Ruth Hansen
Associate Professor, Ad Hoc Program Specialist,

Ruth K. Hansen, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics and director of the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies. A scholar and former practitioner, she brings over two decades of fundraising experience to her research on philanthropy, resource mobilization, and inclusion in the nonprofit sector. She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, a Master of Jurisprudence in Business Law (Loyola University Chicago School of Law), and a BA in Music (Rutgers University).

Dr. Hansen’s work explores the intersection of theory and practice in fundraising—how we ask, who gives to whom, and why it matters. Her recent studies include “Sector theorists should consider how social values determine unmet needs” (with Gregory Witkowski, in Reimagining Nonprofits: Sector Theory in the Twenty-First Century), and “Who will spare a dime? Impulse giving decisions at the checkout” (with Lauren Dula, in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs). Her 2023 Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing Editors' Choice article, co-written with Lesley Alborough, challenges traditional fundraising research methodologies and highlights the value of practitioner perspectives.

Recognized for her contributions to the field, Dr. Hansen was named a 2024 AFP Early Career Emerging Scholar alongside Dr. Lauren Dula. She serves on the board of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) and the Rogare Council, and chairs the Research Council for the AFP Foundation for Fundraising.

Research Interests: 

• How fundraising strategy shapes who receives support
• Donor responses to controversial, unpopular, or stigmatized causes
• Equity and inequality in philanthropic resource flows
• The relationship between fundraising practice and broader sector dynamics
• Conceptual foundations of professional fundraising ethics and standards