RESEARCH
Cutting-edge research leads to innovation and impact
Research at SP2 is led by renowned faculty who are highly respected practitioners, educators, and mentors. Together with a worldwide network of global collaborators, they are advancing knowledge that drives social good and social innovation in a range of critical areas such as homelessness, health, philanthropy, and more.
Research Areas
CHILDREN, WOMEN & FAMILY WELL-BEING
A focus on critical reform to the child welfare system, improving the lives of children and women who are victims of abuse, and advocating for policy and practice reform
Committed to addressing climate justice through mitigation, anticipation, adaptation, and community action
Data-Driven Policy Analysis & Evidence-Based Practice
Using administrative data, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis to inform the future of social innovation and social policy
Expertise in income inequality, economic mobility, universal basic income, and the labor market impact of public policies
Health Equity, Mental Health & Aging
Understanding diverse social and environmental factors affecting health and well-being within underserved populations, geriatric patients, individuals with mental illness, and those at elevated risk for disease
Identity, Immigration & Racism
Understanding how personal, cultural, and social factors impact important issues concerning inclusion, economic injustices, and policy within marginalized communities
Mass Incarceration, Homelessness & Substance Use
Applied research, psychosocial services, and person-centered approaches to better understand how to recover and provide service to vulnerable populations
Social Innovation, Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management
Educating individuals on the economics of giving through grantmaking strategies, identifying donors, social entrepreneurship, and the resulting social impact
Research Centers & Projects
Students, faculty, and collaborators connect in SP2’s research centers, special projects, and initiatives to further groundbreaking scholarship.
Events
02/10
Making Secondary Data Work for You: Innovative Methods for Leveraging National Violent Death Data
Secondary data offers powerful opportunities for research—but it also comes with constraints. How can scholars push beyond these limitations? Join experts Millan AbiNader, PhD, MSW, Laurie Graham, PhD, MSW, and Julie Kafka, PhD, MPH for a dynamic discussion on innovative methods for analyzing intimate partner violence-related fatalities using the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).
Events
02/17
![Petersen.m[final]](https://sp2.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Petersen.MFinal-496x271.jpg)
The Art of Successful Fundraising: Stories and Strategies That Lead to a YES
Are you thinking about a career in fundraising – or know that it will be part of your future nonprofit role? Imagine starting this work with the real-world insights most […]
Events
02/19
The Politics of Well-Being: Place and Well-Being
Where we live matters. This panel explores the geography of well-being: how neighborhood infrastructure, environmental justice, urban design, and housing access shape physical and mental health. We’ll look at how […]
Contact Us