RACIAL DISPARITIES IN NONPROFIT FUNDING - BRINGING BIPOC NONPROFITS INTO FOCUS - A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Sep 19, 2026

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The dissertation examines racial disparities in nonprofit funding by focusing on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) nonprofits. The work reviews the theoretical background and empirical challenges to studying these disparities quantitatively. It presents three interconnected papers: definitions and measurement of BIPOC nonprofits; revenue differences between race-conscious and race-neutral missions (2010–2017, Minnesota); and intra- and inter-group funding disparities within and between BIPOC and an advantaged group (2018–2022, national human services grants).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages144

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

Advisor, committee, and scholarly community support

Funding acknowledgements

Dedication and family support

Abstract

Dissertation focus and structure

Chapter 1: theoretical background and empirical challenges

Chapters 2–4: papers on definitions, revenue disparities, and group disparities

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN NONPROFIT FUNDING: BRINGING BIPOC NONPROFITS INTO FOCUS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINESOTA By Shuyi Deng IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ADVISOR: Dr. Samuel L. Myers, Jr. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my advisor, committee, department, scholarly community, and family. I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Samuel Myers, Jr., whose mentorship has taught me the intricacies of conducting theoretically and methodologically rigorous research. His dedication to advancing racial equity through rigorous inquiry has been a constant source of inspiration for my own research pursuits and will continue to shape my journey as a scholar of social equity. I extend heartfelt thanks to my committee members, John Bryson, Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, and Carrie Oelberger. John challenged me to broaden my perspective beyond academia, urging me to explore the practical implications of my research. Daniel provided invaluable guidance throughout the research and publication process in public and nonprofit management, offering unwavering support for my career development. Carrie's insightful ideas on framing and positioning my research were instrumental, and I fondly recall our writing hunker sessions. I want to thank the Humphrey School faculty, especially Drs. Brandi Blessett, Tia Gaynor, and Kathy Quick. Dr. B and Dr. G played pivotal roles in affirming the value of my research. They connected me to the Social Equity Summit of 2022 and encouraged me to find my community when I felt lost. Kathy always had the highest confidence in my work and has given me the most heart-warming and compassionate support during the difficult time of my doctoral training. Beyond Humphrey School, I have received selfless support from the scholarly community. I am forever thankful to my colleagues at the Critical Perspectives Section ofARNOVA, especially Erynn Beaton, Maureen Feit, and Roseanne Mirabella. They introduced me to the critical nonprofit literature, connected me to other critical scholars, generously offered their time to review my job market materials, and provided guidance as I navigated academia as a female scholar. Additionally, I am thankful for the various doctoral workshops and fellowship programs that have greatly improved my dissertation, including the ARNOVA Doctoral Fellowship, the Academy of Management Public and Nonprofit Division Doctoral Fellowship, The Center for Social Impact Strategy Doctoral Fellowship led by Professors Peter Frumkin and Matthew Bennett, and Nonprofit Early Scholars Fellowship Program facilitated by Professors Lewis Faulk, Jessica Berrett, and Ming Xie. The dissertation and related research have received funding from the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, Thomson Reuters Minneapolis Rebuilt Fund, and University of Minnesota Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. I thank their financial support, which has been instrumental at various stages ofthe research and data collection process for this dissertation. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their love and support. I want to thank my parents, especially my mother, for their unconditional support of me pursuing my doctoral degree. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I received the PhD program admission offer. The very first thing she told me after she woke up from her surgery was to accept the offer. She is a warrior who has fought hard fights. She is my first teacher, my home tutor, and my cheerleader. She always apologizes for not being able to provide much help on my post-secondary education as it is a territory she’s never been to. But it has always been her curiosity, open-mindedness, and resilience that guided me through the journey. I want to thank my siblings. I could never finish my degree without them shouldering the responsibilities to ca

FAQs

What is the dissertation’s central focus?

The dissertation examines racial disparities in nonprofit funding by centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) nonprofits and how they are defined and studied.

How do Chapters 2-4 relate to one another?

Chapters 2-4 are three independent yet interconnected papers that examine BIPOC identification/definition, revenue disparities by mission type, and intra- versus inter-group funding disparities.

What data periods and datasets are used in the dissertation?

Minnesota nonprofit data covering tax filings from 2010 to 2017 are used for revenue analyses, and a national dataset of human services general support grants from 2018 to 2022 is used to study group disparities.

Sep 19, 2026

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