Selena Yee ('28), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, conducted research with Dr. ChiaKo Hung (School of Social Policy and Practice) on nonprofit funding mechanisms. This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the PURM program, working to identify the potential factors that increase financial donors' likelihood to give unrestricted funding—donations that nonprofits can spend according to their mission without restrictions placed by the donor. I was drawn to this topic because, as an aspiring nonprofit lawyer, I wanted to better understand the inner workings of nonprofits and what challenges they face in the path towards their missions.
During this experience, I found myself diving into academic papers about topics I had never heard of before, from the transformative effects of flexible funding to the struggles nonprofits face under what’s called the “nonprofit starvation cycle.” Working closely with my mentor and another student researcher, I gained beneficial skills like how to analyze dense academic articles, write a literature review, and work with data in ways I’d never done before.
My mentor was incredibly supportive throughout the entire research process. Since it was my first time conducting research, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he guided me every step of the way: offering advice, sharing tips, and answering all my questions with patience. Even after meetings, I would linger to ask Dr. Hung a vast variety of questions, and he joyfully answered all of them. My PURM research partner, Juliet Wu, and I also became great friends beyond our meetings. We often grabbed lunch and boba together, and talked for hours. As my senior, she also shared valuable advice for the coming years. These connections not only made the process far less daunting, but left a lasting and meaningful impact on me. The most rewarding part was how genuine everyone I met was. They were not only passionate about their research, but eager to be of assistance. Knowing that I had mentors and peers who I could rely on and celebrate with made the experience feel like a shared journey rather than just a research project.
By the end of the summer, I not only had gained a deeper understanding of how nonprofits operate, but I also felt more driven than ever to pursue the career I envision. Before this experience, I had been uncertain about the exact path I would take toward law school, especially since many aspiring lawyers choose to work before applying. After immersing myself in the experiences of nonprofit leaders, I am now considering working within a nonprofit before law school to gain firsthand insight into the sector’s challenges and impact. The opportunity to learn from an experienced mentor and collaborate with my peers was truly unforgettable, shaping my academic growth and sharpening my research skills. Moving forward, I plan to continue researching with Dr. Hung and his team and to independently continue to explore how nonprofits can be better supported in today’s environment.
Interested in reading more first-hand accounts about undergraduate research? Check out the other experiences featured on our Student News Page and Social Media!
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