Fels Policy Research Initiative
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| Fels Policy Research Initiative | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fels Policy Research Initiative |
| Formation | 2010s |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Parent organization | University of Pennsylvania |
| Focus | Public policy research, civic engagement |
Fels Policy Research Initiative The Fels Policy Research Initiative is a policy research program based at the University of Pennsylvania that conducts applied studies and convenes practitioners, academics, and civic leaders. It supports research, curriculum development, and community engagement linking academic work at the University of Pennsylvania with municipal leaders, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic funders. The Initiative engages with policymakers, practitioners, and the public through reports, conferences, and partnerships with institutions in Philadelphia and beyond.
History
The Initiative was established in the 2010s amid discussions at the University of Pennsylvania involving the Fels Institute of Government, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Its early convenings included panels with leaders from the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and national organizations such as the Brookings Institution, the Urban Institute, and the RAND Corporation. Over time the Initiative forged ties with civic actors including the Philadelphia City Council, the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, the William Penn Foundation, and regional nonprofit networks like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Philadelphia Foundation.
Mission and Goals
The Initiative's stated mission emphasizes applied policy analysis, civic collaboration, and workforce development through programs that bridge the University of Pennsylvania, local government, and community partners. Goals include producing actionable research for elected officials, supporting practitioner training for managers from Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware agencies, and informing advocates at organizations such as the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation. The Initiative aims to influence debates involving legislators from the United States Congress, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and municipal executives.
Research Areas and Programs
Research priorities span municipal finance, urban planning, public health policy, education policy, and criminal justice reform, with programmatic links to the Fels Institute of Government, the Wharton School, the School of Social Policy & Practice, and the Perelman School of Medicine. Programs include policy labs that partner with Philadelphia School District administrators, pilot evaluations with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and analytic briefs for agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Collaborative projects have intersected with initiatives at Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
The Initiative is organizationally situated within the University of Pennsylvania and coordinates faculty affiliates from departments including Political Science, Sociology, Economics, and Urban Studies. Leadership has included directors drawn from the Fels Institute faculty with advisory boards comprising leaders from the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth Court, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the William Penn Foundation, and national scholars from Princeton University, Yale University, and Stanford University. Administrative staff liaise with units such as Penn's Office of Government and Community Affairs, Penn Medicine, and the Penn Biden Center.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Initiative maintains partnerships with municipal actors including the Mayor's Office of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the School District of Philadelphia, and regional counties such as Montgomery County and Delaware County. National and international collaborators have included the Brookings Institution, the Urban Institute, RAND Corporation, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Academic collaborations extend to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative, and peer programs at Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Chicago.
Funding and Support
Funding sources have combined university allocations, foundation grants from entities such as the William Penn Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as well as project funding from federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. Philanthropic partnerships have also involved the Kresge Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and private donors connected to alumni networks tied to the Wharton School and Penn Carey Law. The Initiative pursues sponsored research agreements with municipal agencies and nonprofit partners including UnidosUS and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
Impact and Notable Projects
Notable outputs include policy briefs and convenings that informed Philadelphia budget deliberations, technical assistance for the School District of Philadelphia, and evaluations of public health interventions coordinated with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The Initiative has hosted symposia featuring speakers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, and civic leaders from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and contributed analysis cited by media outlets such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and WHYY. Collaborative projects with the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute have shaped discussions on municipal finance, zoning reform, and workforce development involving stakeholders from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, and regional civic foundations.