Shuyi Deng, an assistant professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award for an Outstanding Dissertation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action.
Deng’s dissertation, “Racial Disparities in Nonprofit Funding: Bringing BIPOC Nonprofits into Focus,” was recognized for its originality, methodological rigor, and deep commitment to advancing racial equity in the nonprofit sector. Her work offers one of the first comprehensive and systematic theoretical analyses of why racial disparities in nonprofit funding exist, providing a crucial foundation for future theoretical and empirical research.
“The faculty at the O’Neill School are known around the world for their groundbreaking research and willingness to look at issues from a new perspective,” said O’Neill School Dean Siân Mooney. “Shuyi’s work exemplifies the type of innovative, socially impactful scholarship that defines the O’Neill School. We are incredibly proud of her contributions to both research and the broader conversation.”
Deng’s research agenda focuses broadly on the racial dynamics within the nonprofit sector and the distributional consequences of nonprofit and philanthropic activities along racial lines. Her work aims to inform policies and management practices that advance racial equity and strengthen the capacity of BIPOC-led organizations.
“Receiving the Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award is incredibly meaningful to me,” Deng said. “It serves as a confirmation of my dissertation work and the years of effort dedicated to understanding and addressing racial disparities in the nonprofit sector. I’m so grateful to my doctoral department at the University of Minnesota and to the ARNOVA community for their support and encouragement along the way.
“This recognition also reassures me that my research is both necessary and valued. I’m especially excited to continue my research on racial equity and nonprofits here at O'Neill. It’s a true honor to be part of a community that values and advances impactful research on nonprofits and social change.”
Deng earned her doctoral degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota. The Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award, one of ARNOVA’s highest honors for emerging scholars, recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations that contribute significantly to the understanding of nonprofit and voluntary action.