My scholarship contributes to the fields of public and nonprofit administration, philanthropy, feminist theory, and social change. I focus on how nonprofit organizations and philanthropic practices influence equity, empowerment, and transformation, particularly for women, girls, youth, and historically marginalized communities.

Research Focus

Guided by a lifelong interest in social change—and inspired by my mentor, Dr. Angela Eikenberry—my research bridges academic theory and nonprofit and philanthropic practices. My work identifies key phenomena and generates insights into nonprofit work and women’s philanthropic engagement. 

Key areas of focus include:

– Social change–oriented nonprofit models

-Women’s and girls’ philanthropy

-Women’s grantmaking foundations and funds 

-Feminist nonprofit organizations and movements

-Philanthropy education in K–12 schools 

Current & Ongoing Research

Expanding Philanthropy Education in Private Single-Sex Schools

This study explores how philanthropy is taught, modeled, and experienced in private all-girls and all-boys K–12 schools. It examines both formal and informal approaches to philanthropy education, including how students engage with giving and volunteering or service.

Research collaborators: Ming Xie, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); Josephine Hazelton-Boyle, Ph.D. (California State University, Fresno)

Policy Change & Refugee Resettlement Organizations

This project investigates how refugee-serving nonprofits respond to changing U.S. immigration and refugee policies. It examines how these shifts affect organizational identity, service delivery models, and community relationships—especially in times of political and resource uncertainty.

Research collaborators: Ming Xie, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); Josephine Hazelton-Boyle, Ph.D. (California State University, Fresno); Anna Schlia, M.P.A. (Doctoral Candidate, University of Rochester)

Women’s Philanthropic Decision-Making (Under Review)

An empirical study analyzing the motivations, behaviors, and patterns of giving among women donors, with special attention to generational differences and the influence of racial and social identity on philanthropic choices.

Coauthor: Ming Xie, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Typology of Social Change Nonprofits (Under Review)

This research develops a conceptual framework to better understand how feminist-aligned nonprofits pursue social change. Drawing from grantee partners of women’s foundations, the study proposes a typology of organizations based on mission, strategy, and theory of change.

Coauthors: Joseph Hafer, Ph.D. (University of Memphis); Ming Xie, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); Whitney Kennedy, M.P.A. (University of Memphis)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

(Forthcoming). Gillespie, E.M., and Xie, M. Exploring determinants of philanthropic decision-making among women donors. Nonprofit Management and Leadership. 

Gillespie, E., and Schlia, A. (2025). Cultivating tomorrow’s philanthropists: Girls’
philanthropy in girls’ schools. Philanthropy & Education, 8(2), 1-30.

Gillespie, E., and Fletcher, B.J. (2024). Feminism, foundations, and social change:
Understanding women’s philanthropic nonprofits. Journal of Social Equity and Public
Administration, 2024, 2(2): 103–135. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v2i2.5459

Gillespie, E.M. (2021) Empowerment-focused philanthropy: Bridging feminist theories and organizational practices through U.S. women’s funds. Administrative Theory &
Praxis, DOI: 10.1080/10841806.2021.1984103 

Gillespie, E.M. (2020). Women’s grantmaking for economic security: The work of one
coalition. The Foundation Review, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.9707/1944-5660.1518 

Gillespie, E.M., Mirabella, R.M., Eikenberry, A.M. (2020). #Metoo/#Aidtoo and creating an intersectional feminist NPO/NGO sector. Nonprofit Policy
Forum, 10(4). https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2019-0019/html

Technical Reports

Gillespie, E.M. (2019). Women’s foundations and funds: A landscape study. Women’s
Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Indianapolis, IN.  
https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/19244/foundations-funds.pdf 
 
Gillespie, E.M. (2019). Change agents: The goals and impact of women’s foundations
and funds. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of
Philanthropy. Indianapolis, IN. https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/21442/change-agents-
dec19.pdf  

Gillespie, E.M. (2023). The women and children’s status report for Tennessee and Shelby County: With a special look at women’s philanthropy in Shelby County. Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. Memphis, TN.
https://www.memphis.edu/padm/documents/ipnl-pdfs/women-childrens-status-report-tn-shelby-county22-23.pdf

Other Publications

Gillespie, E.M. (2017). Citizen participation and nonprofit organizations. Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance, Springer International Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66252-3_2937