Public Policy Commons^™

From Courtrooms To Classrooms: Experiments In Survival, Justin Surdyka

Journal of Prison Education Research

The transformative powers of college-in-prison programs are known, but students get the grave of continued incarceration—even if we are fully rehabilitated. For the college-in-prison student who spends years in classes, degrees and parole denials are synonymous, especially for those of us who have committed violent off enses. We are educated but not redeemed in the eyes of the system. My classmates and I are the degrees behind the denials, the students behind the degrees, the prisoners behind the students, the human beings behind the prisoners who are the reason higher education in prison is praised for being transformative. Yet we …

Opportunities, Challenges, And Conspicuous Absences: An Integrative Review Of The Social Work Literature On Artificial Intelligence, Michael J. Massey, Ian G. Williams, Grace C. Polistina, Eathan A. Breaux

Publications and Research

INTRODUCTION: Social work discourse regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in practice, research, and education has proliferated over the last 5 years, reflecting both excitement over its potential and ambivalence about its ethical challenges. However, the extent to which social work is fully engaging with the structure of AI and its enormous impacts on the environment, labour, and distribution of power remains unclear.

METHODS: An integrative review of social work literature from 2020–2024 was conducted to address two research questions: 1) What is the nature of the social work discourse related to AI? 2) To what extent is the discourse …

Domestic Violence In The Mountain West, 2026, Isabelle G. Graham, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents 2026 data on domestic violence in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The World Population Review report, “Domestic Violence by State 2026,” reports data on the percentage of women and men in each state who report experiences of domestic violence in their lifetime.This fact sheet highlights state-level data on different forms of domestic violence reported across the Mountain West.

Teaching And Learning Math In Prison: A Systematic Review, Giulia De Rocco, Enrico Angelo Emili, Elisa Miragliotta, George Richard Paul Santi, Alessia Muratori

Journal of Prison Education Research

The paper presents the first results of a systematic review of the literature on mathematics teaching and learning in prison. The paper explores, through a systematic review based on the PRiSMA method, the state of the art on the mathematics teaching-learning in prisons, focusing on theoretical frameworks that identify good educational practices, the role of affective aspects, the focus on inclusiveness and accessibility. The study is part of the LeMP project, 'Learning Math in Prison', which aims at exploring the conditions of mathematics teaching-learning in a prison context.

Immigration Enforcement And Origin Country Labor Markets, Thomas Pearson

Center for Policy Research

This paper studies how increased immigration enforcement in the destination country impacts labor markets in the origin country. Using variation in Mexican migrant networks and Secure Communities (SC), a policy which expanded local immigration enforcement, I show that the deportation of Mexican migrants from the U.S. increases return migration to Mexico and decreases monthly earnings for workers in Mexico. The negative earnings effects are largest for workers most similar to return migrants in terms of their demographics, occupations, and employment types, and are consistent with increased labor market competition.

The Price Of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power Of Taxation In American History, Vanessa Williamson

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presented a lecture titled, "The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History" by Brookings senior fellow in governance studies, Vanessa Williamson.

From tariffs to “no tax on tips”, taxation has often been a hot topic in American elections. What is not commonly recognized, however, is that—from the framing of the Constitution to the decades-long backlash to the civil rights movement—taxes have been at the heart of battles over the breadth of our democracy. Brookings senior fellow Vanessa Williamson discusses her new book, The Price of …

How Do State Labor Policies Impact Disability For Latino Adults In The U.S.?, Marc A. Garcia, Blakelee R. Kemp, Erin Bisesti

Population Health Research Brief Series

Latino adults in the United States experience a greater burden of disability than non-Latino White adults. This brief summarizes findings from a study using data from the 2000-2016 American Community Surveys (ACS) linked to annual state policy data (1998-2014) on Latino adults ages 45-85 across 25 U.S. states (N=1,183,438). The authors describe how state labor policies (i.e., disability insurance, minimum wage protections, paid sick leave, unemployment compensation) predict disability among Latino adults. The authors find that disability rates among Latino adults are lower in states with more liberal labor policy contexts. Liberal state policies appear protective for both U.S.-born and …

The History Of Philanthropic Wealth In Maine, Jillian Foley Mppm, Timothy Atkinson Mppm, Emma Schwartz

Justice Policy

This report (March 2026) was developed in collaboration with the Maine Philanthropy Center to invite readers to engage in an honest exploration of how wealth was accumulated in Maine and how our history continues to shape our communities today. Grounded in research and interviews with historians and philanthropic leaders, the report examines the connections between extractive histories and modern-day philanthropic structures. The authors aim to guide readers to explore the historical context, reflect on their own histories, and consider more equitable, restorative approaches to community-centered giving. While this report was designed with funders and nonprofit leaders in mind, the authors …

Executive Summaries

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Front And Back Matter

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Julia Coffman

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Philanthropic Archives And Legacy, Katherine Badertscher, Huitan Xu

The Foundation Review

This article details an environmental scan of publicly available sources and interviews to explore the landscape of archival work in philanthropy.

There is no single guidance appropriate across the spectrum of foundations and family philanthropies. Given foundation heterogeneity, records management and archiving require tailored approaches rather than a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

The authors theorize legacy as a form of capital, embodied in records, stories, and knowledge, and present a continuum of five strategies for archiving infrastructure.

Why Foundations Begin Making Program-Related Investments: Evidence From Recent Adopters, Maoz (Michael) Brown

The Foundation Review

Why do foundations begin making program-related investments (PRIs)? This article answers that question by drawing on interviews with professionals at 36 U.S. foundations that recently began implementing PRIs.

While achieving positive impact is a central motivating factor, the study reveals it is uncommon for new PRI-makers to target impact uniquely tailored to PRIs, e.g., establishing a credit history for the recipient. Operational benefits, e.g., stretching the foundation’s financial resources, are more salient in the decision to undertake PRIs, even though such benefits are often marginal.

This article also highlights a previously underexplored but apparently significant driver of PRI adoption: the …

Tfr 18.1 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Considering Barriers To Funding Fiscal Sponsorship: Insights From Sponsor And Project Leaders, Elliot M. Zettas, Todd L. Ely, Fredrik O. Andersson

The Foundation Review

This study explores barriers to funding fiscal sponsorship based on interviews with 68 leaders of sponsors and sponsored projects. Findings reveal that funders’ limited understanding and restrictive policies contribute to negative sentiment and reduced grant access for sponsored initiatives.

Despite fiscal sponsorship’s administrative efficiencies and mission-focused benefits, funders often perceive sponsored projects as less legitimate, misunderstand sponsor roles, and resist covering sponsor cost allocations when framed as fees. Structural complexities — such as shared EINs and geographic mismatches — further impede eligibility for funding.

This article concludes with actionable recommendations for funders and sponsors, including staff education, updated grant guidelines, …

Defining Community Philanthropy: Principles And Dimensions Of A Transformative Practice, Michael D. Layton

The Foundation Review

Community philanthropy is increasingly promoted as an alternative to institutional, top-down philanthropy, yet the term remains contested. In the Global North, it is typically associated with community foundations, while in the Global South the emphasis is on community itself.

This article offers a definition of community philanthropy as a practice rooted in context and power rather than a single institutional form. It identifies five transformative characteristics that distinguish community philanthropy from conventional giving and translates these principles into seven dimensions that can be used to identify and assess community philanthropy in practice.

For practitioners, evaluators, and funders, this framework offers …

Beyond Need: Exploring Readiness To Implement Change As A Predictor Of Nonprofit Capacity-Building Success, Bridget Y. Samuel

The Foundation Review

This mixed-methods exploratory study investigates whether organizational readiness to implement change predicts capacity-building success more reliably than the level of perceived need.

Using a six-factor readiness assessment measuring clear priorities, change management resources, time investment commitment, board engagement, systems infrastructure, and cash flow, data from 10 participating organizations reveal a significant correlation between readiness scores and early capacity-building outcomes.

The findings challenge three common field assumptions: that the greatest capacity-building need should drive selection, that capacity-building works uniformly across developmental stages, and that dysfunction can be addressed through “standard” capacity-building programming.

Beyond The Check: Lessons In Trust, Support, And Structure For Flexible Well-Being Grants, Martena Reed, Jennifer Marsack, Chelsey Hurt, Gladys Hairston, Karla Mendez, Tejaswini Vemuganti, Valerie Stewart, Cindy Alvarado

The Foundation Review

This article draws on a developmental evaluation of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation’s Well-Being Grants, which awarded over 100 small, flexible grants to support nonprofit staff and organizational well-being. Using surveys, interviews, focus groups, and document review, authors examined how organizations defined well-being, how they used the funds, and what factors shaped their choices.

Findings show that, while grantees valued flexibility, many relied on familiar approaches such as retreats, stipends, and team building. Long-standing compliance norms engendered caution about experimentation, even when funders encouraged it.

The authors argue that funders must pair flexible dollars with …

The Future Of Purpose-Driven Work: Evaluating A Case Study Of The Hybrid: Flexible Purpose Model At The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Jeff Williams, Melyssa Tsai O'Brien, Trish Abalo

The Foundation Review

This 15-month case study employed a comprehensive mixed-methods evaluation to document and assess the model across six key areas. Findings revealed the Hybrid: Flexible Purpose model preserved or improved grantmaking outcomes, enhanced staff well-being and autonomy, and expanded the diversity of the talent pool.

Challenges emerged regarding sustaining the organizational culture, fostering cross-team and informal relationships, and ensuring consistent policy implementation across teams, particularly in finding the optimal balance between stated goals and actual experiences during mandatory in-person gatherings.

Findings also documented a “hybrid coordination tax,” i.e., additional effort required to manage mixed in-person and virtual meetings and schedules.

These …

Using Ai To Redirect Donor Support To Smaller Organizations, Madeleine Alegria, Brandolon Barnett

The Foundation Review

Despite rising interest in supporting local causes, many donors continue to give to large, nationally recognized nonprofits. This reflects ongoing structural barriers such as limited nonprofit visibility, decision fatigue, and search environments that prioritize brand familiarity.

At the same time, small-dollar giving has declined for three consecutive years, highlighting the need for more transparent, accessible, and trustworthy tools to support donor decision-making (Childress, 2024; Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2023).

In a 2024 evaluation study, 291 U.S. donors were randomly assigned to use either the Giving Compass Guide to Good platform or general internet tools to select a new nonprofit …