Professor Jen Shang, PhD
Co-Founder and Director
Jen Shang is the world’s first PhD in Philanthropy. She is also the world’s only philanthropic psychologist. Her research has been covered in the New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Advancing Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Times. Jen has been published in numerous academic journals including, the Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, the Economic Journal, Experimental Economics, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, and Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Her research has been funded by the Society of Judgment and Decision Making, the National Science Foundation, The Aspen Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Hewlett Foundation.
Professor Adrian Sargeant, PhD
Co-Founder and Professor of Fundraising
Adrian Sargeant is the Professor of Fundraising at the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. He was formerly the first Hartsook Chair in Fundraising at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. In 2010 in the United States he was named to the prestigious Nonprofit Times, Power and Influence list and in the same year received a Civil Society award in the UK for his services to the profession of fundraising. In 2016 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Institute of Fundraising. Adrian designed the UK’s system of professional education for fundraisers and has recently re-designed the European qualification framework for the European Fundraising Association. Adrian is listed by Research.com as one of the UK’s leading Business and Management academics having published 249 articles and been cited over 8000 times by his peers.
Kathryn Edworthy, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Philanthropic Psychology
Kathryn Carpenter received her PhD in Psychology from The University of Exeter in 2017. Her thesis examined how humans can consciously or unconsciously learn new information using brain imaging and brain stimulation techniques. Kathryn now applies psychological theory and experimental design to research in the non-profit sector and uses techniques such as structural equation modelling and Process modelling to analyse data for academic and industry reports. Her current research at the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy focuses on sustainably increasing donor psychological wellbeing and donation behaviour by exploring donor identity.
James Barrett
Data Analyst
James Barrett is a Data Analyst at the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. James graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2018 with an MSc in Data Science and Business Analytics. In his current role James concentrates on how qualitative data can be turned into insights. James’ current research focuses on using machine learning techniques and Process modelling to understand different facets of nonprofit donor identity and how these identities relate to donor well-being and behaviour.
Kate Ball
Program Administrator
Kate holds a BSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Skills and has applied her interest in wellbeing and psychology to working in the charity sector over the past 15 years. She has worked in Project and Operational Management roles for a variety of UK based NGOs, on projects ranging from listening support services to peer education programmes. In her current role, she is supporting the IfSP team in an administrative and project management capacity, as well as providing support to students and partners taking part in IfSPs projects and courses.
Becky Carlino
Chief Love Officer
Throughout her 20+ year nonprofit career, Becky has been deeply passionate about philanthropy. She has experience in donor communications, grants, corporate and individual giving, direct fundraising marketing, stewardship, events, major and planned giving, and capital campaigns (just to name a few).
Today, Becky is the Vice President of Development at Volunteers of America Massachusetts, leading the philanthropy efforts. During 2020 and 2022, Becky earned certificates in Philanthropic Psychology and Fundraising Copywriting from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy. Since then, she’s fallen even more in love with her philanthropic work.
Becky lives in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s a Board member of Greater Cleveland Volunteers and Past Board President of the Forum for Volunteer Administrators. She has been in the Volunteers of America family for over 11 years. In her spare time, she leads a Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and is on the Advisory Committee of the Western Reserve National Cemetery. She believes that by work and deed, donors and volunteers are at the heart of every community sharing their love and light to do good.