RESEARCH CENTERS & PROJECTS
Furthering groundbreaking scholarship in the passionate pursuit of social good
Research Centers
Students, faculty, and collaborators connect in SP2’s research centers to further groundbreaking scholarship in areas such as philanthropy, aging, social impact, children’s policy, violence and abuse, and guaranteed income.
Center for Carceral Communities
Works collaboratively with neighborhoods in West Philadelphia to help people with a history of incarceration re-engage with the community
Center for PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLICY
A dynamic R&D hub and do-tank embodying a steadfast commitment to drive equitable economic mobility through research, innovation, and partnership
Ortner Center on Violence & Abuse
Dedicated to ensuring women’s and girls’ health, well-being and flourishing by identifying societal transformations to eradicate violence and abuse against women and girls
Center for Guaranteed Income Research
An applied research center that specializes in cash-transfer research, evaluation, pilot design, and narrative change
Center for Social Impact Strategy
Alternative learning opportunities equip those who seek to make a social impact through the application of practical research and our community of educational partners and mentors
CENTER FOR HIGH IMPACT PHILANTHROPY
The only university-based center with a singular focus on philanthropy for social impact
Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research
A collaboration of SP2, Penn’s schools of Law, Medicine, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate School of Education, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, this center is focused on reform of the child welfare system
Initiatives and Special Projects
From encouraging social innovation to promoting economic security and well-being, SP2’s special projects uphold Penn’s commitment to engage both locally and globally on interdisciplinary cooperation and professional development.
ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE FOR SOCIAL POLICY
Aims to encourage social innovation and social policy experimentation so that governments can work better, smarter and faster
A research lab with collaborators worldwide focused on research and policy to improve health equity, efficiency, resource allocation, and governance
Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology
Advances health equity, opportunity, and social welfare in Philadelphia and beyond through innovation grounded in values and principles of social justice
A research initiative focused on examining the ways in which youth of color navigate violence on and offline
Focuses largely on interrogating gender inequality in education and health with a goal toward generating empirical research to support inclusive policies and practices.
News
Faculty & Research
12/19
Centering joy in AI development and implementation
PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton and collaborators introduce a joy-informed framework designed to initiate conversations among engineers, designers, and researchers.
News
Faculty & Research
12/18
SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference
SP2 celebrates the achievements of its faculty, students, and alumni recognized at the 2025 Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference, held November 20 – 23 in Indianapolis, IN.
News
Faculty & Research
12/11
SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton named to AASWSW Class of 2026
Dr. Desmond Upton Patton has been selected to join the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Class of 2026 Fellows.