The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs is a national leader in research that explores the context and practice of governance. We share this knowledge and provide settings where others can learn through outreach and teaching. Research, academic courses, and professional programs offer tangible approaches to complex public problems.
PNLC Focus Areas
Leadership
Our faculty conducts research, education, and outreach activities focusing on where and how leadership is exercised. They have expertise in leadership of government and nonprofit organizations, policy implementation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in cross-sector collaborations. Their work addresses ongoing challenges of fostering ethical public service and nurturing leadership in the public interest.
Cross-sector Collaboration
We design and conduct research on how and when cross-sector partnerships are most effective in addressing public problems. The PNLC convenes leaders in nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector to address policy issues that critically affect all sectors. Research in this area includes a major study of cross-sector collaboration in the transportation field and studies of collaborative policy implementation in emergency situations.
Governance and Accountability
We conduct research that identifies the limitations and strengths of mechanisms and models of governance and accountability in public institutions. Initiative activities directly involve students and enrich the Humphrey Institute's curriculum with the latest thinking and research on governance and accountability issues, and activities promote dialogue among new and established leaders of nonprofits, philanthropy, the public sector, and intermediary organizations. Current research in this area concerns how local governments negotiate the political environment for local service provisions.
Public Interest-Philanthropy
Our faculty and fellows consider the unique roles private and philanthropic institutions play in public problem solving because of the nimble resources they can deploy. The PNLC convenes leaders in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to address questions specific to this arena.
Center Expertise
Humphrey Institute faculty, senior fellows, and distinguished practitioners directly affiliated with the PNLC:
Melissa Middleton Stone. Governance of nonprofit organizations, cross-sector partnerships for policy implementation. Associate professor, Gross family professor of nonprofit management, and director of PNLC.
John M. Bryson. Leadership, strategic management, and public participation strategies. Associate dean for research and McKnight presidential professor of planning and public affairs.
Barbara Crosby. Leadership across public institutions, international public leadership. Associate professor.
Gary DeCramer. Leadership, ethical practice in public affairs, policy governance. Director of mid-career Master of Public Affairs program.
Jay Kiedrowski. Public agency finance, public management, organizational development. Senior fellow.
Jodi Sandfort. Nonprofit and government relationships, public policy implementation, early childhood policy, welfare and workforce development. Associate professor.
Joe Soss. Politics of poverty, inequality, and social policy; political psychology, public opinion, and political behavior. Empirical theory and research methodology. Cowles professor for the study of public service.
Jerry Zhao. State and local public finance, nonprofit management, public management, performance, budgeting, GIS applications in public affairs. Assistant professor.
Download a list of the center expertise recent publications (PDF).
Please contact us if you’d like a copy of relevant case studies written by PNLC faculty and staff on innovative practices within nonprofit and government sectors
Case Studies
Read interesting explanations of the research and studies by PNLC. Please contact us if you’d like to use these for educational purposes.
"Trust as an Asset: Building a Managed Service Organization within MACC"
By Jodi Sandfort
On April 23, 2009, the six Hill Fellows joined together for a remarkable event calledPhilanthropy for Extraordinary Times: Reflections, Ideas, and Action. A two-part video of the event is above.
The first part features comments from each Fellow, plus welcoming remarks by: Brian Atwood, Dean of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; Ellis Bullock, Executive Director of the Grotto Foundation; Kevin Walker, President of the Northwest Area Foundation; and Melissa Stone, Director of the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center. The Honorable George Latimer moderates the session. (Video length is 1 hour, 32 minutes)
The second part features a lively conversation between the audience, the Fellows, and Mr. Latimer. It concludes with remarks by Jon Pratt, Executive Director of the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits and by Melissa Stone. (Video length is 54 minutes) Enjoy!
Louis W. Hill, Jr., Fellowship in Philanthropy A unique recognition for a distinguished leader in philanthropy to promote new thinking and action in public affairs. Supported by the Grotto Foundation and the Northwest Area Foundation from 2003 to 2008, fellows dedicated a year of study to furthering discussion in the field of philanthropy, culminating in a public presentation.
Former Fellows
2007-2008, Chuck Denny, Jr. Former president, CEO, and chairman of ADC Telecommunications and a seasoned corporate citizen and philanthropist. The Corporation in Modern American Society.
2005-2006, Sage and John Cowles, community leaders well known in Minnesota and across the nation for their philanthropy and contributions to civic discourse.
