Sara Penner

Sara Penner is an Associate Professor at the University of Winnipeg's Business and Administration School, where she teaches courses like Not-for-Profit Management and Fundamentals of Co-operative Enterprises. She also serves as Director of the Research Centre for Co-operative Enterprises, focusing on purpose-driven organizations such as nonprofits, co-ops, and B Corps.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Marketing (University of Manitoba), an M.A. in Resource Development (Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota), and a B.A. in Physical Education (University of Manitoba).

• Ph.D. (Marketing), University of Manitoba
• M.A. (Resource Development and Philanthropy), Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
• B.A. (Physical Education and Recreation Studies), University of Manitoba

Her research interests span nonprofit management, philanthropy, persuasion strategies, and social innovation. She collaborates closely with industry and nonprofits, exploring topics like donor motivations in grief-driven fundraising, the impact of signature size on donation response, and food allergy-friendly programs. Recent projects include analyzing direct mail solicitation effectiveness and parental perspectives on allergy subsidies.

Her publications reflect interdisciplinary focus, bridging marketing, psychology, and public health. Notable contributions include studies on regulatory theory in philanthropy and cognitive processing in consumer behavior.

As Director of the Research Centre for Co-operative Enterprises, she fosters student engagement in socially impactful ventures. Though no specific student advisees are listed, her research collaborations involve multidisciplinary teams across universities and healthcare institutions.

Her work emphasizes practical community application, such as translating research on signature size into actionable fundraising strategies for nonprofits.