R&D in the Social Impact Sector: documenting practices, assessing current needs and prototyping support models to enhance R&D capacity.

Despite the existence of pockets of deep expertise, there is not broad R&D capacity and talent in the social impact sector. Contributing factors include program based funding mechanisms, limited talent influx and partnerships with other sectors, among others.
The goal of this project is to explore different models to increase R&D capacity and supports for the sector. This includes examining current approaches to R&D, research on best practices for R&D supports (given the nuances of the social mission space), and testing a few distinct R&D support and capacity building models/interventions to arrive at solutions that can increase impactful R&D in Canada’s social impact sector.

Faculty Supervisor:

Naomi Nichols

Student:

Partner:

J.W. McConnell foundation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

McGill University

Program: