Joannie Tremblay-Boire

Joannie Tremblay-Boire is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, with affiliations to the Do Good Institute and serving as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Public Leadership. Previously, she held an Assistant Professor position in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on nonprofits and NGOs, exploring their accountability, internal structures, legal environments, and interactions with resource providers such as governments and foundations. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington (SSHRC doctoral fellow), an MA in Public Policy and Public Administration, and a BA in Political Science from Concordia University in Montreal.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SSHRC Doctoral Fellow)
• MA in Public Policy and Public Administration, Concordia University, Montreal
• BA in Political Science, Concordia University, Montreal

Her research interests are organized into three streams:

• Charitable donor behavior and how nonprofits signal trustworthiness (e.g., self-regulatory clubs)
• American foundations' grantmaking decisions and their impact on nonprofits
• Government-nonprofit relationships through legislation and public funding

She examines power dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and the interdependence between nonprofits and their funders, aiming to understand resource allocation's societal implications.

Publications trends reflect her focus on nonprofit accountability, donor psychology, and the effects of organizational structure on funding. Recent works in 2025 analyze hypothetical bias in charitable giving and gender impacts on investor decisions. Earlier studies include themes like NGO regulation in Europe, corporate foundations, and Islamophobia in donor behavior.

Scientific Awards include the William E. Mosher and Frederick C. Mosher Award (2016) for best article in Public Administration Review and the Emerging Scholar Award (2020) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Her work bridges philanthropy, public policy, and political science, addressing gaps in understanding nonprofit ecosystems.

Advising/Grants: While no advisees are listed, her doctoral fellowship highlights past grant support. She contributes to the Do Good Institute's research initiatives and leads the Nonprofit Studies Family Tree project, exploring organizational histories and relationships. Her collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to societal challenges.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Do Good Institute and the Institute for Public Leadership, where she advances research on philanthropy and civic engagement. Her project on the Nonprofit Studies Family Tree aims to map organizational dependencies and historical trends in the sector.