This episode of Research That Matters - A Global Deep Dive is based on the article “Machine Learning for Nonprofit Organizations” by Justin Holzer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 2024).

In this conversation, we break down how machine learning can help nonprofits increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and maximize limited resources. The article provides a practical, beginner-friendly overview of supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, and reinforcement learning—explaining how each approach can support fundraising, volunteer management, fraud detection, marketing analysis, and operational optimization.

A featured use case demonstrates how a neural network model was developed to predict whether donors would give again—achieving 86% accuracy in forecasting repeat donations. This example shows how nonprofits can move from reactive fundraising to data-driven strategy, enabling more targeted outreach and greater mission impact.

Designed for nonprofit leaders, data professionals, funders, and innovation-focused organizations, this episode translates technical research into actionable insights for modern nonprofit management.

This episode of Research That Matters - A Global Deep Dive is based on the article “Machine Learning for Nonprofit Organizations” by Justin Holzer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 2024), available at https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol4/iss2/6/. The audio version was created using Google’s NotebookLM to convert the published research into a podcast format, making advanced AI and machine learning concepts more accessible for nonprofit leaders through listening.

This episode of Research That Matters - A Global Deep Dive is based on the article “Addressing Adolescent Suicide in South Korea” by Alyssa Kang, Brigham Young University, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation.

In this conversation, we examine why suicide has been the leading cause of death among South Korean adolescents since 2011 and explore the complex social, cultural, psychological, and economic factors driving this crisis. The research highlights key risk factors including depression, academic pressure, bullying and cyberbullying, problematic internet use, family structure changes, substance abuse, and socioeconomic stress. It also explores how stigma surrounding mental health in Korean society limits help-seeking behaviors and early intervention.

Beyond identifying causes, this episode examines the broader consequences of adolescent suicide—its impact on families, schools, communities, and even the national economy. We also highlight innovative prevention efforts, including school-based mental health services and nonprofit-led “gatekeeper” training programs such as Suicide CARE and safeTALK, which aim to identify at-risk youth and connect them to support.

Designed for nonprofit leaders, educators, policymakers, and global health advocates, this episode translates research into actionable insights for strengthening youth mental health systems and community-based prevention efforts.This episode of Research That Matters is based on the article “Addressing Adolescent Suicide in South Korea” by Alyssa Kang, Brigham Young University, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2024), available at https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol4/iss3/6/, and was converted into audio using Google’s NotebookLM to make the research more accessible through podcast listening.

This episode of Research That Matters is based on the article “Investigating the Potential Benefits of Standards-Based Grading Practices at Urban Secondary Schools in Southern Utah: A Qualitative Study,” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, by Dr. April Larsen, University of Arizona.

In this conversation, we explore whether traditional letter grades truly reflect student learning—or if standards-based grading offers a more accurate and meaningful approach to measuring achievement. Drawing from qualitative research conducted in urban secondary schools in Southern Utah, the study examines how educators, parents, and school leaders perceive grading practices and their impact on student motivation, anxiety, instructional clarity, and academic outcomes.

While letter grades remain the norm, participants identified concerns about grade inflation, subjective weighting, and a focus on points rather than mastery. The findings suggest that standards-based grading may better align curriculum with learning standards, improve communication about student progress, and strengthen instructional effectiveness. At the same time, implementing grading reform requires thoughtful leadership, stakeholder education, and cultural adaptation.

For educators, nonprofit leaders in education, and policymakers, this episode highlights how grading practices intersect with transparency, accountability, and student-centered learning.

In this episode of Research That Matters, we explore what truly drives employee satisfaction in nonprofit organizations in the United States.

Drawing from an article by Kristi Egbert from Minnesota State Mankato, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, this conversation examines why nonprofit employees often earn less than their for-profit counterparts—yet still report meaningful levels of job satisfaction. The research highlights the powerful role of mission attachment, intrinsic rewards, autonomy, inclusive leadership, workplace culture, and supportive supervisor relationships in shaping employee well-being and retention.

We discuss how nonprofit leaders can increase satisfaction by fostering purpose-driven work, recognizing contributions, promoting inclusion and innovation, supporting career growth, and building strong relational work environments. If nonprofits want to reduce turnover, increase productivity, and better serve their communities, understanding what keeps employees engaged and fulfilled is essential.

Designed for nonprofit executives, HR leaders, board members, and emerging managers, this episode turns research into practical insights that strengthen organizational culture and impact.

In this episode of Making a Difference: A Research for Practice Podcast, we explore the thought paper “Russia: Increased Corruption and Deterioration of Freedom, Is there Hope?” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation.

This research examines how political corruption has intensified in Russia under Vladimir Putin’s rule, highlighting five structural drivers of corruption—including centralization of power, media control, weakening of the judiciary, state-owned enterprise manipulation, and organized crime influence. The episode also explores the economic, social, and national security consequences of systemic corruption, including stagnation, inequality, erosion of trust, and weakened institutions.

We examine both government-led and citizen-led anti-corruption efforts, including the work of Alexei Navalny and the Anti-Corruption Foundation, and discuss the psychological concept of “learned helplessness” as it relates to civic disengagement under authoritarian conditions. The conversation concludes with ten structural reforms necessary to restore freedom, strengthen civil society, and rebuild institutional trust.

Designed for nonprofit leaders, policymakers, researchers, and global civil society advocates, this episode invites listeners to consider a central question: In the face of increasing repression, is there still hope for institutional reform and expanded freedom?

This episode is based on the article “Russia: Increased Corruption and Deterioration of Freedom, Is there Hope?” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2024), available at https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol4/iss1/6/, and was converted into an audio format using Google’s NotebookLM to make the research more accessible through podcast listening.

In this episode of Making a Difference: A Research for Practice Podcast, we explore the article “Mapping Nonprofit Data Accessibility in Latin American Countries: Early Insights from an Exploratory Comparative Study,” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025).

This research examines nonprofit registries across 20 Latin American countries, asking critical questions: Do nonprofit databases exist? Who operates them? How accessible and searchable are they? What are the registration requirements and costs—and do they promote inclusion or create barriers?

Early findings reveal that 70% of countries studied maintain at least one nonprofit database, yet accessibility, usability, oversight, and costs vary widely across the region. Some systems are publicly searchable and government-run, while others are fragmented, outdated, independently maintained, or difficult to access. Registration costs range from free to nearly $2,000 USD, raising important equity questions about grassroots inclusion and representation.

Mapping Nonprofit Data Accessib…

This episode unpacks what these findings mean for nonprofit leaders, funders, policymakers, and communities. Can registration alone serve as a sufficient marker of trust? Or are stronger validation and open-data frameworks needed to build credibility and collaboration across borders?

Grounded in transparency theory, accountability frameworks, and open-data governance, this conversation highlights why accessible nonprofit data systems are essential for strengthening trust, equity, and cross-sector partnerships throughout Latin America—and globally.

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This episode is based on the article “Mapping Nonprofit Data Accessibility in Latin American Countries: Early Insights from an Exploratory Comparative Study,” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025). The study is part of a broader global research initiative examining nonprofit data systems, transparency, and accessibility across countries.

To expand access beyond the written page, this podcast audio was created using Google’s NotebookLM, transforming the published research into an accessible listening format for nonprofit leaders, practitioners, and researchers worldwide.

In this episode of Making a Difference: A Research for Practice Podcast, we unpack Bridging Theory and Practice: The Vision and Action Plan of the ISTR Research for Practice Affinity Group, a foundational article from the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation. This conversation explores why the gap between nonprofit research and real-world practice persists—and what it actually takes to close it.

Drawing on global perspectives from scholars and practitioners involved in the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR), the episode highlights the growing “pracademic” movement, the value of co-created knowledge, and concrete strategies for making research more accessible, relevant, and usable for nonprofit leaders. From matchmaking researchers with practitioners to rethinking publishing, funding, and training models, this episode offers a roadmap for turning research into action.

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, researcher, funder, or practitioner working on the ground, this episode invites you to rethink how research is produced, shared, and applied—and how collaboration across sectors can lead to stronger impact and more equitable outcomes.

This podcast episode is based on the article “Bridging Theory and Practice: The Vision and Action Plan of the ISTR Research for Practice Affinity Group,” published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 5, Issue 3 (Special Edition: Research for Practice, September 2025). The audio version of this episode was created using Google’s NotebookLM to transform the published research into an accessible podcast format, making practitioner-focused research easier to engage with beyond the written page.

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol5/iss3/5/

Access to reliable nonprofit data is foundational to transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making—yet across the world, that access remains deeply uneven. In this episode, we break down the research behind Analyzing Global Nonprofit Data Accessibility: Preliminary Findings from a Cross-National Comparative Study and explore what it reveals about how countries collect, manage, and publicly share information about nonprofit organizations.

Drawing on a global analysis of nonprofit registries across all world regions, the episode examines where nonprofit data is accessible, where it is missing entirely, and how differences in registration requirements, governance structures, and digital infrastructure shape what governments, funders, researchers, and nonprofit leaders can actually see. Listeners will learn why legal registration does not necessarily equal transparency, how regional disparities—particularly in Africa and Oceania—limit accountability, and why the lack of shared global standards makes cross-national comparison so difficult.

Designed for nonprofit leaders, policymakers, funders, and scholars alike, this conversation highlights why strengthening nonprofit data infrastructure is not just a technical issue, but a critical step toward building trust, improving collaboration, and supporting more effective civil society ecosystems worldwide.

This podcast episode is based on the preliminary article Analyzing Global Nonprofit Data Accessibility: Preliminary Findings from a Cross-National Comparative Study, published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 5, Issue 4 (December 2025), and was converted into audio format using NotebookLM to enhance accessibility. Because this is an early-stage report, some findings have since been refined.

As children and families spend more time online, the risks they face—from data breaches and cyberattacks to online exploitation—are growing at an unprecedented rate. In this episode, we translate the research behind Online Safety Laws by Country into an accessible conversation for nonprofit leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. Drawing on a global review of online safety and data protection laws, the episode explores how governments around the world are responding to threats such as cybercrime, misuse of personal data, and the increasing vulnerability of children in digital spaces.

The discussion highlights key differences across regions, including the European Union’s leadership through GDPR, varied approaches in North America, emerging legislation across Africa and Asia, and gaps in protections in parts of Central and South America. Particular attention is given to laws designed to safeguard children online, including protections against data misuse, harmful content, and digital exploitation. The episode also examines where current policies fall short and what these gaps mean for nonprofits working with children, families, and communities in an increasingly digital world. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of the global policy landscape and practical insights into why online protection laws matter for mission-driven organizations operating across borders.

This podcast episode is based on the September 2023 Journal of Nonprofit Innovation article, “Online Safety Laws by Country,” and explores global online protection and data privacy laws affecting children, families, and digital communities. Because this research reflects the legal landscape as of 2023, listeners should note that additional laws or policy updates may have been introduced since its publication.

Based on Artice: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol3/iss3/3/

This podcast episode is adapted from the September 2023 Journal of Nonprofit Innovation article, “Online Safety Laws by Country,” and examines global online protection and data privacy laws impacting children, families, and digital communities; the audio version was created using NotebookLM to make this research more accessible to a wider audience.

This podcast episode translates recent academic research on migrants and refugees into an accessible conversation for nonprofit leaders, policymakers, educators, and service providers working in displacement, resettlement, and humanitarian response. Drawing from multiple peer-reviewed studies, the episode explores the lived experiences of refugees across contexts, including prolonged stays in refugee camps, forced migration due to conflict, and the challenges refugees face in accessing mental health care, education, housing, and social integration.

Based on the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation (JoNI), June 2023 issue (Volume 3, Issue 2), this episode synthesizes Latest Research Summaries on Migrants and Refugees, covering topics such as the mental health impacts of long-term camp confinement, refugee health system access in the EU, policy narratives shaping asylum decisions, the needs of resettled refugee students, and the unique barriers faced by trans and gender non-conforming refugees. The research highlights how policy decisions, public narratives, and systemic constraints directly influence refugee well-being and long-term outcomes.

Importantly, the episode also highlights research-based recommendations and practical strategies for improving refugee support and policy responses. These include reducing prolonged camp stays, strengthening mental health and psychosocial services, improving data collection, investing in educator training, fostering community integration, and developing inclusive, evidence-informed migration policies. By transforming these research summaries into an audio format, this podcast helps bridge research and practice—ensuring that evidence informs real-world decisions that impact displaced populations.

This podcast episode was created using NotebookLM to make research more accessible and actionable for nonprofit leaders by translating evidence-based insights into an easy-to-consume audio format.