Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Dissertation Research:
My dissertation uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate how community foundations construct and communicate organizational priorities around racial equity and how these framing choices shape donor perceptions and support. I analyze both organizational and individual-level effects to show how framing practices at the organizational level shape downstream donor perceptions. The first essay is a scoping review of community foundations’ historical and contemporary engagement in social issues that shape their organizational priorities. This essay sets the foundation for my subsequent essays. The quantitative essay advances a theoretical concept of racialized frames and identifies two racialized frames for donor solicitation (color-blind and anti-racist) based on a pilot study. I then use a between-subjects experiment to examine how these frames affect charitable giving. Finally, the qualitative essay uses semi-structured interviews with community foundation leaders and staff to examine how they frame organizational priorities related to advancing racial equity to solicit donor support. equity to solicit donor support.
Undergraduate Institution and Major:
B.A International Political Economy and French minor, Carthage College
Graduate Institution and Degree:
MSc, Business Design and Innovation, Carthage College
Published Papers:
Beaton, E., & Ali, M. (2025). Subjected to Harassment: Deconstructing Power in an Encounter With Workplace Sexual Harassment. Gender, Work & Organization, 32(5), 1797-1811.
Papers under review:
Beaton, E., Ali, M., & Enseleit, G. (2025). Pursuing justice in response to nonprofit workplace sexual harassment. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership. (R&R September 2025).
Recent Conference Presentations:
- Ali, M. (2024). Tweeting for Social Justice: Institutional Logics, Racialized Events, and Community Foundations’ Social Justice Claims. Presentation at the Public Management Research Conference (PMRC), Seattle, WA.
- Ali, M. (2024). Tweeting for Social Justice: Institutional Logics, Racialized Events, and Community Foundations’ Social Justice Claims. Panel symposium at the Academy of Management (AOM), Chicago, IL.
- Ali, M. (2022-2023). Tweeting for Social Justice: Institutional Logics, Black Lives Matter, and Community Foundations’ Social Justice Claims. Presentation at the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA). Orlando, FL.
- Stakeholder Preferences for Color-Blind and Anti-Racist Approaches in Philanthropy. ARNOVA (November 2025).
- Exploring Race and Racialization in Nonprofit Organizations: A Systematic Literature Review. ARNOVA (November 2024).
- Tweeting for Social Justice: Institutional Logics, Black Lives Matter, and Community Foundations’ Social Justice Claims. Academy of Management (August 2024).
Teaching Assistantships:
- PUBAFRS 2150: Nonprofit Organizing for Diversity and Justice | Instructor of Record and Teaching Assistant
- PUBAFRS 6050: Managing Public Organizations | Teaching Assistant
- PUBAFRS 6060: Leadership in Public Organizations | Teaching Assistant
Relevant Professional Experience:
- 2020 – 2021 Community Schools Manager, United Way of Racine County
- 2019 – 2020 Design and Innovation Fellow, Learnlife and Carthage College
- 2018 – 2019 Community Development and Policy Studies Intern, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Honors and Awards:
- Graduate Diversity Scholar Award, ARNOVA (2023).
- University Fellowship, The Ohio State University (2021-2023).
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Advocate of the Year, Carthage College (2019).
- Game Changer Award, City of Chicago (2018).
Professional Service Activities:
- 2023 – Present Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee Member
- 2023 – Present Social Equity Committee Member
- 2023 – 2023 Women’s Fund of Central Ohio Grant Reviewer
- 2023 – 2023 Grant Reviewer for City of Columbus Elevate 2.0 Grants
- 2022 – 2022 Volunteer with GiveBackHack
- 2022 – 2024 Alumni Committee Representative
Dissertation Committee:
- Megan LePere-Schloop, John Glenn College of Public Affairs (Chair)
- Long Tran, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
- Greg Wilson, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
- Laurie E. Paarlberg, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (External)
