About Dr. Gillespie

 

Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) M. Gillespie is an assistant professor in the Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration (DPNA) at the University of Memphis and an affiliate faculty member with the Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. Since joining the university in 2020, she has led both Memphis-based and national research initiatives focused on nonprofit organizations and philanthropy, with a particular emphasis on women’s philanthropy, women’s grantmaking foundations and funds, social change organizations, and nonprofit fundraising capacity. Through her scholarship and service, she has cultivated strong ties with the Memphis nonprofit community and is deeply committed to preparing the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

Dr. Gillespie brings nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership experience to her academic role. Her career in the sector began during her undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, where she worked at the Women’s Resource and Action Center. There, she supported women seeking legal aid, mental health services, and empowerment opportunities—an experience that ignited her passion for advancing social change through nonprofit and philanthropic work.

Her research interests center on philanthropy, women’s giving, nonprofit fundraising, grantmaking foundations and funds, and feminist and social change organizations. Dr. Gillespie earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, her M.P.A. from Drake University, and her B.A. in History, with minors in French and English, from the University of Iowa.

In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Gillespie performs consultant work for nonprofits, specializing in resource development and capacity building, through her role at the University of Memphis. She also writes grants for small to mid-sized nonprofits through her work with Write Change Grants. She currently serves on the boards of The Memphis Challenge, Academic Women in Public Administration, and The Arc Mid-South. Her work bridges theory and practice, equipping both students and practitioners to lead with purpose, equity, and impact.

In 2025, Dr. Gillespie co-founded The Women’s Giving Collective (WGC), a philanthropic women’s giving circle dedicated to empowering women through collective giving. The WGC invests in causes that strengthen communities, transform lives, and advance gender and social equity through collaborative, values-driven philanthropy.

 

Research interests

Dr. Gillespie’s work often examines nonprofit and philanthropic approaches to social change, gender equality, and public administration, incorporating feminist theories and practices. Through her research, Dr. Gillespie seeks to enhance understanding and advance effective strategies within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, fostering impactful social change.

Philanthropy

• Women’s Philanthropy
• Women’s giving motivations and behaviors  
• Girls’ Philanthropy
• Philanthropy Education   

Nonprofits

• Grantmaking Foundations
• Women’s Foundations and Funds
• Social Change Organizations
• Feminist Organizations
• Nonprofit practices for social change
• Stakeholder Theory 

 

Current Publications

 

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Gillespie, E.M., Mirabella, R.M., Eikenberry, A.M. (2019). #Metoo/#Aidtoo and creating an  intersectional feminist NPO/NGO sector. Nonprofit Policy Forum, 10(4). https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2019-0019/html

Gillespie, E.M. (2020). Women’s grantmaking for economic security: The work of one coalition. The Foundation Review, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.9707/1944-5660.1518 

Gillespie, E.M. (2021) Empowerment-focused philanthropy: Bridging feminist theories and  organizational practices through U.S. women’s funds. Administrative Theory & Praxis, DOI: 10.1080/10841806.2021.1984103 

Gillespie, E., and Fletcher, B.J. (2024). Feminism, foundations, and social change:Understanding women's philanthropic nonprofits. Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration, 2024, 2(2): 103–135. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v2i2.5459

(Forthcoming) Gillespie, E., and Schlia, A. Cultivating tomorrow's philanthropists: Girls’philanthropy in girls’ schools. Philanthropy & Education. 

 

Non-Refereed Publications

Gillespie, E.M. (2017). Citizen participation and nonprofit organizations. Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance, Springer International Publishing. 

Gillespie, E.M. (2017). Book review: Women’s emancipation and civil society organizations. VOLUNTAS, 28(3), 1359-1360.

Gillespie, E.M. (2018). Book review: Funding feminism: Monied women, philanthropy, and the women’s movement, 1870-1967. Administrative Theory & Praxis. 

Gillespie, E.M. (2019). Women’s foundations and funds: A landscape study. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Indianapolis, IN.  https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/19244/foundations-funds.pdf 

Gillespie, E.M. (2019). Change agents: The goals and impact of women’s foundations and funds. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Indianapolis, IN. https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/21442/change-agents-dec19.pdf  

Gillespie, E.M. (2023). The women and children’s status report for Tennessee and Shelby County: With a special look at women’s philanthropy in Shelby County. Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. Memphis, TN. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26231.50089 https://www.memphis.edu/padm/documents/ipnl-pdfs/philanthropy-report-shelbycounty22-23.pdf