SP2’s ChiaKo Hung researches nonprofit financial management and philanthropy, and equips his students with the practical skills necessary to apply to the social sector.
2 min. read
Assistant professor ChiaKo Hung brings a passion for data-driven decision-making and real‑world impact to his teaching and research at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2). Through his work on nonprofit financial management and philanthropy, he examines long‑standing assumptions in the social sector, using evidence to distinguish best practices from misconceptions. In the classroom, he focuses on equipping students with practical skills they can carry into their careers.
ChiaKo Hung is an assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice.
(Image: Carson Easterly)
Hung began his journey in nonprofit management and social entrepreneurship while majoring in cooperative economics as an undergraduate. After completing a master’s degree in economic development, he entered the technology industry in Taiwan, but after a couple of years, he realized his true passion lay in nonprofit finance.
At SP2, Hung’s research focuses on nonprofit financial management and philanthropy. “There are some taken-for-granted financial management and fundraising practices in the social sector,” he says. “And one of my research goals is to use data to examine whether these practices are true standards for nonprofits to follow or simply misconceptions. I aim to provide evidence-based practices that nonprofits can use to guide their decisions.”
Hung relies on collaboration in his work. “I work closely with SP2 faculty and students on research projects. I also collaborate with an SP2 research center on data analysis, and I am part of a team working with Philadelphia social sector leaders to better understand how nonprofits in southeastern Pennsylvania are affected by federal funding cuts.”
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