Addressing social problems often necessitates substantial collaboration among organizations. While existing literature has thoroughly examined the benefits and challenges of such collaboration within the nonprofit sector, it predominantly draws on Western experiences, often assuming a natural partnership between foundations and NGOs for collective social problems. However, less is known about how these partnerships form and dissolve in contexts characterized by tightening state regulations and a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This paper critically examines how the platformization of nonprofits enhances collaboration and networks, emphasizing its role in transforming the sector from independent organizations to interdependent networks. Utilizing network analysis of big data alongside qualitative interviews with stakeholders, I explore the dynamics of strategic collaboration between foundations and NGOs. My findings reveal a fragmented decentralization of organizational networks from 2015 to 2021, indicating a structural change in strategic collaborations among various actors in the field.

About the speaker:

Wenjuan Zheng is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Prior to joining HKUST, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center and holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University. Her research lies at the intersection of civil society, organizational studies, and technology, with a particular focus on contemporary China. Her work examines how the rapid expansion of the platform economy is reshaping the Chinese civic sector, highlighting the complex interactions among corporate influence, state intervention, and social engagement.

📅 Date: Thursday, 29 January, 2026

🕑 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm

📍 Venue: CJT-9.29

🗣️ Language: English

🔗 Register here: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=102903