment Data Project, complements the project’s ongoing research on the nonprofit workforce.

“In these times of great stress for nonprofits, their employees, and the people they serve, we believe this information will be an important resource,” said Alan J. Abramson, professor and director of the Schar School’s Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise. “The new site comes at a critical time for the nonprofit sector, as it faces unprecedented challenges to its funding—including threats to government grants and other payments and declines in inflation-adjusted individual giving.”

The project’s most recent report, from December 2024, highlighted the difficulties nonprofits have encountered in returning to prepandemic workforce levels, underscoring the importance of robust, accessible labor data. With the launch of Nonprofit Works, stakeholders across the sector now have a powerful tool to better understand workforce trends, inform policy, and drive decision-making.

The nonprofit sector is a vital part of the employment landscape of the United States, employing almost 10 percent of the nation’s private (i.e., nongovernmental) workforce and comprising the third-largest workforce and payroll of any of the 18 industries into which statistical authorities divide the American economy—larger than all branches of manufacturing combined, and behind only retail trade and accommodation and food services.

Learn More

Alan J. Abramson is a professor and the director of the Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. In these positions, he teaches, conducts research, and works in the broad field of public administration, with a particular focus on issues related to the nonprofit sector and philanthropy.

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-14T16:33:22-04:00May 14th, 2025|NACC Member Research|

Full-Time Faculty (Non-Tenure Track), DePaul University

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences seeks one full-time non-tenure track faculty member to teach courses in its School of Public Service 2025-26 academic year. This position will be housed in the School of Public Service and primarily serve graduate students, although there will be opportunities for undergraduate teaching. Depending on expertise, successful candidate(s) will teach a range of courses including Introduction to Public Service Management, Statistics for Public Service and the School’s Research Methods graduate-level courses. A secondary ability to teach on topics such as policy design and analysis, policy implementation and economics for public service is preferred. Emphasis will be placed on finding a candidate with skills linking theory to practice in classroom activities. Assigned classes will be in person on DePaul’s Chicago campuses (Loop and Lincoln Park) and remote, both synchronous and asynchronous, following successful completion of DePaul Online Teaching Series faculty training program. At the discretion of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, administrative duties may be assigned in place of a course assignment.

Learn More and Apply

By N.A.C.C.|2025-05-06T14:56:41-04:00May 6th, 2025|Job Posting|