Research That Matters - A Global Deep Dive

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.

This podcast episode translates critical research on children’s online safety into an accessible conversation for nonprofit leaders, educators, policymakers, and advocates working to protect children in an increasingly digital world. Drawing on multiple peer-reviewed studies, the episode explores the growing risks associated with internet use—including digital kidnapping, deepfakes, online grooming, cyberbullying, phishing, and the long-term consequences of “sharenting,” where parents and caregivers share children’s images and personal information online.

Based on the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation (JoNI), September 2023 issue, which focuses on Online Protection Laws for Children, this episode synthesizes research examining how emerging technologies and social media practices can compromise children’s privacy, safety, and well-being. The studies highlight how children’s digital footprints are formed early, how manipulated images and videos can be weaponized through deepfake technology, and how gaps in policy enforcement leave children vulnerable across regions and platforms.

Importantly, this episode also highlights research-based recommendations and protective strategies to combat these risks. The research points to actionable solutions such as stronger online protection laws, improved enforcement mechanisms, parental education on privacy settings and responsible sharing, school-based digital safety education, cross-sector collaboration, and clear reporting and intervention pathways. By translating these findings into an audio format, this podcast helps nonprofit leaders move from awareness to action—using evidence to inform prevention, advocacy, and safer digital environments for children.

Based on Artile: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol3/iss3/2/

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. Read the original article in JoNI September Issue from 2023. 

Food Insecurity, Climate Change Concerns and Innovation is a podcast episode that translates recent academic research into practical insights for nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and community practitioners working at the intersection of food systems and social impact. Drawing from multiple peer-reviewed studies, this episode explores how climate change, economic instability, and global crises are reshaping food insecurity across regions—while also highlighting innovative, community-driven responses.

This podcast is based on Research Summaries from the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation (JoNI), December 2023 issue, which synthesizes findings from recent studies related to food insecurity, climate resilience, urban and rural food systems, and emerging solutions such as regenerative agriculture, food rescue, indoor farming, and policy innovation. The research emphasizes the interconnected nature of food security, environmental sustainability, health outcomes, and equity, offering evidence-based insights that can inform real-world action.

To increase accessibility and reach, this episode was created using NotebookLM, transforming academic research into an engaging audio format designed to support learning, reflection, and application. By bridging research and practice, Food Insecurity, Climate Change Concerns and Innovation helps ensure that critical evidence doesn’t stay behind paywalls—but instead informs decisions that matter on the ground.

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.

In this episode, we explore Charitable Giving, drawing from the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation’s research summaries to examine what the evidence tells us about why people give, how trust and transparency influence donor behavior, and which fundraising approaches are most effective in practice. By translating academic research into real-world insight, this conversation helps nonprofit leaders understand what motivates donors, what builds long-term support, and how research can inform ethical, evidence-based fundraising strategies.

This episode is based on Research Summaries: Charitable Giving published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2024), and was created using NotebookLM to enhance audio accessibility for nonprofit practitioners and the broader community.

This episode explores Artificial Intelligence and the latest research nonprofit leaders need to know, drawing from Research Summaries: Artificial Intelligence and Data for Nonprofits. The conversation examines how emerging technologies— including AI, data systems, and digital tools—are reshaping nonprofit decision-making, transparency, accountability, and organizational capacity. Grounded in current research, the episode highlights how nonprofits are using data and AI to improve service delivery, measure impact, and respond more effectively to community needs.

The discussion also addresses critical challenges identified in the research, including data gaps, ethical concerns, digital inequities, governance risks, and resource constraints that disproportionately affect small and under-resourced organizations. With a focus on real-world application, this episode helps nonprofit leaders understand where AI and data can add value, where caution is necessary, and how to adopt technology in ways that align with mission, equity, and trust.

This episode is based on Research Summaries: Artificial Intelligence and Data for Nonprofits published in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 4 (December 2024), and was created using NotebookLM to enhance audio accessibility for a broader audience.