Viviana Wu, assistant professor of public policy, recently established the Community for Impact (C4I) Lab. The lab, supported through the Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement (SBS RISE) Program and the Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP), is an interdisciplinary knowledge hub focused on understanding how communities, both online and offline, unite in collective action to drive social and policy change. C4I's research focuses on several areas, including the role of nonprofits and philanthropic organizations, the impact of social media and online advocacy, and strategies for reducing inequality and polarization.
Since launching earlier in 2024, Wu and her team of undergraduate and graduate researchers have concentrated on social justice grantmaking and have begun conducting a comprehensive review of foundation grantmaking processes. Last month, undergraduate research assistants Conor Johnson and Saniya Jain presented preliminary research at the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) conference.
When asked about current research, Wu stated, "...We are currently studying the complex patterns, networks, and evolving practices of foundation grantmaking, with a particular focus on the burgeoning commitment to social justice spurred by recent social movements. By examining the evolution of social justice grantmaking, we demonstrate how philanthropy can go beyond traditional charitable giving to actively champion structural changes that confront and address deep-rooted social inequalities."