ERNOP Online Series 2024-2025
Nonprofits and Social Justice: How Far Should They Go?
April 8, 2025, 10-11am (CET)
Speaker: Peter Frumkin (University of Oxford)
About this seminar:
In today’s politically charged world, nonprofit organizations face increasing pressure to take a stance on social issues. While advocacy is often a natural extension of their mission, the question remains: how far should they go? Engaging in social justice movements can strengthen public trust and stakeholder support, but it also carries risks. Some organizations choose to quietly deliver programs that align with their cause, while others take a more active role—participating in public advocacy, organizing protests, or even engaging in more controversial forms of activism. But how do these choices shape public perception?
In this webinar, Professor Peter Frumkin from the Gradel Institute for Charity at the University of Oxford will present findings from a study that explores how different forms of nonprofit political engagement impact public trust, financial donations, and volunteer support. Through an online experiment, researchers have analyzed how people react to nonprofits that provide supportive programs, engage in peaceful advocacy, or participate in more disruptive forms of protest.
How do these actions influence an organization’s reputation? Do they inspire greater public support or lead to unintended consequences? And where is the line between meaningful advocacy and reputational risk?
Join us for an insightful discussion where we unpack the strategic implications for nonprofit decision-making, stakeholder trust, and long-term impact in an era where silence is rarely an option.
Please register for this webinar here.
About Peter Frumkin
Peter Frumkin is the Academic Director of the Gradel Institute of Charity at New College, Oxford University and the Heyer Chair in Social Policy and Faculty Director of the Center for Social Impact Strategy, both the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice (on leave). Prior to coming to Penn, Frumkin taught at the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Before academics, Frumkin worked as a foundation program officer and as a program evaluator in both nonprofit and public agencies. Frumkin received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago. Frumkin is the author of several important books covering a broad range of topics, including philanthropy, giving, volunteering, and fundraising like Social Impact (UPenn 2017) or The Essence of Strategic Giving: A Practical Guide for Donors and Fundraisers (University of Chicago Press 2010).
About the Gradel Institute of Charity
The Gradel Institute of Charity, founded in 2023 at New College, Oxford, is committed to advancing both the academic study and practical development of the charity sector. It serves as a global hub for research, discussion, and education, providing a platform for charities and third-sector organizations to navigate and embrace purposeful change. Through high-quality research, executive development, and innovative programmes, the Institute supports charities in strengthening their governance, leadership, and impact, both nationally and internationally.