Heather O'Connor, Ph.D., CFRM, CAP®

Qualitative social science researcher with 25 years of experience in nonprofits and philanthropy

Research Interests

nonprofit management

philanthropy

fundraising

nonprofit communications

nonprofit pedagogy

Marketing

Public Administration

Sociology and Political Science

message framing

market reseach

qualitative research

About

Heather O’Connor, Ph. D., is a qualitative social science researcher with 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. She helps nonprofits, government agencies, and social justice initiatives reveal insights into target audience behavior and apply those findings to increase social impact. Her nonprofit experience sets her apart. It informs every aspect of the research process, from project design to question generation to final recommendations. Heather not only reveals new insights but also translates those findings into actionable strategies for marketing, fundraising, program development, and public relations. Heather is available for select contract work on qualitative projects, including online data collection, data analysis, and writing. Her methods include interviews and focus groups, online forums, document analysis, case studies, secondary/desk research, and literature reviews. Locaitons: U.S. and Europe [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/heatheraoconnor) [InsightsForSocialImpact](https://insightsforsocialimpact.com/)

Publications

The million dollar donor journey: Stages of development for high‐net‐worth women donors

Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing / Jun 02, 2020

Dale, E. J., & O’Connor, H. A. (2020). The million dollar donor journey: Stages of development for high‐net‐worth women donors. Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, 26(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/nvsm.1680

Charitable Giving in Married Couples: Untangling the Effects of Education and Income on Spouses’ Giving

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly / Apr 23, 2021

Mesch, D. J., Osili, U. O., Dale, E. J., Ackerman, J., Bergdoll, J., & O’Connor, H. A. (2021). Charitable Giving in Married Couples: Untangling the Effects of Education and Income on Spouses’ Giving. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 51(2), 444–458. https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640211008983

Teaching philanthropy: developing critical and compassionate approaches to giving

Teaching Nonprofit Management / Apr 24, 2020

Dale, E. J., Shaker, G. G., & O’Connor, H. A. (2020). Teaching philanthropy: developing critical and compassionate approaches to giving. In Teaching Nonprofit Management. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788118675.00017

Mindfulness as a Foundation for Reflection: Applying Principles From Dialectical Behavior Therapy to Service-Learning Instruction

Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership / Mar 23, 2020

O’Connor, H. (2020). Mindfulness as a Foundation for Reflection: Applying Principles From Dialectical Behavior Therapy to Service-Learning Instruction. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, 10(2), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.18666/jnel-2020-v10-i2-10091

The unexpected activist: Catholic women who donate to pro‐choice causes

Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing / Sep 12, 2022

O’Connor, H. A. (2022). The unexpected activist: Catholic women who donate to pro‐choice causes. Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, 27(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/nvsm.1767

Book Review: Generation impact: How next gen donors are revolutionizing giving by Goldseker, S., & Moody, M.

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly / Jun 12, 2019

O’Connor, H. A. (2019). Book Review: Generation impact: How next gen donors are revolutionizing giving by Goldseker, S., & Moody, M. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 48(6), 1312–1315. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764019855947

Education

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Ph.D., Philanthropic Studies

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America

University of Chicago

MA, Social Service Administration

Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

University of Tennessee

BS, Communications

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America

University of Georgia

Certificate, Market Research

Athens, Georgia, United States of America

Links & Social Media

Website

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